Ring of Power: The Billionaire's Secret

6 - Cultivate To Be Stronger

Chloe handed the phone back.

"Maya, listen to me," Mrs. Torres said. Her voice had that edge it got when she was trying to control her temper. "This is serious. That boy has wormed his way into some woman's wallet and now he's walking around acting like he matters. We need to do something."

Maya was quiet for a second. Jake could almost hear her thinking through the phone if he'd been there.

"Don't worry about it," Maya finally said. "Derek and I are going to the Titan Enterprises gala tomorrow. We'll see Jake there, probably begging for scraps. Derek's dad already has everything lined up."

"What do you mean?"

"Derek's father has been working on a deal with Titan for months. Some big project. Tomorrow at the anniversary celebration, the new chairman is supposed to sign off on it. Once that happens, the Mitchell family moves up. We're talking serious money. Second-tier family status."

Mrs. Torres's angry expression shifted. Got greedy. "Second-tier? Are you serious?"

"Dead serious. Derek's dad has inside connections at the company. The proposal is basically approved already. Just needs the chairman's signature and it's done." Maya's voice got sharper. Colder. "After tomorrow, we'll have real power in this city. And Jake? He'll just be some nobody with a sugar mommy who got lucky for five minutes. Derek will make sure he learns his place."

"Good." Mrs. Torres's smile was nasty. "That boy needs to be taught a lesson. After everything you did for him, dating him when he had nothing, and this is how he repays you? Embarrassing our family?"

"He'll regret it," Maya said. "Trust me. Tomorrow is going to be very educational for Jake Morrison."

She hung up.

Mrs. Torres looked at Chloe. Her expression had gone from angry to smug. "Did you hear that? Second-tier family. We're going to be second-tier."

"What does that even mean?" Chloe asked.

"It means money, you idiot. Real money. Power. Influence. The kind of status where store owners don't dare kick us out." Mrs. Torres straightened her jacket. "Come on. We need to get home and prepare for tomorrow. If Derek's family is moving up, we need to look the part."

They walked toward their car. Mrs. Torres was already planning her outfit in her head. Chloe was back on her phone, probably deleting the videos from tonight.

Neither of them noticed Jake and Sora's car pulling away from the curb two blocks down.

***

The ride back to the villa was quiet.

Jake held the bag with the crystal in it. The humming was getting stronger. More insistent. Like it knew he needed it. Like it was calling to him.

"You okay?" Sora asked. Her eyes flicked to the rearview mirror.

"Yeah. Just... processing." Jake looked out the window. The city lights blurred past. "This is all still so weird."

"You'll get used to it."

"Will I?" He laughed but it came out hollow. "Yesterday I was washing dishes. Today I bought a three million dollar crystal and watched you slap a woman twice. Tomorrow I'm supposed to be a CEO."

"You are a CEO," Sora corrected. "The title is already yours. Tomorrow you just make it official."

Jake's phone buzzed. He pulled it out. A text from Marcus.

"How did the crystal shopping go?"

Jake typed back. "Got it. Long story."

The reply came fast. "Good. Use it tonight. You'll need your strength for tomorrow. The wolves will be circling."

"Wolves?"

"The other families. The business leaders. Everyone who wants to know if you're weak. If you can be manipulated. Show them you can't."

Jake locked his phone. Put it back in his pocket.

'Wolves,' he thought. 'Great. Just what I need.'

They pulled up to the villa. The gate opened automatically. Sora parked in the circular driveway.

"Do you need anything else tonight?" she asked.

"No. I'm good. Thanks for... everything."

Sora's expression softened. Just a little. "Get some rest. Big day tomorrow."

She waited until he was inside before driving away.

***

The villa felt empty. Too big. Too quiet.

Jake went straight to the kitchen. Set the bag with the crystal on the counter. Then just stared at it for a minute.

His body was humming. The energy from the ring had been building all day. Getting stronger. More chaotic. He could feel it under his skin. In his bones. Like electricity looking for somewhere to go.

'Okay,' he thought. 'Let's do this.'

He opened the bag carefully. Pulled out the crystal. The moment his skin touched it, warmth spread through his palm.

The crystal glowed. Faint red light pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat. With the ring's pulse.

Information flooded his mind. Not words exactly. More like understanding. Knowledge appearing fully formed.

He needed to meditate. Use the techniques the ring had downloaded into his brain. Channel the energy through specific pathways in his body. Let the crystal stabilize it. Ground it.

Jake sat down on the kitchen floor. Cross-legged. The crystal in his lap. The ring on his finger.

He closed his eyes.

Breathed.

In. Out. In. Out.

The energy in his body shifted. Started moving. Following paths he'd never known existed. Through his chest. Down his arms. Into his legs. Circling. Building. Getting stronger.

The crystal got warmer. Not hot. Just warm. Comfortable. Like a heating pad on sore muscles.

Time stopped meaning anything. Jake floated in the sensation. The power flowing through him. Reshaping him. Making him stronger. Faster. More.

Images flashed through his mind. Techniques. Fighting styles. Ways to channel energy into physical force. How to see an opponent's weakness. How to strike with maximum efficiency.

But also other things. Business strategies. Negotiation tactics. How to read people. How to know when someone was lying.

It was like the ring was preparing him. Giving him everything he'd need to survive in this new world he'd been thrown into.

Hours passed. Or maybe minutes. Jake couldn't tell.

Finally, slowly, the energy stabilized. Settled into a steady hum instead of wild chaos. The crystal's glow faded. The ring's pulse became calm.

Jake opened his eyes.

The kitchen looked different. Sharper. Clearer. He could see dust particles floating in the air. Hear the hum of the refrigerator like it was right next to his ear. Smell something cooking in a house three doors down.

His body felt light. Strong. Like he could run a marathon and not break a sweat.

He stood up. Moved to the sink. Looked at his reflection in the window.

His eyes looked brighter. More alert. His skin had this glow to it. Healthy. Alive.

'Holy shit,' he thought. 'It actually worked.'

He checked his phone. Three in the morning. He'd been meditating for almost five hours.

But he wasn't tired. Not even a little. His body felt energized. Ready.

'I should sleep,' he told himself. 'Big day tomorrow. Need to be rested.'

But sleep didn't come. Every time he closed his eyes, his brain was too active. Too awake. The crystal had done something to him. Changed something fundamental.

So instead he went to the gym in the basement. Spent the rest of the night testing his new strength. His speed. His reflexes.

Everything was better. Faster. Stronger. It was like someone had unlocked limiters he didn't know he had.

By the time the sun started coming up, Jake had broken two punching bags and bent a pull-up bar just by gripping it too hard.

'Okay,' he thought, staring at the damage. 'Maybe I need to learn some control.'

But there was no time. Sora would be here in a few hours. The gala was today. His first official appearance as CEO of Titan Enterprises.

Jake showered. Changed into one of the suits from the closet. This one was charcoal gray. Made him look older. More professional.

He stared at himself in the mirror. At this person who looked like him but also didn't. Who had money and power and a future that wasn't just survival.

'You can do this,' he told his reflection. 'You have to do this.'

The ring pulsed. Warm. Encouraging.

***

Sora arrived at eight thirty. Sharp as always.

She took one look at Jake and raised an eyebrow. "You didn't sleep."

"Couldn't," Jake admitted. "Too much energy."

"The crystal worked then."

"Yeah. It definitely worked." He flexed his hand. "I feel like I could punch through a wall."

"Please don't." Sora's lips twitched. Almost a smile. "We have a reputation to maintain."

They got in the car. The drive downtown was smooth. Early morning traffic hadn't kicked in yet.

"Nervous?" Sora asked.

"Terrified," Jake said honestly.

"Good. Fear keeps you sharp." She glanced at him. "Just remember. You belong there. You're not pretending. You're not faking it. You're Marcus Vale's son. You own half the city now whether you feel ready or not."

"No pressure."

"Exactly."

They pulled up to the Titan Enterprises building. It was massive. Glass and steel stretching fifty stories into the sky. The company logo glinted in the morning sun.

Jake's stomach did a flip.

'This is really happening,' he thought. 'I'm really doing this.'

Sora parked in a reserved spot. VIP parking. Right near the entrance.

He got out. Started walking toward the doors.

That's when Jake saw them.

Derek and Maya. Standing near the entrance. Derek in an expensive suit. Maya in a dress that probably cost more than Jake used to make in three months.

They were talking to someone. Laughing. Derek had his arm around Maya's waist.

They looked happy. Comfortable. Like they belonged.

Jake's jaw tightened. The ring pulsed hot against his skin.

Then Maya turned. Her eyes landed on him.