Enoch smiled to his satisfaction as the trucks belonging to the new furniture company arrived in front of the Empire Building. Large containers were filled with sleek new office furniture and all the latest equipment to bring transformation into that old space. Enoch felt a deep sense of accomplishment."Be careful with that," he called out to the movers as they began unloading, his firm but friendly tone belying his excited pacing around the delivery. "This stuff isn't cheap."One of them looked up at him then and nodded. "We'll take good care of it, sir."Enoch's chest swelled with pride. Stephen was out of town on holiday, so Enoch took the reins, and this big office refurbishment was a giant step to stamp his authority. It had cost a staggering 30 million dollars, though he felt every cent well worth it. The upgrades would reflect his taste, but more than that, they would symbolize his new role as the head of the empire.As the last of the items were signed for, and the delivery c
Stephen took a deep breath, adjusted his tie, and began to prepare for dinner at the restaurant on the yacht. Ariane was bouncing, her eyes wide with excitement. And Marianne, as always so elegant, was having the final touches of her makeup done as he caught her pleased smirk in the vanity mirror."Yuna, aren't you coming along?" Stephen asked, watching the young woman lingering at the door, her eyes darting nervously to Marianne.Yuna shook her head; her voice shook. "No…I don't feel very good today, some stomach ache," she stammered and further did not raise her eyes.Stephen frowned, his concern deepening. "You sure? You shouldn't be alone here. It's not safe.""She says she's not feeling well, Stephen," Marianne broke in, her voice tones dismissive. "Let's not force her. We really must go."Ariane pulled on her father's sleeve with a restless whine. "Daddy, come on! We're going to be late!"Stephen heaved a sigh as the mix of worry over Yuna and pressure to move on pressed in on h
The waiter arrived to take their plates away, and Stephen had just cleaned his plate. Still in thought about Yuna, he looked up and said, "I'd like to order spaghetti, two chicken dishes with sauce to go, please."Marianne's eyebrow went up. "Who is it for, Stephen? We have all just eaten."Stephen's brain raced. "That would be for Yuna. She might be getting hungry; she did not look that well earlier."Marianne sighed and shook her head. "You worry too much. She's probably fine."He ignored her and eyed the waiter as he scribbled down the order and then left. In no time, the bill came—$150k. He sighed inwardly. Dinner on a luxury yacht was really very dear. He slid in his hand to find his wallet missing. He had left it in the cabin on the bed. Panic rushed in."I forgot my ATM card," Stephen said, standing up suddenly. "I'll just be a minute."Marianne frowned. "Stephen, really?""I won't be long," he said before he hurriedly left the restaurant.Stephen quickened his gait back toward
Stephen returned with his ATM card in hand. He passed it to the waiter, who did whatever he did on his acceptor to deduct the 150k from his account. Marianne frowned and brought her eyes to a squint at him."What's all that about, Stephen?" she asked, her voice sharp.Stephen sighed inwardly, trying not to lose his cool. "Yuna was missing. I found her on the top deck with Charles.""Charles? As in Charles Monogamy?" Marianne's eyebrows rose, surprise mixed with suspicion. "What's he doing here?""That's what I'm trying to figure out," Stephen replied, forcing the knot of frustration tightening his chest to stay ignored. "Let's just get back to the cabin."They walked back in silence, the air thick with tension between them. As they neared the door, Marianne couldn't hold back anymore. "Stephen, this is getting ridiculous. First, Yuna, now Charles. What is going on?"Stephen turned to face her, his face tired. "Marianne, you wouldn't understand. All you seem to do is enjoy this lavish
Enoch's heart was racing as he threw on his clothes. His thoughts came, one more panicked than the next. He barked at the two girls sprawled on the floor as he buttoned his shirt. "Get up and get out. Party's over."The girls stirred, grumbling as they gathered their things. The mess around him—pizza boxes, empty bottles, discarded clothing—helped increase his feeling of urgency. He surveyed the trashed living room before he let out a sigh. "I'm going to have to hire a cleaner," he muttered. "And that costs money. just like the $1.5 million we just lost."He couldn't but swear at his luck when the girls stumbled out. "Why doesn't the system choose me? Stephen's got it all: a surefire way to bring in unlimited cash. No, it's always Stephen." His anger mounted with every step toward Victor's garage.The sight of the exotic cars parked inside momentarily distracted him. Victor had always had good taste. Enoch stroked a hand over the sleek hood of one car, whistling at its design. "Man, V
Charles sat in the chair without ever losing his smirk, and Stephen felt his anger surge. "I don't remember telling you to sit," Stephen said with a voice like ice.Charles leaned back in his chair and said, completely undaunted, "Cool off, Stephen, we're all chums here, aren't we?"Stephen was opening his mouth to respond when Marianne broke in with her calm, courteous tones, "Charles, would you care for something to drink or eat?Stephen chuckled to himself. When did Marianne become a hostess to uninvited guests? He pushed the thought aside and focused on Charles. "Let's cut to the chase, Charles. What's with the visit?"Charles sighed, his eyes drifting to his black cat, now purring contentedly as Yuna stroked it. "I came to discuss some business, Stephen."Stephen's eyes turned hard. "Business? In my cabin on any yacht, and in the midst of family?Charles shrugged. "Sometimes business can't wait. And besides, I thought you'd appreciate a little company."Marianne laid a light palm
Enoch sat in his office, trying to help the documents from his table not to be blown away by the fan. He tried, but some fluttered to the floor and scattered like fallen leaves. He muttered to himself, "Damn office. Since morning I have been here attending to these requests and issues. Running an empire isn't easy. Stephen is trying," he whispered, shaking his head with anger tempered by respect for the colleague.This was broken by his phone suddenly starting to ring. "Who's calling me now?" he growled, ignoring the call as it cut off. Turning back to the papers with a sigh, he slumped into his office chair, etching weariness all over his face. "If only I could just fix all this," he said in exhaustion.Suddenly, he looked up to find a figure standing in front of him. The presence was suitably quiet; the man was dressed in some type of uniform. "Who are you?" Enoch inquired, his voice laced with suspicion.The man advanced, quite calm in demeanor. "Do you need a little help?" He pick
Clarke's eyes gleamed with a hunting light. "Many people don't know about the system, Enoch. Your surprise is understandable, but I'm not here to watch you be surprised. I need you to tell me what you know about the system."Enoch ignored him, standing to his feet and opening the door, indicting that Clarke should leave his office. "Get out," he said coldly.Clarke didn't flinch. "How did you control the system?"That question made Enoch stop. "What do you mean, control?"He suddenly remembered back at the courthouse when he had somehow managed to seize control of the system. He looked at Clarke while closing the door so that nobody would hear their conversation. Now he seemed interested, eager to know more. "How did you know about the system that I could control?"Seeing his surprised face, Clarke added, "I'll return with whatever help you need, plus a free bonus on top of it."Enoch raised an eyebrow. "What could that be?""I'll help you get Stephen out of the way," said Clarke, smi
Stephen sat in the corner of a dimly lit café, staring out the window. He had sat there for hours, sipping cold coffee and watching the rain trickle down the glass. The café wasn't crowded-just a few people scattered about, lost in their conversations. His foot tapped impatiently under the table. Enoch was late. Very late. The waiter had been by twice, offering Stephen polite smiles, asking if he needed anything else. Each time, he waved him off, too intent on what was to come. His mind was reeling, questions, doubts, and a growing sense of frustration building inside him. Enoch was never this late. The doorbell above the entrance jingled, and Stephen looked up. His heart stopped at the sight of Enoch stepping inside, shaking rain from his coat. He glanced briefly around the room before his eyes fell upon Stephen, and he hastened to him, an apologetic smile on his face. "Sorry to have kept you waiting," Enoch said, reaching for the chair opposite of Stephen. Stephen did not sa
Stephen sat in the corner of a dimly lit café, staring out the window. He had sat there for hours, sipping cold coffee and watching the rain trickle down the glass. The café wasn't crowded-just a few people scattered about, lost in their conversations. His foot tapped impatiently under the table. Enoch was late. Very late. The waiter had been by twice, offering Stephen polite smiles, asking if he needed anything else. Each time, he waved him off, too intent on what was to come. His mind was reeling, questions, doubts, and a growing sense of frustration building inside him. Enoch was never this late. The doorbell above the entrance jingled, and Stephen looked up. His heart stopped at the sight of Enoch stepping inside, shaking rain from his coat. He glanced briefly around the room before his eyes fell upon Stephen, and he hastened to him, an apologetic smile on his face. "Sorry to have kept you waiting," Enoch said, reaching for the chair opposite of Stephen. Stephen did not say an
Stephen sat in the corner of a dimly lit café, staring out the window. He had sat there for hours, sipping cold coffee and watching the rain trickle down the glass. The café wasn't crowded-just a few people scattered about, lost in their conversations. His foot tapped impatiently under the table. Enoch was late. Very late. The waiter had been by twice, offering Stephen polite smiles, asking if he needed anything else. Each time, he waved him off, too intent on what was to come. His mind was reeling, questions, doubts, and a growing sense of frustration building inside him. Enoch was never this late. The doorbell above the entrance jingled, and Stephen looked up. His heart stopped at the sight of Enoch stepping inside, shaking rain from his coat. He glanced briefly around the room before his eyes fell upon Stephen, and he hastened to him, an apologetic smile on his face. "Sorry to have kept you waiting," Enoch said, reaching for the chair opposite of Stephen. Stephen did not say an
Stephen sat in the corner of a dimly lit café, staring out the window. He had sat there for hours, sipping cold coffee and watching the rain trickle down the glass. The café wasn't crowded-just a few people scattered about, lost in their conversations. His foot tapped impatiently under the table. Enoch was late. Very late.The waiter had been by twice, offering Stephen polite smiles, asking if he needed anything else. Each time, he waved him off, too intent on what was to come. His mind was reeling, questions, doubts, and a growing sense of frustration building inside him. Enoch was never this late.The doorbell above the entrance jingled, and Stephen looked up. His heart stopped at the sight of Enoch stepping inside, shaking rain from his coat. He glanced briefly around the room before his eyes fell upon Stephen, and he hastened to him, an apologetic smile on his face."Sorry to have kept you waiting," Enoch said, reaching for the chair opposite of Stephen.Stephen did not say anythi
Stephen stood by the door, watching as Victor’s car grew smaller in the distance. The rumble of the engine slowly faded, leaving nothing but the usual quiet that hung around the small neighborhood. He let out a breath, resting his hand on the doorframe. The last two months had been tough—tougher than he ever imagined.Without the system—the network of contacts and favors that once made his life easy—Stephen had to figure out a way to survive on his own. And it wasn’t glamorous. Every day was a grind, a constant scramble for enough money to cover the basics. Work wasn’t easy to come by, not when you’d burned as many bridges as he had. But he’d managed to find some odd jobs here and there—just enough to scrape by, though never enough to truly get ahead.He closed the door softly, the sound echoing through the small room. Glancing around the cramped space, he couldn’t help but think of the penthouse he once called home. The stark difference between his old life and this one weighed on hi
Stephen stood in the door and watched as Victor's car dwindled to a dot on the horizon. The rumble of the motor died out, leaving only the silent night air hovering over the little neighborhood. He exhaled a breath, his hand falling to rest on the doorframe. The last two months had been rough-tougher than he ever imagined.No system to fall back on now-the network of contacts and favors that oiled his life-Stephen was forced to scrounge some means of survival for himself. Not quite glamorous, the daily fight, the eternal hustle just for the real basics. Jobs were not easy to find, not when one had burned bridges as he had. But he'd been able to find odd jobs here and there, enough just to scrape by, never enough to get any further ahead.He closed the door behind him with a quiet click. The softness echoed inside the tiny room. Glancing around at the cramped quarters, his mind strayed to the penthouse he once called home. The stark dissimilarities between where his life used to be and
Two months later, Victor stared at the address on his phone, then at the small, run-down building in front of him. It didn’t look like a place Stephen would be living. The paint was peeling off the walls, and the grass in front was overgrown. This was far from the sleek, modern apartment Stephen used to own.Victor killed the engine, stepped out of his car, and walked toward the house. It was a self-contained unit—cheap, cramped, and barely enough for one person. He checked the address again. Room number 9. It matched. Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.When he reached room 9, he knocked hard. The wood felt thin under his knuckles, like the door could break if he wasn’t careful. He knocked again, louder this time.After a moment, the door creaked open. Victor’s eyebrows shot up. Standing in front of him was Stephen, but he was almost unrecognizable. His hair was longer, his face covered with a scruffy beard, and he’d gained weight—his old sharp features now s
Standing beside Ariane's bed, his mind was spinning as he stared down at the screen of the system on his phone. His fingers trembling, he hit the icon for healing skills. He muttered under his breath, "Why can't this work on her? Why can't I save her?The system kept mum-no explanation, no solution. The shallow breathing of his daughter echoed in the room; every weak breath made him helpless. Stephen swallowed hard as his throat went dry. He could fix deals, he could manipulate numbers, but here in this hospital room, he was powerless.The door creaked open, and Stephen turned to see Enoch step in. Gone was Enoch's usual smug expression, replaced with a concerned frown. "What are you doing here?" Stephen's voice was low, edged with suspicion.Enoch shrugged, glancing over at Ariane. "Heard she was sick, so I decided to come by. How's she doing?"Stephen stared at him for a long moment, unsure of how to reply. His mind flashed back to his earlier doubts. Ariane wasn't his daughter, at
Stephen sat cross-legged on a soft mat, his eyes closed to focus on the calm voice of the guru. The air around him was scented with burning incense; a low hum of chanting echoed softly from the walls. He had called in the guru in a last-ditch effort to clear his mind, escape the relentless pull of the system. It had started to devour him, bit by bit, till it was all he could think of, all he could perceive.He was losing his grip, and he knew it.The guru's voice came, calm: "Breathe in. breathe out. let your thoughts flow like water. Do not cling to them."Stephen sucked in an enormous breath, then let it slowly out again, as if to expel everything at the same time: the market crash, the system, the deals that went right past him. The tension between him and Enoch was endless. He'd gotten pulled into something so much bigger than he was that he couldn't possibly control it himself, and however hard Stephen fought his way free of it, he felt ensnared.Then, though, as his breathing st