A murmur swept through the crowd, disbelief painted on many faces. Tom’s statement was a shock, especially to Robin Hendrix, the acting CEO of the Hendrix Corporation. The younger Hendrix brother, Jackson, was standing at the edge of the crowd, his face flushed with anger. He had expected this partnership to be the highlight of the evening, a step toward solidifying his family’s legacy in the business world.As the murmurs grew louder, Robin’s patience thinned. “What the hell?” he shouted, cutting through the chatter. “You can’t just say that here, Tom!”Tom’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he maintained his composure. “This isn’t just a business decision, Robin. We have our reasons.”“Yeah, and I bet they’re all about you trying to play the hero,” Robin snapped back. “You’re just scared of the competition.”Before Tom could respond, chaos erupted. Guests were caught in the crossfire of mounting tensions, glancing between the podium and the enraged CEO. Whispers morphed into heated deba

Jake gave the butler a stiff nod as he dismissed him and then turned his attention back to Tom. “Just see to it that we keep growing in the same markets as Robin’s company and get near enough to them to make their foundation crumble beneath them. If Robin comes after us, we’ll be waiting for him.”Tom rose from his chair in equal determination. “I’ll send you a detailed report on everything they do.”As Tom left, Jake leaned back into the couch. Satisfaction washed over him. The Hendrix siblings may have been born into wealth, but they were about to be schooled in humility.***That night, Jake found himself at the massive polished mahogany dinner table alone with his thoughts and untouched plate.The shadows danced among the old, red wood, leaving soft pools of light in the oppressively silent darkness. Earlier that evening his mind had buzzed with the thoughts of conquest, of revenge and justice. But now a heavy shroud hung over him; a weight no power could take off.He inhaled deepl