Adam stepped into the lobby of the co-working building. The familiar hum of printers and quiet chatter greeted him, along with the faint smell of stale coffee.
The receptionist—a young man with tousled hair—looked up and did a double take.
"Mr. Cole? Wow, it's been… a long time."
"It has," Adam agreed, offering a polite smile. "Is Conference Room B available?"
"Uh—sure. Nobody booked it today. Do you…need help with anything?"
"Just privacy."
The receptionist nodded quickly and looked away, as if worried that eye contact might get him involved in whatever storm was brewing.
Adam walked to the glass-walled conference room and closed the door behind him. He set his phone on the table, sat down, and let out a slow breath.
He'd always liked this place. No headlines, no paparazzi—just a space to think.
The screen blinked with a new system message:
> **Tip:** Weyland Dynamics CEO—Gregory Harlow.
>
> Reputation: Cautious, motivated by stability over risk.
>
> Suggested Approach: Emphasize steady growth and long-term strategy.
Adam smirked. *Thank you for the obvious, System.*
> **System Reply:** You're welcome. Sarcasm detected. Logging personality profile.
He rubbed his temples, a soft laugh escaping. Despite the absurdity of a digital voice critiquing his tone, he felt more focused than he had in months.
He opened his laptop and pulled up Weyland's financial records. The company had been treading water—competent but uninspired. Their logistics network was solid, but they'd failed to adapt to new technology.
That's where he came in.
He dialed Gregory Harlow's office line. It rang longer than he expected. When the connection finally clicked, a calm male voice spoke.
"Harlow here."
"Mr. Harlow, this is Adam Cole. I'd like to schedule a meeting to discuss an investment proposal."
A pause.
"…Mr. Cole. I wasn't aware you were still active in acquisitions."
"That's an advantage," Adam said evenly. "I prefer to move before the market notices I'm moving."
Another pause—longer this time.
"I see. What scale of investment are you considering?"
"A fifteen percent stake. Possibly more, depending on the terms."
Gregory cleared his throat. "That's not a trivial amount. I'll need to see preliminary figures."
"They're on their way," Adam said, already tapping keys to send the draft portfolio. "I'm prepared to discuss this today."
"You're…fast."
"Delays are expensive."
A short laugh came over the line—dry, but genuine. "I respect efficiency. Let's meet at 3 PM. Our main offices."
"Agreed."
Adam ended the call and leaned back, letting the moment sink in.
Just days ago, he'd been sitting in a penthouse, pretending not to hear the contempt in Sophia's voice. Now, he was orchestrating a buy-in that could rattle her father's entire logistics network.
> **Notification:** Mission Progress – 20%
>
> Bonus Objective Unlocked: Complete acquisition within 48 hours to receive Negotiation Skill – Level 2.
He tilted his head, intrigued. "You're just full of surprises."
> **System:** And you are surprisingly polite for someone recently humiliated.
Adam snorted. "I wasn't humiliated. She was just…uninformed."
> **System:** Logging personality trait: Mild arrogance.
He closed the laptop with a snap. *Fine,* he thought. *Log whatever you want—as long as you keep giving me results.*
His phone buzzed with a text from Marcus:
**Marcus:** *Funds ready. Transfer schedule confirmed. Call me if you need muscle.*
Adam smiled faintly. Marcus's idea of "muscle" usually involved lawyers, but he appreciated the sentiment.
A chime announced another system prompt:
> **Tip:** Recommended attire for meeting: Formal business suit, navy or charcoal.
>
> Psychological Impact: +5% credibility perception.
He rubbed his jaw, amused. "You're even my stylist now?"
> **System:** You need all the help you can get.
He shook his head, unable to suppress a quiet laugh.
**Three hours later**, Adam stood before the mirrored elevator doors of Weyland Dynamics' headquarters. He adjusted the cuff of his navy suit—perfectly pressed, as recommended—and met his own reflection squarely.
This was not the face of a man crawling away from failure. This was a man preparing to build something lasting.
As the elevator dinged open, he felt something tighten in his chest—a spark of anticipation.
He stepped inside without hesitation.
---