The Rise of John Raymond

Chapter 38: The Power Houses

The room was thick with tension until the deep, commanding voice of John’s grandfather sliced through the silence.

“Can the both of you just behave like adults for once and let bygones be bygones?” he said, his eyes shifting between Agnes and Jamal, whose subtle jabs at each other had turned a professional gathering into a stage for their personal grievances.

Bobby White, who had been flipping through the pages of his report, muttered under his breath without looking up. “It’s clear they’re still not over each other.”

A few people tried to suppress their smirks.

Jamal let out a short breath, then reached for his mic. “Apologies, sir. Let me allow the young lady to speak,” he said and turned off his microphone, giving Agnes the floor.

“Thank you,” John’s grandfather responded, nodding approvingly. He turned to Agnes and gestured that she could now speak.

Agnes shifted slightly in her seat, her posture regal, her expression unreadable. Her voice, when it came, was smooth and deliberate, with a hint of her Southern roots.

“Hello John,” she said, her eyes locking with his. “You’re as handsome as your grandfather was at your age, I must say.”

Some people chuckled lightly, but Agnes’s expression remained serious.

“My name is Agnes Smith, but please, call me Agnes. I am... the government.”

John blinked.

“The government?” he thought, puzzled, unsure if she meant it metaphorically or literally. His expression remained neutral, but internally, he was intrigued.

Agnes smiled knowingly, as if she had anticipated his confusion.

“Yes, I say ‘the government’ because I ensure that all global policies align with our empire’s interests. I liaise with diplomats, presidents, and lawmakers across continents. I influence regulations, draft treaties, and if needed, make things disappear before they become problems. In short—if anything needs to become law, I make it happen. Or, as your grandfather would say, your words are law... but only if I say them out loud.”

She gave a subtle, amused smile as she finished, and Jamal looked down at his hands.

John didn’t miss the loaded silence that followed her introduction.

Then came the ping on John’s tablet. It was the secretary. She had typed a quick message for him, discreetly sliding it into his private feed:

“Trust me, it’s a very complicated story. Stay out of it for your own good.”

Curious, John clicked on the attached file. What followed was a succinct but detailed background of Agnes and Jamal’s history together.

A power couple once celebrated within the empire, their relationship had dissolved after Jamal’s affair with a foreign diplomat came to light. He had claimed it was a diplomatic necessity, a lie Agnes uncovered after a decade-long secret affair and the birth of two children. It turned out Jamal had a son with Agnes—whom he refused to have more children with—yet had two with the diplomat he cheated with. That betrayal had broken Agnes.

She divorced him, moved on, and was now happily married with three children. Jamal, on the other hand, still nursed regrets and made subtle attempts to win her back. But Agnes had built walls no charm could penetrate.

John’s expression remained impassive, but inside he was impressed by the secretary’s ability to summarise someone’s life like a tabloid article. Still, he wisely kept quiet.

The mic clicked again.

“Hi,” came Jamal’s voice. “I’m Jamal, and as Agnes mentioned, we were once married.”

He gave a tight smile, his gaze flicking momentarily toward her, though she didn’t even glance in his direction.

“I’m the lead tech innovator for the Raymond Empire. I handle all technical systems—coding, software design, algorithm engineering. Think of me as the motherboard of the entire operation. I create, fix, and protect everything digital. And I hope to continue doing so under your leadership.”

He turned off his mic.

The next mic buzzed to life.

“Mr. Carter Le,” said a quiet but familiar voice. John perked up slightly—he recognised the man. They had briefly interacted during a past event, though not formally.

“I head the mechanics and engineering department. All machinery, engines, AI-enabled devices... I build them, maintain them, and dream them into existence. I spend most of my time in the lab because machines don’t talk back.”

The room gave a collective chuckle, especially at his deadpan tone.

“I look forward to transforming the world with you, John,” he added, then turned off his mic.

Agnes, seated two chairs away, leaned slightly toward her mic and whispered, “Where else would he be?”

John fought to hide a smile. There was clearly a lot of character in this room.

“Next person, please,” the secretary called out, glancing briefly at the schedule.

A woman with chestnut hair and an earthy, composed look turned on her mic. “Hi, I’m Emily Walsh. I manage agriculture, food production, and manufacturing within the empire. That includes everything from commercial crops to wildlife preservation. Currently, we’re crossbreeding several endangered species to avoid extinction. You’re welcome to visit anytime—it's quite the experience.”

She turned off her mic.

Another mic turned on.

“I’m Martin,” said a deep voice. “Head of Properties, Assets, Logistics, and Maintenance. Any land or building that has our name on it, I know about it, and I maintain it. You need to acquire or protect anything physical? I’m your man. Looking forward to working with you.”

He flashed a coy smile and turned off the mic.

John reached for his coffee and took a sip. It was rich, warm, and strong—just like the empire he was gradually beginning to comprehend. Each person in this room represented a powerful pillar. He wondered how his grandfather had managed to keep it all running for so long, and silently vowed to do even better.

Next up was a poised woman with striking red lipstick. She smiled at him through the screen before speaking.

“Lea’s the name,” she said. “I handle business development, investments, and social services. My team scouts for new partners, manages capital influxes, and oversees all our charity programs and public relations efforts. I always say—make money and spend it wisely. And with you here, I look forward to doing both.”

She turned off her mic with a soft smile.

The next was a man in a navy suit with glasses and a calm demeanour.

“Hi, I’m Ade. I manage the health and wellness sector of the empire. That includes hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and global medical outreach. I’m also the family doctor, so if you catch a cold—or worse—I’m your guy.”

There were a few soft laughs around the room.

“We’re proud to say our labs have cured several rare illnesses. We plan to do even more.”

He nodded and turned off his mic.

A few seconds passed before the next mic clicked on.

“My name is Chucks,” said a deep, well-known voice. “Many of you already know me as the Family Estate Manager and Chief Administrative Officer of this empire. Everything and everyone runs through me, and I intend to keep it that way.”

Brief and direct. He turned his mic off immediately and leaned back.

Finally, the last mic came on.

“Hi, I’m Hera,” said a smooth, assertive voice. “Legal matters are my world. I work with Agnes to ensure the empire remains compliant across every territory. I also handle crisis management and litigation. If you find yourself in legal trouble, I’ll get you out—or make sure it disappears.”

Her gaze met John’s directly, and then she turned off her mic.

The room shifted slightly as everyone waited for the next name.

“There was one more important person meant to be here,” the secretary said, her voice now formal again. “But they are currently unavailable.”

Everyone in the room knew who she referred to. The unspoken name. The shadow that occasionally walked into meetings when the balance of the empire truly hung in the air.

He showed up only when absolutely necessary.

John sat back slightly. His mind was still spinning, absorbing the magnitude of the empire and the influence surrounding him. These weren’t just employees. They were powerhouses. Each one controlled an arm of the world—technology, diplomacy, military, law, medicine, wealth, and secrets.

The secretary reached for her mic again, tapping lightly on the screen to transition the meeting.

“Now that introductions are complete,” she said, “we move to the next and most important agenda for today…”

Her voice became clearer, firmer.

“The New Contract.”