Marcus could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins as he raced down the dimly lit corridors of the maximum security prison. He had been planning this escape for months, meticulously studying the guards' routines and weaknesses until he found his opening. Coupled with the man he had on the inside who was also a guard, he was finally able to have a chance at freedom.With the warden unconscious and stripped of his keys, Marcus was able to make his way undetected through the labyrinth of locked doors and checkpoints. He was a man possessed, driven by an all-consuming desire for vengeance against the man who had put him behind bars - his own father, Cyrus Royale. The man he paid was friends with the prison cook, and most of the guards were drugged with their last meal. That’s what made Marcus’ escape so easy. He only took some of the inmates who had been on his side as he escaped. The only problem they would face would be at the main gates, because those guards weren’t part of th
Marcus blacked out for a moment, his body numb from the shock and blood loss. When he came to, he was being roughly hauled to his feet by two burly officers, his arms wrenched backwards. He still couldn't feel anything below his ruined shoulder."Ellis, you bastard..." he managed to croak out through gritted teeth, glaring at the silhouette of his father's heir illuminated in a plume of smoke.The elder Royale slowly rose to his feet, downing the last of his whiskey before fixing Marcus with a look of pure contempt and disdain."You should have done better if you wanted better, Marc. I gave you the chance. I gave you so many chances before finding someone more worthy. And here you are trying to kill me because I got fed up with your incompetence." A chuckle escaped Mr. Cyrus's lips. "Did you really think you had what it takes to be a man and do what's necessary?" He shook his head slowly. "You're crippled by your own weaknesses and flaws. You never deserved my name or legacy. From thi
Ellis straightened his tie as he stood outside the doors leading into the boardroom of the Royale Company headquarters. Just a few months ago, he had been a fresh-faced college undergrad student starting an internship here. Now, he was being ushered in to be officially announced as the new CEO. He had passed the internship test set by the board members, and now they had no excuse to hinder him from the CEO seat. The door opened and Ellis stepped inside, greeted by the dozen board members seated around the large oval table. At the head sat Mr. Cyrus, the company's longtime CEO who was now preparing to step aside. Ellis took a deep breath as Mr. Cyrus stood up and gestured for him to come stand beside him."Good morning everyone," Mr. Cyrus's baritone voice rang out. "I've asked you all here today for a transition meeting. As you know, I'll be resigning officially from my position as CEO effective next month."A few murmurs went around the table. "I have given a lot of thought to my su
"Thank you all, truly, for that remarkably generous welcome," he began. "I have to admit, standing here about to embark on this new role is...honestly, it's surreal. Just a little over a year ago, I was just a student with opportunities, then fielding coffee orders at the management department as the wide-eyed intern trying to absorb everything I possibly could during my time at Royale."A few chuckles went through the crowd. Ellis smiled wryly."I can still vividly remember the first meeting I sat in on, listening to the brilliant leadership team analyze markets, pour over data points, and debate strategies. I found the whole process equal parts invigorating and overwhelming as a newcomer. Little did I know that just a few months later, I'd be the one responsible for steering those incredibly complex decisions. I had expected my internship to go on for a longer time, but my dedication worked to my advantage, and here I am."Ellis paused for a moment, seeming to collect his thoughts b
The next day, Ellis arrived at Royale headquarters feeling crisp and energized despite the late night of celebrations. This was his first official day fully in the captain's chair, and he had no intentions of easing himself in gradually. His first order of business was calling an all-hands meeting in the company's largest auditorium. When he took the stage before the assembled crowd of hundreds of employees, he outlined his initial core objectives with the poise and confidence of a seasoned veteran:"My initial priorities are accelerating our global expansion, strengthening our commitments to sustainability and corporate citizenship, and creating a culture of grassroots innovation where every single one of you feels empowered to contribute your ideas on the future of the Royale Company" he told them. I want to be a CEO that all of you feel you can approach directly with your thoughts and perspectives. An open line of communication between us is vital to unlocking our fullest potential
Mr. Cyrus smiled and waved a dismissive hand. "You're giving me too much credit, son. The truth is, you took to this role like a duck to water from day one. My advice was merely some occasional course corrections — you had the core leadership skills all along."Ellis shook his head humbly. "Regardless, thank you. From the bottom of my heart. The company's future is on an incredible trajectory because you put me in this position and showed me the ropes.""Well, you've certainly proven my gamble was worth it ten times over already," Cyrus chuckled. "I have to admit, even I've been surprised by how deftly you've taken the reins and really started putting your stamp on this company's direction."He fixed Ellis with a serious look. "But as proud as I am of how far you've come already, this is no time to take your foot off the gas. The first month helped lay the groundwork, but now the real work of realizing those big audacious goals you set truly begins.""Believe me, I know," Ellis said w
It seemed like Ellis’ success was the only thing Mr Cyrus had to be proud of among his sons. His daughter was doing fine, but the males seemed determined to make his hair turn gray faster. HYet they wondered why he didn’t choose them as his heir. George had begun to do well. He was no longer the thorn on his father's flesh like before, and Mr Cyrus was happy for the change. Now, he made wealth from his own work. He started his own small company that handled some aspects that the Royale company had not yet diversified to. He planned to have his company merge with his father’s company, but first he had to make it a success. But it was all a facade that nobody could tell. After seeing how hard it was to make it legitimately, it didn’t take long for him to switch. George began to indulge in shady business that would be his own undoing. However, behind the scenes, cracks were beginning to show in George's carefully cultivated facade. The trappings of wealth, power and status went to his h
George, for his part, saw his gilded life come crashing down in what felt like an incomprehensible nightmare. Gone were the bravado, the vainglorious sense of entitlement, the belief that he could indulge in whatever impulse struck him without consequence. His charmed existence had been brutally ripped away, replaced by the sullen, emasculating confines of a jail cell and the prospect of an incarceration looming ahead. Just like his brother, Marcus. Stripped of his identity, his wealth, and the support system that enabled his wanton ways, all George was left with was to reckon with his shattered sense of self. None of his party friends even visited, or tried to help him. He thought they would have his back, but now his eyes had cleared.His thoughts often drifted to Lisa, the wife whose unconditional love he had so wantonly discarded in pursuit of shallow gratification. Was it truly worth sacrificing everything — his marriage, his family, his father's pride and the staggering family f