Reclaiming Back My Empire

The Living Dead

The massive crystal chandeliers inside the historic grand ballroom of the Charleston Custom House shone very brightly. Hundreds of wealthy senators, multi-billionaires, and top foreign investors crowded the shiny white marble floors.

The loud chatter of high society filled the big room while media cameras flashed non-stop. Everyone was smiling, drinking expensive wine, and celebrating the new leaders of the city.

Raymond Ashford stood right next to a giant ice sculpture that was shaped exactly like the Ashford Group logo. He held a glass of champagne high in the air, his face completely flushed with arrogant pride.

"It was not an easy task, gentlemen," Raymond bragged loudly to a group of wealthy politicians standing around him. "This new international trade deal with the European market will double our corporate profits by next month."

"We always knew you had the brains for this, Raymond," a tall senator laughed, patting him hard on the back. "Your late brother Derek was always far too scared to make such massive, aggressive moves."

"Derek was too old-school," Raymond sneered, taking a sip from his glass. "He spent three whole years begging those Europeans and negotiating small terms, but I walked in and closed the entire deal in just one day."

A few feet away, Vanessa moved through the wealthy crowd like a proud, royal queen ruling over her kingdom. She wore a stunning designer dress, and her skin was practically glowing under the bright chandelier lights.

A flawless, massive pear-cut diamond necklace hung tightly around her neck, catching the light with every single step she took. Derek had originally spent millions of dollars to commission that exact necklace for their upcoming wedding anniversary.

Now, she wore it proudly to celebrate her marriage to his younger brother, without feeling a single ounce of guilt, fear, or remorse.

"Oh, please, do not make me laugh," Vanessa condescended to a small group of minor shareholders who stood near the food table. "Derek’s conservative management style was completely outdated and slow."

"But Mrs. Ashford, Derek built this entire company from the ground up," an elderly shareholder whispered quietly. "He kept our stock prices safe and stable for over ten years."

"And that is exactly why the company was completely stuck in the past," Vanessa mocked, letting out a sharp, cold giggle. "Raymond has a truly modern, aggressive vision that will make us all much richer than Derek ever could."

In the background, Vanessa’s younger brother, Tommy, was standing with a group of young rich models. He was dressed in a very expensive silk suit, waving a set of shiny car keys wildly in the air.

"I just picked up my brand new red Italian sports car this morning," Tommy bragged loudly, downing a glass of wine. "It has a custom engine and costs more than a mansion."

"Wow, Tommy," one of the models gasped, touching his arm. "Did you win the lottery or something?"

"Better than that," Tommy laughed, winking at her. "My sister’s new husband approved the money directly from the company's charity fund. Derek used to complain about every single cent because he's very stingy, but Raymond knows how to take care of the family."

Outside the building, a sleek black luxury sedan pulled up quietly to the secure VIP entrance. The sky was pitch-black, and a heavy, violent rain began to fall hard against the concrete ground.

The thick raindrops splashed wildly, mirroring the exact terrifying weather from the tragic night of the plane crash sixty days ago. The car door opened, and a pair of shiny leather shoes stepped out onto the wet road.

Derek stepped out of the vehicle, his broad shoulders moving majestically through the pouring rain.

Inside the building, two elite security guards stood directly in front of the secure elevator corridor, blocking the path. They wore earpieces and looked very serious as they scanned the crowd for intruders.

Derek walked straight toward them, his face hidden slightly. His posture was completely alpha, and he did not slow down his pace for even a single second.

"Stop right there, sir," the first guard ordered, putting his hand out. "This is a highly secure VIP zone, and you need a special invitation code to pass."

Derek did not say a single word back to them, and his face remained as cold as mountain ice. He calmly reached into his pocket and pulled out the sleek, black titanium Master Security Override Keycard.

He swiped the heavy metal card smoothly against the secure electronic reader on the wall. The digital screen flashed bright green instantly, and a loud click echoed through the quiet corridor.

The guards froze in absolute shock as the heavy elevator doors slid wide open for him. They stared at the card, then looked up to see his face clearly under the hallway light.

A massive, angry purple scar tracked all the way up his neck, making him look like a phantom that had crawled out of a grave. The guards wanted to yell, but their throats felt completely paralyzed by his terrifying, frozen gaze.

Derek stepped into the elevator, and the doors closed quietly, leaving the guards shaking in the hallway.

Back inside the crowded, noisy grand ballroom, Raymond stepped up on the central stage podium. He tapped the microphone twice, causing a loud, sharp ring to echo across the marble floor.

The lively orchestra music stopped playing instantly, and all the wealthy guests turned around to face the stage. The media reporters rushed forward, pointing their heavy camera lenses straight at Raymond.

Raymond smiled widely, gesturing proudly to a giant projector screen that sat directly behind the stage podium. The screen changed, displaying a massive, golden-bordered portrait of Derek Ashford smiling warmly.

Beneath the giant picture of the dead tycoon, bold letters read: "In Loving Memory: A Legacy Reborn."

"Thank you all for being here tonight," Raymond spoke into the microphone, his voice sounding completely fake and dramatic. "As we merge our assets and look to the future, we must never forget the man who started it all."

Vanessa stood at the front of the stage, holding a glass of champagne, pretending to look sad for the flashing cameras.

"My dear older brother Derek is looking down on us from heaven right now," Raymond lied smoothly, wiping his dry eye. "He always wanted the best for this family, and he always wanted the Ashford Group to rule the world."

The crowd let out a soft sigh, completely fooled by his performative words.

"I know deep in my heart that my brother would be incredibly proud to see me hold this great mantle tonight," Raymond uttered, lifting his glass higher. "He would want us to celebrate this beautiful new union."

Suddenly, before anyone could even take a breath to clap, a sound like a bomb went off.

The massive, ten-foot-tall oak double doors at the back of the ballroom were thrown open with a thunderous, deafening bang.

The violent impact shook the heavy stone walls, and the beautiful crystal chandeliers rattled wildly above the crowd. The sudden noise echoed through the entire room, stopping everyone's hearts in an instant.

Every single person in the hall turned around in shock, their eyes wide with fear as a thick, cold draft of wind and rain rushed into the room from outside.