"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
Ellis took a deep breath as he looked across the candlelit table at Zoey. Her eyes sparkled in the flickering light and her dark hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders. After so much time together, he knew this was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He reached across the table and took her hand in his. "Zoey, we've been through so much together these past several months. You've supported me every step of the way as I took on the challenging role of CEO at Royale Company. You're my partner, my best friend, my everything. I know some people may find it too soon, or some may say that you’re after my money. But I know in my heart that what we have is real. " He paused, his heart pounding in his chest as he got on one knee, and brought out a custom made diamond ring that cost a hundred million dollars. Zoey gasped. "I don't want to imagine my life without you by my side. Zoey, will you marry me?"Zoey's eyes went wide and she brought her hands up to cover her mou
As the months ticked by, everything slowly started falling into place. Zoey's dress was altered to perfection. The venue was booked and the menu tasting was complete — they selected a seasonal tasting menu with locally-sourced ingredients. The cake was a delicious vanilla sponge with tart lemon curd filling and a Swiss meringue buttercream frosting. One of Zoey's favorite touches was Gemma's idea to have a "coffee bar" at the reception with gourmet coffee drinks, flavored syrups and delicious accompaniments like biscotti and cannoli. She knew their guests would appreciate a delicious caffeinated pick-me-up after dancing the night away.In the last few weeks leading up to the wedding, Zoey was a bundle of nervous excitement. She tried her best to get enough rest and stay hydrated, knowing she needed to be in top form for the biggest day of her life. Ellis, on the other hand, seemed to take everything in stride. His calm, steady presence was invaluable for keeping Zoey grounded when she
For their honeymoon, Zoey was ecstatic when Ellis took her to the Maldives. She had always wanted to visit there. And not just that, Ellis had also purchased a private island in Zoey’s name, so she could always come there at any time. He planned to have a beach villa built there later so they could use it as a vacation spot, but for the time being, just a log cabin had been erected. The log cabin had modern amenities, like a hot tub, kitchen with up to date appliances, running water, a standby generator, etc. But it also had rustic features like a real fireplace with a chimney, an outdoor grill pit, a cleared out campsite, and a small lake instead of a swimming pool.The place was beautiful. They spent their first night there in bed all day, then they slept till afternoon. After waking, their meal had already been prepared by the local chef Ellis had hired. He didn’t want Zoey stressed out during the honeymoon, she would only cook if she chose to. Hehad so many activities planned for