The boardroom was still buzzing with half-muted conversations and rustling papers. The official meeting was over, but it was only the beginning of something far more intricate.As was customary, smaller cliques began to splinter off, heading to their favorite restaurants and lounges. The real decisions—the kind made in whispers and wine-stained promises—were always done afterward. That was where true power moved: not in boardrooms, but in private booths and candlelit corners.Among them was Emily. The quiet one. She always sat at the back, barely spoke unless necessary, and her expressions were blank slates. You could pass her in a hallway and forget her by the next turn. That was her strength. That was her shield.But Emily wasn’t innocent—far from it.She was a wolf dressed so well in sheep's clothing that only someone equally dark could see her for what she was. That someone was Agnes.Agnes had been watching her for months. She hadn’t always suspected her, but the pieces fell toge

The gathering had ended, and the grand hall began to empty, but not without new performances unfolding behind every handshake and smile. John remained in the room longer than necessary, observing the board members now shedding their stiff, corporate masks and slipping into something more personal—strategic, even seductive.Several of them approached him with warm, congratulatory words and polished grins that didn’t quite reach their eyes. Hands were extended, pats on the back given generously. Some invited him to their exclusive lounges upstairs for a celebratory drink, casually hinting at “getting to know each other better.” Others, less subtle, handed him gift cards to expensive spas or offered free enrollment into elite professional development courses abroad.John accepted each gesture with the grace of a man who knew too well that most offerings had an undertone. He smiled, nodded, and said all the right things. But his mind wasn’t fooled. He knew what they were doing—testing him

“The young master is really lucky” Jamal said as he was pissed off by how John's grandfather interrupted their plan on listening to their conversation.Jamal had been a silent observer for years, listen to Agnes sides and also to the other enemies sides to know what is happening and to help him decide which side to be on when the time was right but both sides kept logging him off when he was so close to getting solid evidences to use as leverage and today was also one of those days.“I will try again until I see my path.” Jamal said as he consoled himself over a glass of scotch near his laptop.At John's room, the makeover crew was there to help him look his best while preparing for the auction event because it was an elite event only attended by people who had $500million and above as their networth.John was honoured to be attending such an important event and really looked forward to being acquainted with his grandfather’s ally.On his way to the auction party,there were a lot of s

Stuck between a wall and a brick was the best way to describe John's current state. The two doors loomed before him like silent judges, each holding a future wrapped in mystery and risk. Behind one, a world he might thrive in. Behind the other, a trap he might never recover from. And yet, he had to choose.He wiped the sweat forming on his palms and stared ahead. The blue door was cold, almost intimidating. The pink door felt louder, more energetic. Neither seemed to call his name, yet both demanded an answer.Time was ticking.John closed his eyes. He saw his grandfather’s face, that weathered look of pride mixed with burden. That man had built an empire with nothing but grit and time. He had sent John here, not just to be tested, but to be shaped. And John could almost hear his voice now, low and calm, saying: “Go where the wisdom is. Go where the fire was first lit.”He opened his eyes.And chose the blue door.He didn’t rush. He walked with a quiet dignity that belied his internal

The room was alive with the kind of energy only money could buy. The air felt heavier with each raised bid card, every voice cutting through the hum of anticipation like a knife.“I bid one point two million.”The words came from somewhere near the left side of the hall, clear and certain, the bidder’s voice betraying no hesitation. Heads turned, but not for long—this was just the beginning.“I bid one point five million.”Another voice rose, sharper this time, competing not only for the jewelry but for the invisible status that came with claiming it. The crowd began to lean forward in their seats, their murmurs layering over one another like the buzzing of a hive.Then it came.“I bid three million.”The sound hit the room like a shockwave.The crowd froze. Even the waiters carrying champagne trays slowed, their steps faltering as eyes snapped toward the voice. It wasn’t just the number; it was the audacity. Three million for a single piece of jewelry when the bidding had only just w