After Bruce left, Thomas and Abigail sat in grave silence. Abigail was the first to speak. "He's not what I expected."Thomas picked up his wine glass and drained it in one long swallow. "No," he replied, his voice empty. "He's not. I can't believe he saw right through us like that. He's no ordinary man.""What do we do now?"she asked. "We cannot allow him to remain as chairman. The fact that the Black Foot Clan has already sworn loyalty to him shows he is more powerful than we thought."Thomas stared at the empty chair where Bruce had sat—the head chair he had taken without even speaking a word."We need to find out more about this boy, Abigail," Thomas said at last. "We must identify his weakness swiftly before he poses a greater threat to us."Abigail looked at her brother. "What if he has no weaknesses?""Nonsense, everyone has a weakness," Thomas said as he set down his glass. "We just have to wait and watch for now. At some point, he's gonna slip up."Before she could say anyth

The following morning, at Shepherd Group, Gerald stormed out of the elevator like a man possessed by a demon. His face was still flushed from the night before, his cheek still bearing a faint red mark where Bruce had struck him. "Smith!" he bellowed, his voice echoing across the open-plan office. "Where is that bastard? Someone get me Smith right now!"Employees stopped typing abruptly, popping up their heads from cubicles like startled meerkats. Nobody dared to speak.Gerald strode down the aisle, walking past rows of desks like a guy ready to land a knockout punch."Smith!" he shouted again. "You think you can hide from me? You think you can—"As he rounded the corner into Bruce's cubicle, he came to an immediate halt.Victoria Cross was sitting in Bruce's chair, legs crossed and hands folded on her lap. She had a calm look on her face, but her eyes were as cold as steel. She looked at Gerald like she'd been waiting for him."Gerald," she said, keeping her voice even. "I heard y

Thomas picked up the photograph. It showed a beautiful woman with dark hair and expensive clothes, smiling at the camera. There was something familiar about her face, but Thomas couldn't place it. "What's her connection to Bruce Dominic Shepherd?" The investigator shrugged. "That's the problem. The buzz died almost overnight. She was exposed as a liar, a cheater, and a fraud. Her family's company collapsed. Her father lost the use of his legs in a mysterious attack. She was committed to a psychiatric ward shortly after." Thomas set down the photograph. "That sounds convenient." "Very convenient," the investigator agreed. "I tried to interview her, but she is unwell. Her doctors refused to allow it. I tried to interview her mother, Scarlett Trump, but she has returned to Hollywood and refuses to speak about her daughter or the Griffin family." Thomas paced the room, his mind racing. "So the only person who might have had personal contact with Bruce Dominic Shepherd is locked awa

When the clock struck 10:45 p.m. a sleek Rolls-Royce Phantom glided to a stop in front of the hotel entrance.A uniformed chauffeur stepped out and opened the rear door for Bruce to step in. Bruce adjusted his black suit, his tie perfectly knotted, and his shoes polished to a mirror shine.Fifteen minutes later, the Rolls-Royce pulled up before an imposing structure lit in gold and violet neon.Above the entrance, it's name shimmered into the night: “The Golden Crown.”Harrison had filled him in about this place. It was an underground club where the world's wealthiest men gather to network, negotiate, and inflate their egos. Membership was by invitation only, and the initiation fee was rumored to be seven figures. Inside, deals worth billions were struck over whiskey glasses.Harrison Drake stood at the entrance, his arms spread wide, his smile gleaming under the soft lights. He had changed into an expensive black tuxedo, his hair slicked back, his cufflinks glittering."Bruce!"

For the first time in William life, there was fear in his eyes. His hands trembled slightly as he thought about the stakes involved in this game. He had spent his entire life building an empire. He had fought wars, crushed competitors, and clawed his way to the top of the old money hierarchy.But he had never faced anyone like this."Who are you?" William asked, his voice hoarse.Bruce smiled. "I told you. I'm just a man who enjoys his privacy."By now, the room had grown so quiet that a pin drop could be heard."Are we still playing?" Bruce asked, his voice bored. "I've topped your stakes. What are you staking?"William opened his mouth to respond, but Bruce raised a hand, cutting him off."You know what? I'm getting bored. This back-and-forth is taking too long." Bruce stepped closer, his eyes locking onto William's. "Why don't we do this? You stake your entire nuclear plants. Every single one. And I'll stake my entire company."The room gasped. Men clutched their glasses tighter.