2026-02-12 15:26:16
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The arcane meetup part 2
The arcade hummed with faint electronic beeps and the muffled cheers of teenagers lost in their games. But here, in this quieter corner where the machines were older and the lighting dimmer, it felt as if the world had shrunk to just the two of them.Bruce stood with his hands in his pockets as Lucy faced him, her eyes heavy with fatigue."You blocked my number," she said, her voice flat. There was no judgement in her tone, only bitterness.Bruce nodded slowly. "Yes, I did."Lucy met his eyes. "Why?"He maintained eye contact with her. "Because Blake asked me to stay away from you. And because it was the right thing to do."Lucy let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "The right thing to do. That's what you call it?" She shook her head. "You disappear for three years. No calls, no messages, nothing. And then you come back with a girlfriend and expect me to just accept it?"Bruce's forehead creased. "I didn't expect anything from you, Lucy. You made it clear years ago what we were. You said
The arcane meetup
It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon, with the warm sun shining over the emerald green of the private golf course. Bruce stood at the tee with a relaxed stance, holding his club loosely in his hands. A small group of club members gathered around him, observing him closely. They were all wealthy businessmen and executives from various industries. Each of them were acquainted with him as Bruce Smith, the rising star at Shepherd Group.One of them, a stout man with a flushed face and a hearty laugh, leaned on his club. "So, Bruce, I've been hearing a lot about Shepherd Group's decision to invest heavily in artificial intelligence. Bold move. Everyone's talking about it."Bruce lined up his shot, his eyes focused on the ball. "It's the future," he said plainly. "Shepherd Group has always been about evolution. We either adapt or we perish."Another man, slender and wearing glasses, shook his head. "But $20 trillion dollars? Really? That's a massive gamble. I've seen companies try to brea
The pitch
A few days after the Genesis Aerospace dinner party, another board meeting took place at Shepherd Group. The boardroom was silent as Bruce stepped forward, his presence commanding attention. The board members sat in their high-backed leather chairs, eyeing Bruce with skepticism as he delivered his pitch.Bruce placed his hands on the table, his eyes sweeping across the room. "Ladies and gentlemen, I know I'm still new to this board, but I believe I've found something that could take Shepherd Group to the next level."He glanced at Victoria, who gave him a subtle nod of encouragement."As many of you know, Victoria and I attended Genesis Aerospace's dinner party. While we were there, we mingled with some of their top engineers and strategists. We learned quite a bit about their vision for the future." He paused. "In the coming decades, people will be able to fly back and forth in space. It's no longer science fiction; it's happening now."The board members exchanged glances. A few lean
The drive home
The champagne had worn off somewhere between the city skyline and the bridge crossing the river. Lucy blinked slowly as the gentle hum of the Rolls-Royce's engine filled her ears. She had been staring out the window for what felt like hours, watching the city lights bleed into streaks of gold and red.Her head still throbbed from the alcohol she had. She never drank alcohol until this evening, which caused her a slight headache. Whenever she thought about the party, the engagement announcement, and the way Bruce had looked at her when she confronted him at the bar, her headache worsened. At that moment, an image suddenly flashed through her mind. An image of Victoria Cross wrapping her arm around Bruce's as if she owned him. Lucy pressed her fingers to her temples, trying to push the memory away. It didn't work.Beside her, Blake sat with one leg crossed over the other, his phone screen glowing brightly in front of him. He had been scrolling through messages for the past few minut
Blake and Bruce
After they announced the engagement, Bruce and Victoria hung around for like ten more minutes before finally heading out. Bruce was about to follow Victoria toward the exit when Blake's voice stopped him."Bruce, a moment, if you don't mind."Bruce turned as Blake gestured toward a quiet alcove near the edge of the hall, away from the crowd. Bruce glanced at Victoria, who gave him a slight nod, then followed Blake.The alcove was small, lined with velvet curtains and dimly lit by a single lamp. It was quiet enough to hold a conversation. Blake leaned against the wall, still holding his champagne glass. "Lucy told me a lot about you. About how you two met. How you were neighbors. How you stood by her side in challenging times."Bruce inclined his head. "Did she now?"Blake smiled, his eyes sharp but warm. "She mentioned how you paid her rent when she couldn't afford it. How you covered Tyler's hospital bills. How you were there for her after the accident that cost her the use of her l
The bar conversation
As soon as Blake and Lucy disappeared into the crowd, Bruce pulled his arm free from Victoria's grip and turned to her sharply. "What are you doing? We're not dating." Victoria's smile remained calm. "Relax. This is all part of my plan." Bruce frowned, his brow tightening. "What plan?" Victoria leaned in, lowering her voice to a whisper. "Now that Blake thinks we're together, he'll take us more seriously. He'll invite us to more private meetings, and treat us like close friends. Couples let their guard down around other couples. It's human nature." Bruce's eyes narrowed as he processed her words. "You think he'll let us in if we act like a couple?" Victoria nodded, maintaining a steady gaze. "He's ambitious, but he's also arrogant. He'll want to show off in order to impress us. That's when we'll get the information we need." Bruce was quiet for a moment, running his hand through his hair. It was a risky move, yet he had to admit it was pure genius. "Alright," he said at last. "
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