2025-04-17 19:26:31Chapter 9: The Shadow in the System
The Stormont Corp logo gleamed behind the podium as Rowan adjusted the mic.
The room was filled with reporters, photographers, investors, and employees, many of whom looked ready to pounce.
The internet had been on fire for the past 24 hours.
‘STORMONT CEO CAUGHT IN OFFICE ROMANCE’
‘GRANT FAMILY DAUGHTER INVOLVED IN STORMONT SCANDAL?’‘IS ROWAN STORMONT FIT TO LEAD?’Rowan took a breath.
The cameras clicked. The lights burned.
He leaned forward and spoke.
“There are a lot of things being said about me... about this company... and about someone I care about.”
Murmurs rippled across the room.
“I won’t dignify gossip. But I will say this Stormont Corp doesn’t just run on systems and signatures. It runs on integrity. No one, no matter how powerful, will dictate our future through rumor or fear.”
“Mr Rowan, Are the rumours true or false?”. One of the reporters shouted from the crowd.
“It's False, That's why they are called rumours”.
“So do you have the pictures circulating around, Mr Rowan?”. Another Reporter asked.
Rowan cleared his throat. This was the wrong time for news like this to be circulating. He had to do some serious damage control, and he had to do it fast.
“Those pictures circulating around social media are all dictated, Created to bring the good name of this grand Organisation to the ground.” He glanced over to Valeria, who gave him a slight nod.
“I hear what you're saying Mr Rowan, but seeing that this scandal broke out when it hasn’t been long you over your parent company. How do you plan on redeeming yourself?”
Rowan paused for a moment, he knows how crucial his next answer is.
Adjusting the Mic, “I plan to…”
‘System Alert: External Disturbance Detected.’
The doors at the back swung open with a sharp clang.
Gasps filled the room.
Raven Stormont walked in, clad in an all black fitted suit, blood-red heels, her signature wave of red hair cascading behind her like a flag of war.
Rowan’s hand tightened on the podium.
“What is she doing here? ,” he muttered, turning to look at Conrad, who shook his head.
Raven didn’t wait for an invitation. She walked straight to the front, heels clicking like gunfire, then took a second mic from the side and turned toward the cameras.
“I apologize for the interruption,” she said, voice cool and steady. “But I couldn’t let misleading narratives continue without clarity.”
Rowan stepped back.
‘System Alert: Twin Sync Triggered. Warning: Unstable Emotional Surge.’
“I am Raven Stormont,” she announced. “Twin of Rowan Stormont. Co-heir to the Stormont Empire.”
The room exploded with noise.
Flashes. Gasps. Phones lifted.
“I have remained behind the scenes for long enough. But after recent events have threatened the Stormont reputation, my reputation, I must step forward.” She said, turning to look at Rowan, who has look on his face that read ‘What the fuck do you think you’re doing?’
Rowan’s pulse pounded in his ears.
“And as the rightful co-leader of this company,” Raven continued, “I hereby revoke all appointments that compromise the integrity of Stormont Corp... starting with Ms. Valeria Dane.”
You could hear the silence in the hall
No one messes with the Grants. Everyone knows this.
And Raven’s words echoed through the stunned room.
Valeria, watching from the side, went pale.
“She is hereby relieved of her duties, effective immediately,” Raven said. “This is not personal. It’s protection.”
Rowan stepped forward and whispered in her ears. “Raven, that’s not your call to..”
“It is my call,” Raven snapped, facing him now. “This company is not your playground, Rowan. It’s our legacy.”
“ What the fuck is wrong with you. You can’t do this. You blindsided me…”
“Better to be blindsided by truth than drowned by scandal,” she shot back.
“Valeria’s done nothing wrong,” he said, his voice rising. “She’s been nothing but loyal…”
“And yet you’re the one in bed with your head of security.”
A collective gasp. The press was having a party with the drama ongoing in front of them. Keyboards clicking, flashes going in a frenzy.
Rowan froze.
So did Valeria.
‘System Alert: Emotional Pulse Spiking. Suppression Protocol Initiated.’
“She’s gone,” Raven said coldly. “That’s final.”
And with that, she turned, flipping her mic off and striding out of the room, leaving Rowan standing alone at the podium, fuming.
Again.
*****
Rowan paced the lounge, his tie loosened, fingers buried in his hair.
Valeria sat silently in a corner, her tablet in her lap.
“I should’ve stopped her,” Rowan muttered.
Valeria looked up, calm despite everything. “No. You should’ve expected her.”
Rowan sighed. “You’re not mad?”
“Oh, I’m furious,” she said. “But I’m also a Grant. This won’t be the end.”
Rowan blinked. “Wait. You’re really a Grant?”
She smirked. “Didn’t think the name was just for drama, did you?”
“I thought it was a coincidence.”
Valeria leaned forward. “We don’t do coincidences in my family. Just... calculated impact.”
He chuckled, despite the mess. “You sound like someone I’d want on my side in a war.”
She tilted her head. “You’re in one, Rowan. You just didn’t know how big it was.”
“I'm going to fix this. I promise. She doesn't have the right to fire you.”
“You’d better Rowan, You’d better”.
*****
THE NEXT DAY
Raven and Aria sat at the company café, an unlikely pairing, sharing a plate of overpriced croissants, Espresso and Macchiato.
“Did you see his face?” Raven laughed, buttering a croissant. “He looked like someone just revoked his birthday.”
Aria smiled softly. “You do realize he’s your brother and that you just declared war, right?”
“I declared the truth,” Raven corrected. “And if he can’t handle it... maybe he’s not the Stormont everyone thinks he is.”
“Be careful,” Aria said. “He’s a man and he’s got more allies than you think.”
“Please,” Raven scoffed. “He had Valeria. Now? He has Scandalous headlines. Who’s the man now?”
Aria stirred her tea. “Headlines fade Raven, but Systems don’t.”
‘System Alert: Aria Stormont Presence Detected. Reading Blocked.’
Raven frowned at her system interface, then glanced sideways.
“You’re hard to read Aria,” Raven said casually.
Aria raised a brow. “Is that a problem?”
“No,” Raven said slowly. “It’s... weird. I can't read your mum and dad too. That too is weird.”
******
Rowan leaned against his black Audi, watching the city lights.
“System,” he muttered. “Run predictive behavior model on Raven.”
‘Insufficient data. Emotional patterns are unpredictable.’
“Figures.”
Just then, someone approached from the shadows.
Aria.
“You look like a kicked dog,” she said playfully.
Rowan didn’t smile. “You knew she’d do it right?.”
“I suspected,” she replied. “But i Didn’t think she’d go that hard.”
He turned to face her.
“My system can’t read you Aria,” he said.
Aria’s expression flickered for just a second then settled with a slight smile.
“And?”
“Its suspicious”
“ Well Maybe that’s because you’re not looking deep enough.”
Rowan stepped closer. “What’s your real goal here, Aria?”
She smiled. “Nothing, just Peace.”
‘System Alert: Data Conflict. Trust Status: Neutral-Suspicious’
“Somehow,” Rowan said, “I don’t believe you.”
“That’s okay,” she whispered. “You’re not supposed to.”
*****
Somewhere across town,a computer screen blinked to life.
A masked figure typed swiftly, bringing up a list of names.
TARGET 01: ROWAN STORMONT
TARGET 02: RAVEN STORMONTTARGET 03: VALERIA DANESTATUS: MONITOREDOPERATION: RESET INITIATEDThe figure paused and removed the mask.
It was Atlas Wilson.
Aria’s boyfriend.
Raven’s supposed betrothed, which she didn't know about yet.
Eyes cold.
Voice quiet.
“Let the games begin..”
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