Scene 1: The Lavish but Reckless Life
Neon lights pulsed throughout the Skyline Club, placing electric colour bursts to the music and smoke. Alex Kingsley was seated like a king or queen in the luxurious VIP lounge, wearing an elegant designer suit and a glass of whisky swirling casually in his hand. His so-called friends, who were surrounded by enablers, revelled in his wealth and laughed at everything he said.
"To the heir of Kingsley Enterprises!" Trevor shouted, lifting his glass.
The others echoed the toast. Alex smirked, basking in the attention. "Let's be honest—where would you all be without me?"
Ethan Caldwell sat slightly apart, his expression tight. He'd known Alex since their playground days, but the person before him now felt like a stranger. The partying, the headlines, the arrogance—it was spiraling.
Ethan leaned in close, voice low. "Alex, this is getting out of control. Every night, the same routine. This isn't living—it's self-destruction."
Alex chuckled and took a sip. "Lighten up, Ethan. Not all of us want to rot behind a desk crunching numbers."
"You're not just hurting yourself anymore," Ethan said. "Your name's in the press, your family's company is taking hits—"
Unnoticed, a figure moved through the club's shadows, lifting a camera to capture Alex mid-mayhem—dancing with women, waving money, living like a man who thought consequences didn't apply.
From a corner booth, a man in a dark coat watched with cold focus. His eyes glinted unnaturally for a split second. He murmured into a hidden earpiece, "Subject 04 identified. Surveillance ongoing. Awaiting phase confirmation."
Scene 2: The Fallout
By morning, the headlines exploded:
"Billionaire Heir in Club Scandal—Kingsley Shares Plunge"
At Kingsley Enterprises headquarters, the air was thick with tension. Richard Kingsley stood at his office window, jaw clenched. Behind him, a table cluttered with financial reports and a fresh newspaper laid bare the damage.
"Are you aware of what you did?" He slammed the paper down in front of Alex and yelled.
Alex sat lazily, eyes half-shut from the hangover. "It's just bad press. It'll blow over."
Richard's voice sharpened. "Half a billion. That's how much value we lost today. Clients are jumping ship. The board is furious."
"You're Richard Kingsley," Alex said with a smirk. "You'll handle it like always."
Richard's stare turned glacial. "Not this time. I'm done cleaning up your messes. You're cut off—money, access, all of it. You're leaving this city, and you're getting a real job."
Alex straightened, disbelief setting in. "You're kidding."
Ms. Carter, Richard's ever-efficient assistant, stepped forward and handed Alex a sealed envelope.
"Your flight details and employment assignment. You start at NextGen Network in New Dawn City tomorrow."
Alex's eyes widened. "NextGen? That third-tier tech outfit?"
"They're second-richest in the world," Richard snapped. "And they'd be nothing without our intervention during the Apex Industry crisis."
"Apex?" Alex frowned. "The arms syndicate? The one run by that mafia boss... Jo?"
Ms. Carter nodded. "NextGen was almost wiped out. Your father brokered the financial and political backing that helped them survive."
"So we saved them. Good for us."
Richard leaned forward, voice like ice. "They're the reason the country isn't under mafia rule. And now, you'll earn your keep under their roof. Let's see how long you last."
Outside the office, as Alex stormed down the corridor, the same mysterious man watched silently, murmuring again into his device, "Subject displaced. Phase two initiated."
Scene 3: The Journey to New City
The private jet was gone. The chauffeur, gone. Now Alex stood alone in front of a monolithic building, the headquarters of NextGen Network—cold, gray, and buzzing with activity.
"This is beneath me," he muttered.
He entered a modern lobby and was greeted by Sophia Lin, a calm receptionist with keen eyes.
She looked at her tablet and said, "We've been expecting you, Mr. Kingsley."
"I assume my office is ready?"
She smirked. "Actually, you'll be starting at an entry-level position. Welcome to the ground floor."
He blinked. "You're serious?"
Before he could argue further, two figures approached—Lee Jin, the young CEO, and Jake, the company's president. Both were calm, confident, and unimpressed.
"So this is the prodigal son," Lee said flatly.
Jake grinned. "This'll be fun."
Scene 4: The Disaster Interview
In a sleek conference room, Alex sat across from a panel that clearly had no patience for arrogance.
"So, Mr. Kingsley," Lee asked, "what do you know about our company?"
Alex leaned back. "Tech stuff. Doesn't really matter. My family built this industry. I could run this place if I wanted."
Jake chuckled. "Wow. That's rich."
Lee's expression didn't change. "You're entitled, uninformed, and frankly a liability. This isn't a playground for rich brats. You're fired."
Alex stood up, stunned. "You can not do that. My father—"
"Isn't here," Lee interrupted. "This is reality. And you just failed your first test."
Security escorted Alex out as employees watched in curiosity.
Scene 5: A Fateful Accident
Fuming and humiliated, Alex tore through city streets in a borrowed car. His mind reeled with anger. Then, without warning—pain.
A sudden, searing headache knocked the breath out of him. His vision shattered like glass. The wheel slipped from his grip.
A blinding flash. Screeching tires. An oncoming truck.
In a hidden surveillance room, the man in the dark coat watched the screen flicker.
"Subject neutralized. Initiating Phase One. Consciousness transfer in progress."
As darkness consumed Alex, a quiet voice echoed in the void:
Let's see if you're truly the key...