“What is it?” Conor asked as they reached the SUV and climbed into the back.“My grandfather has formally requested my presence at his estate at the end of the month,” Kerrigan said, slumping heavily down into the seat.“I thought you were on good terms with your grandparents, or at least not at odds with them,” Conor asked.“Not really. We are not on bad terms that I know of, other than never seeing them in many years. I don’t know, I guess I still harbor some resentment for them leaving me at the temple. I get it, it was safer that, at least until Zadok came to power. Under your mother’s care, it wasn’t too bad.” Kerrigan huffed and was quiet for a time and Conor simply let her collect her thoughts.“I miss having a family. MY family. They were never unkind to me that I remember but they also were not there for me either. I guess in their own way, their distance was meant to shield me. But that seems to be at an end. I guess…. I guess I am not sure how to feel towards them.” She fi

Kerrigan looked up from her notes, her brow furrowed. “What do you have in mind? I already told you, I don’t want to hurt the staff. If he falls, it needs to be without collateral damage were ever possible.”Conor smiled, appreciating her concern for her people. It was one of the many things he admired about her—her ability to balance ruthless efficiency with genuine care for those under her leadership.“What if we let Kelan take on a task that’s beyond his abilities?” Conor suggested, his voice measured. “Something that would require real leadership skills and deep knowledge of the company’s operations—skills he clearly lacks.”“Possible, but what exactly are you suggesting?”Leaning forward, Conor began, “We suggest to the board that Dragon Corporation needs a fresh perspective. Given Kelan’s self-proclaimed ‘innovative’ approach, he could be the perfect candidate to lead a major restructuring. Something complex and high-stakes, where his incompetence will be exposed for everyone t

The boardroom was an imposing space, with floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a sweeping view of the city skyline. The long, polished table in the center of the room was surrounded by high-backed leather chairs, each occupied by a member of Dragon Corporation’s board of directors. These were men with decades of experience, powerful connections, and, as Kerrigan well knew, their own agendas.Before, this room has been her seat of power, her throne room from whence she commanded loyalty and respect from the whole business world. Now, these old fools looked down at her as if a child had joined their midst.Young she may be, but she was the one who bore the wisdom of a millennia old dragon who had been with this company and its leaders since its founding.Kerrigan’s gaze swept across the faces of the board members, noting the subtle tension in the air. She knew they had been waiting for an opportunity to undermine her, to push her aside and install someone more pliable in her place. She

Kerrigan spent the next few hours immersed in the meticulous task of reviewing documents related to the restructuring. She had instructed Natalie to quietly gather any paperwork related to the reassignment of Stevic and Lear, while also looking for any irregularities in security protocols that might hint at foul play.As she worked, a knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. Natalie entered, a worried look on her face.“Kerrigan, I’ve been going through the records like you asked,” she began, holding up a folder. “There’s something strange here. Stevic and Lear were reassigned to different divisions, but the orders came directly from the board, not Breanna. And there’s no record of Breanna approving the transfers.”Kerrigan’s heart sank. The board’s involvement confirmed her worst fears. “Who signed off on the orders?”Natalie hesitated, her eyes filled with concern. “It was Kelan.”The name sent a surge of anger through Kerrigan. Kelan had been meddling with her security, and

Kelan Benidict strode through the halls of Dragon Corporation with an air of triumph. He reveled in the power he wielded, the authority that had been handed to him by the board.The layoffs were well underway, and he had no intention of slowing down. In his mind, this was his moment—his chance to reshape the company in his image, to prove to his father and the board that he was a force to be reckoned with.As he entered the R&D department, the atmosphere was tense. Employees glanced up from their workstations, their expressions a mix of fear and uncertainty. Kelan barely acknowledged them as he made his way to the office of Dr. Miles Irving, one of the company’s leading engineers.“Dr. Irving,” Kelan said as he entered the office, not bothering to knock.Miles looked up, a frown creasing his brow. “Mr. Benidict. What can I do for you?”Kelan didn’t waste time with pleasantries. “I’m here to inform you that we’re cutting 25% of the R&D staff. Effective immediately.”Miles’s eyes widene