That’s a massive security risk," Kim protested, though her tone remained deeply respectful, almost pleading.But he could hear her frustration clear as day."Please, if you would just—""Meet me at The Silver Diner on 4th and Main," Saul interrupted. He didn't know why he chose it. The name just surfaced in his mind—a place he’d passed a dozen times in his recent wandering, a high-traffic spot with large windows.It would be busy by this time of day, perfect for a discreet meeting. "I’ll be at a booth in the back. One hour. Come alone, or I won't be there when you arrive."He didn't wait for her to agree. He hung up.***The walk to the diner was different this time. Usually, Saul walked with his head down, trying to blend into the shadows, feeling like a ghost in his own life. But today, the world felt... sharper. He noticed things. He noticed the way the man across the street was holding his newspaper—his grip was too tight, his eyes weren't moving across the page. Watching.‘he

Kim started to protest, "But the company—""The company has you," Saul interrupted, his tone brook no argument. "You’ve been running it for three years. You’ll keep running it. I’m not stepping back into that building. Not yet. I’m going to stay in the shadows. I’m going to watch, and I’m going to learn who 'Saul Alexander Kinai' was from a distance."Kim’s face fell. The disappointment was etched into every line of her posture. "Sir, the board is restless. There are factions—""Then handle them," Saul said. It was a command, sharp and final. "If a problem arises that only the Chairman can solve—if the empire is truly burning—then you come to me. I’ll step up. But only then. And I’m hinging that on the hope that my memories return before the fire starts. Do you understand?"Kim looked unhappy, her lips pressed into a thin line, but she nodded. "I understand. I will maintain the facade.""Good." Saul stood up, pulling a few crumpled bills from his pocket to pay for his drink. He felt a

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his mother's ring, the other one still stashed in his bags.It was heavy, heavier than it looked. In the dim light of the penthouse, the metal seemed to absorb the glow of the city, pulsing with a faint, internal rhythm. It was the key to everything.his past, his "former standards," and the reason the KINAI Group was treating him like a misplaced king. He held it up, watching the light play off its intricate, alien engravings. Secrets, he thought. The world is built on secrets, His mission was clear now. He would play their game. He would let Kim and the KINAI Group "reintroduce" him to his own life.He would wear the suits and live in the glass fortress. He would find out who he was, and more importantly, who he was meant to become.The weight of the day finally won. His grip on the ring loosened, though he didn't drop it, his fingers curling protectively around the metal. His breathing slowed, evening out into the deep, heavy rhythm of e

The elevator chimed. Floor ninety-seven.The doors opened onto a hallway that was all glass and chrome, the floor polished to a mirror shine. At the far end, a set of double doors stood closed, and Saul could hear the low murmur of voices from the other side.Kim straightened her jacket, and the softness vanished. She was all steel again, her jaw set, her eyes sharp. "Stay behind me. Don't speak unless you have to. If anyone asks, you're a consultant from the Zurich office.""A consultant," Saul repeated. "Right. I can do that."She looked at him, and something flickered in her eyes, amusement? affection?, before it was gone. "Try not to look so terrified. You're supposed to be a billionaire.""I am a billionaire," Saul said, and the words felt like a lie.Kim didn't answer. She pushed open the doors.The boardroom was a vast space, all glass walls and dark wood, with a table that stretched the length of a tennis court. Twenty chairs surrounded it, each one occupied. Men and women in

“Don't do that." He ordered her quietly, not oblivious to the way she was reacting to him.Saul could literally see her tighten her hand, hidden by the back of the chair, gripped the armrest."Buy Eclipse," he continued, the words coming faster now, driven by something he didn't understand. "But not through Kinai. Set up a shell company. A private equity front. Approach Moore quietly. They're cash-poor right now. They'll sell if the price is right and the buyer isn't waving the Kinai flag. Acquire the patents. Acquire the talent. Then absorb them overnight. By the time Moore realizes what happened, it'll be too late."He straightened. Stepped back.The boardroom was frozen. Every face was turned toward him, some confused, some shocked, a few, like Hendricks, narrowed with suspicion.Kim didn't move for a long moment. Her back was straight, her hands folded on the table, her face a mask of calm. But Saul could see the pulse beating in her throat, fast and uneven.Then she turned to the