They returned to Paris for New Year's Eve, the city transformed by holiday lights and anticipation. The streets were crowded with tourists and locals, everyone drawn toward the Champs-Élysées and the Eiffel Tower for midnight celebrations.Charlie had secured reservations at a restaurant with views of the Eiffel Tower, pulling strings through Maxwell Corporation connections, though he didn't mention that to his friends. The meal was spectacular, but the real magic was the company and the moment.As midnight approached, they bundled up and walked toward the Eiffel Tower, joining the massive crowd gathering for the countdown. The energy was electric, thousands of people from around the world, all waiting for the same moment."Ten! Neuf! Huit!" the crowd chanted in French.Charlie stood with his three best friends, watching the Eiffel Tower light up with fireworks, feeling the weight of the year falling away. 2024 had been transformative, exhausting. He'd gone from struggling student to

The emergency board meeting was called for January 6th, nine a.m. Charlie arrived at Claire Corporation headquarters at seven, two hours early, needing time to prepare for what Marcus had warned was coming."Perry's going to present a motion to restructure leadership," Marcus had told him in their brief meeting upon his return from Paris. "He's calling it 'succession planning during extended founder absence.' It sounds reasonable, which makes it dangerous."The boardroom felt different that morning, colder somehow, despite identical temperature and lighting. Twelve leather chairs surrounded the mahogany table. Eleven would be occupied by executives whose combined experience exceeded three centuries. The twelfth chair, George Maxwell's, remained empty, a reminder of the absence that justified Perry's move.Perry Stone arrived at eight-thirty, carrying a leather portfolio with the confidence of someone who'd done his homework. Thomas Wright appeared minutes later, expression neutral but

The coffee shop was deliberately chosen, a Starbucks forty minutes from campus, anonymous enough that no one would question two college students meeting a businessman in expensive tailoring. Jim Grant arrived first, ten minutes early, nervous energy making his leg bounce under the table.Nathan Cross entered exactly on time, scanning the room with practiced efficiency before spotting Jim. He ordered a black coffee, paid cash, and sat across from Jim with the controlled movements of someone accustomed to calculated interactions."Mr. Grant," Cross said, extending his hand. "Thank you for meeting."Jim shook it, trying to project confidence he didn't feel. "Your message said you had a proposition.""Direct. I appreciate that." Cross sipped his coffee, studying Jim with the same analytical gaze he'd probably used evaluating acquisition targets. "Your family was destroyed by Charlie Maxwell. My company lost a major acquisition to him. We both want the same thing.""Revenge," Jim said flat

An email arrived in Marcus Blackwood's inbox at 6:47 a.m. Thursday, forwarded from Claire Corporation's legal department with a red flag marked Urgent: Reputation Risk. He read it twice before calling Charlie, who was still processing Sterling's ultimatum, his coffee cold beside an untouched stack of textbooks.“We have a problem,” Marcus .Charlie’s stomach dropped the way it always did before disaster. “What kind?”“Someone sent a dossier to the SEC, business media, and Yorkers University administration. It alleges you defrauded the Maxwell Scholarship Program by concealing your family connection during the application process.”The accusation was so absurd Charlie almost laughed. “That’s ridiculous. The scholarship was anonymous. I didn’t know the Maxwells when I applied.”“I know that. Joseph knows that. But the allegation is detailed enough to require investigation.” Marcus’s voice carried the controlled tension of a man used to facing tough situations. “Bloomberg already publish

The first acquisition collapsed on a Tuesday. Marcus received the call at eleven a.m., listening with carefully controlled expression as the CEO of Bentley Industrial Solutions explained why they were withdrawing from negotiations."It's not about the terms," Robert Bentley said, his voice apologetic but firm. "Your offer is generous. But we've been hearing concerning things about Maxwell Corporation's business practices. Aggressive tactics. Regulatory gray areas. We can't risk association with that kind of controversy."Marcus's jaw tightened. "What specific concerns?""Nothing concrete," Bentley admitted. "Just industry chatter. But our board is conservative. They don't want complications."After the call ended, Marcus sat in silence before summoning Charlie and Diana Reeves to his office."Bentley Industrial just pulled out," Marcus said. "Citing 'concerns about our business practices.' No specifics. Just vague allegations about aggressive tactics and ethical issues."Diana pulled