Oswald pushed open a set of double doors and stepped into an indoor pool area, a crystal tumbler resting neatly on a silver tray in his hand. Bruce had just climbed out of the indoor swimming pool, water rolling off his broad shoulders and down his back. He reached for a thick white towel, dragging it over his hair and across his torso as he dried himself. “Master Bruce,” Oswald said, approaching him, “I have news.” Bruce took the towel from his shoulders and glanced over. “Go on.” “Willis Stone has been fired,” Oswald reported calmly. “Just like you ordered. He and the other conspirators have been replaced by executives who have sworn their loyalty to you.” Bruce’s lips curved faintly into a smile. "Music to my ears. You've done well, Oswald." Oswald offered the glass. “Your drink, Sir. A Macallan 25.” Bruce accepted it. The amber liquid caught the light as he lifted it. He took a slow sip, savoring it, then nodded in satisfaction. “Good,” he said. “Does Willis h

Caro returned from the liquor cabinet, holding out the crystal glass in her hand towards Willis like an offering."Here you are, darling," she said softly. "Your drink.""Thanks, babe." He took the glass from her, his unsteady fingers brushing against hers. Caro noticed how weak his grip was but she read it as lingering shock from the robbery.Willis took the glass and downed half of it in one swallow. The sharp burn of the whiskey steadied his jumpy nerves. Caro sat on the arm of the sofa closest to him, her brows furrowed with concern. "You said you were robbed. How did it happen?"Willis stared into his glass, watching the amber liquid swirl. He took his time to form a convincing lie. "It happened so fast," he began. "They came out of nowhere. Guns pointed at me. Before I knew what was happening, they hijacked my car and drove me to some abandoned warehouse on the edge of the city."Caro's hand flew to her mouth. "Oh my God, Willis! Were you hurt?"He shook his head. "Thankfully

Caro sat in her private office, legs crossed behind her desk, her face buried in her phone.She watched clips from the Shepherd Group press conference on the screen, replaying them in loops. "Bruce Dominic Shepherd," she murmured to herself, leaning back in her leather executive chair. The name echoed in her mind like a marble bouncing in an empty room. Everyone was talking about him; financial blogs, investors and Social media influencers were all obsessed with the mystery of this sudden trillionaire.Who is this man? Where had he been hiding? And more importantly—what does he look like?Suddenly, the door to her office slammed open so hard Caro jumped, nearly dropping her phone.Her father, Marcus Griffin, burst in like he had just won a contract. His face flushed with an excitement Caro hadn't seen since she was born."Caro!" he exclaimed, barely catching his breath. "Have you watched the Shepherd Group press conference?"Caro gave her father a surprised look. "I'm watching it n

Caro stood in the middle of the boutique's private dressing room, wearing a floor-length gown made of deep emerald silk that gathered around her feet.Her closest friends, Sophie and Bianca, sat on the edges of their chairs, holding champagne flutes as they watched her."Oh my God," Sophie gasped, placing a hand over her chest. "Caro. That dress is absolutely gorgeous. You look like a million bucks.""You think so?" Caro said with a smirk, turning to admire herself in the mirror. "This might be the one."Bianca leaned forward, nearly spilling her champagne. "Caro, you've already tried on seventeen dresses. How many more do you need before you're satisfied?"Caro chuckled. "As many as it takes. This is the Shepherd banquet. The most exclusive event of my life. I'll be rubbing shoulders with political elites and old-money families. I must look my best."Sophie fanned herself. "I can't believe you're going by yourself. That’s the part that kills me.""I still can't believe it, myself," C

Caro stood in the middle of the boutique's private dressing room, wearing a floor-length gown made of deep emerald silk that gathered around her feet.Her closest friends, Sophie and Bianca, sat on the edges of their chairs, holding champagne flutes as they watched her."Oh my God," Sophie gasped, placing a hand over her chest. "Caro. That dress is absolutely gorgeous. You look like a million bucks.""You think so?" Caro said with a smirk, turning to admire herself in the mirror. "This might be the one."Bianca leaned forward, nearly spilling her champagne. "Caro, you've already tried on seventeen dresses. How many more do you need before you're satisfied?"Caro chuckled. "As many as it takes. This is the Shepherd banquet. The most exclusive event of my life. I'll be rubbing shoulders with political elites and old-money families. I must look my best."Sophie fanned herself. "I can't believe you're going by yourself. That’s the part that kills me.""I still can't believe it, myself," C