Alex gazed at the ring first, then at the papers in front of him. His entire existence was built on deceit, and at this moment, everything was on the brink of transformation. “What happens once I sign these documents?"Elenor straightened up. "You become one of the most powerful people in the world, Alex. You'd have controlling interest in my business empire. You will be a billionaire."Alex mind flashed the two girls from his school that made fun of him and his fancy cars, to the humiliation he'd endured at the hands of the auto repair client. A slow smile spread across his face. "Where do I sign?" he asked.Elenor handed him a pen, and Alex signed his name with a flourish.“And with this I become a shareholder in your company?” Alex ask for confirmation.“Yes my darling. But remember you are a silent shareholder so all voting rights still belong to me.” Elenor said with seductive yet imposing voice."There's one more thing," Elenor said, a hint of excitement in her voice. She handed

Alex stood before the towering Drake Conglomerate headquarters, its glass and chrome structure piercing the morning sky. Inhaling deeply, he straightened his jacket - the best one he had, yet noticeably more informal than the suits passing by him.As he neared the security desk, a guard gave him a disapproving once-over."Would you like some assistance?" Asked the guard, indicating through his tone that he preferred to be doing something different.Alex confirmed “I am here for the board meeting”, attempting to appear assured.The guard snorted. "Right. And I'm here to buy the building. Listen, pal, deliveries are around back.""You don't understand. I'm Alex Carter-Drake. I'm supposed to-""Drake?" The guard's eyebrows shot up. "Let me get my supervisor."A moment later, a well-dressed woman in her forties approached, her heels clicking against the marble floor."I'm Ms. Peterson, head of security. There seems to be some confusion," she said, her smile not reaching her eyes."There'

Alex sat in the darkened living room of their mansion, nursing a glass of whiskey when the front door opened. Eleanor's heels clicked against the marble floor, then stopped.She softly expressed her surprise at finding that he had not left. "Where would I go? This is my prison, isn't it?"Eleanor moved closer, her silhouette illuminated by the city lights through the window. "Can we talk?""About what? How you humiliated me in front of the board? Or how you treat me like a possession?"She sat across from him, removing her heels. "I deserved that. I... I'm sorry, Alex."The admission made him look up. Eleanor Drake never apologized."You're sorry?""I overreacted. When I heard another woman's voice, I just..." She ran her fingers through her hair, letting it fall loose. "Do you know what people say about us?""That I'm a gold digger? That you're having a midlife crisis?"A small laugh escaped her. "Among other things. They say I'm desperate. That I'm trying to hold onto my youth by m

Alex stared at the holographic data floating before him, his hands trembling. "This can't be right.""What did you find?" Dr. Chen, one of the senior researchers, peered over his shoulder."The cellular degradation... it's accelerating." Alex swiped through more files. "Subject 23 completely rejected the cybernetic implants. Subject 17's neural pathways are deteriorating. This isn't transformation – it's killing them.""Mr. Drake!" Dr. Chen grabbed his arm. "Those files are restricted-""Because they show the truth?" Alex turned to face him. "How long have you known?"The lab door slid open. Eleanor stood there, her expression unreadable. "Leave us, Dr. Chen."Once alone, Alex projected the data onto the main screen. "Care to explain this?""You shouldn't have access to those files.""People are dying, Eleanor!""They knew the risks.""Did they? Did they know their bodies would reject the implants? That their minds would deteriorate until-""They signed the contracts.""Like I did?" A

The boardroom door burst open. Tyson Drake strode in, his signature smirk plastered across his face. The board meeting came to an abrupt halt."Sorry I'm late. Traffic was hell." He adjusted his Italian suit. "Don't stop on my account."Eleanor's knuckles turned white around her pen. "This is a private meeting.""Private?" Tyson pulled out his phone. "As a major shareholder, I believe I have every right to be here.""Major shareholder?" Alex leaned forward."Oh?" Tyson's smirk widened. "Eleanor didn't tell you? I've been quietly acquiring shares for months. Twenty-three percent, to be exact.""That's impossible," Eleanor snapped."Check the records, darling. I believe that earns me a seat at this table."Mr. Patterson, the head of the board, cleared his throat. "Perhaps we should take a brief recess-""No need." Tyson sat down directly opposite Eleanor. "Please, continue discussing the fascinating progress of Project Genesis. I'm particularly interested in the mortality rates."The ro