Monday was born with a sky that seemed to pay homage to chaos: overcast, full of silver clouds reflecting the city's floating lights and drones reporting in real time the movements of the markets.
Inside the mansion, the heating system was tuned to the temperature "almost cold enough to wear a blazer without sweating."
Luna's master suite was silent, except for the sound of Ivy adjusting the hologram panels and the AI whispering.
"Good morning, Miss. It is Monday, 07:02. Your meeting today is with the global board of Apple."
Luna, in a golden satin pajama, with an UltraClean LUX™ facial mask still acting on her perfect skin, let out a feline grunt while stretching over the bed that looked more like an imperial altar.
"...Apple, huh?" she murmured, removing the mask from her face and heading toward the closet.
Ivy began her morning briefing.
"Apple Corporation, founded in the 20th century, went through several eras. In the year 2087, it acquired a Japanese quantum network. In the 25th century, it became the leader in neural technology. But in the year 2932, it lost the position of number one company to ArcSys Global, a merger between Tesla and HyperMind Technologies."
Luna rolled her eyes as she ran her fingers through hundreds of women's suits.
"Apple lost the crown but not the elegance, huh?"
"Exactly. Today, Apple remains as one of the Big Five of the consumer technology and neurocognitive data security market."
Luna pulled a white suit with pearlescent details, structured, feminine and absurdly expensive. The fabric seemed alive, molding smoothly to her body as soon as she put it on.
"And why was I invited to this meeting, huh?" she asked, adjusting the blazer collar in front of the digital mirror.
Ivy opened a side panel with floating neon blue data.
"The Tycoon™ System detected your arrival in a new country and activated the Reward. Result: 10% of Apple Corporation™ shares transferred to your personal portfolio."
Luna froze in place. "Sorry… how much?"
"Ten percent, ma'am. Which makes you the second largest individual shareholder."
She slowly spun in front of the mirror, looking at herself with an expression that mixed slight disbelief and dangerous self-confidence.
"So… now I'm almost owner of a trillion-dollar apple?"
"Yes. A slightly bitten apple, but still extremely juicy," said Ivy with her calm, yet mocking voice.
Luna tied her hair in an elegant bun and completed the look with black diamond earrings and a pair of heels.
"And where will this meeting be?"
"Apple Orion Tower."
Luna stared at her reflection one last time.
The car that transported Luna to Apple's World Headquarters was more like a mobile suite, with smart panoramic windows and a massage system that synced with the passenger's blood pressure.
Sitting with crossed legs and a holographic tablet dancing in front of her, Luna silently observed the modern landscape of the United States: floating buildings, aerial routes congested with luxury cars, floating panels broadcasting advertisements.
But none of that distracted her from her goal: understanding the corporate battlefield into which she had just been thrown with her 10% Apple shares.
"Ivy, show me the full report on Apple's current situation. I want to understand what I'm facing," she said, yawning while cracking her fingers.
The hologram expanded with an automatic presentation.
[Apple Corporation – Strategic Diagnosis]
Status:
Company once the absolute leader in personal technological innovation.
Critical error:
The refusal to invest in neural interaction holographic technologies in the 29th century. An unsuccessful bet on the evolution of physical and compact systems.
Result:
ArcSys Global and other companies took the top of the personal and corporate consumption chain. Apple lost 27% of its global share in the last 80 years.
Current actions:
Reinvention attempts via biotechnology.
Projects to acquire startups in the augmented reality sector.
Proposals for cross-acquisition with emotional behavior databases.
---
Luna read everything in silence. Her gray eyes shone with concentration as she chewed through the information with the same focus of a cat analyzing an aquarium.
"Apple… made the mistake of falling in love with its own reflection, right?" she commented, resting her chin on her fingers.
Ivy replied, with her voice almost compassionate. "The arrogance of those who dominated the world for centuries. Now… it's desperate to get back on top. But the other sharks aren't willing to give up space on the surface again."
Luna sighed.
The young CEO was in a curious impasse: she was a shareholder in several of these companies silently clashing for technological dominance.
She didn't want to get her hands dirty in the fight.
"Ivy, you know what they say about messing with sharks in deep seas, right?"
"That usually ends without legs," Ivy replied, dryly.
"Exactly. That's why…" Luna raised her eyes "…I think it's better to just float for now."
"Then, ma'am, may I suggest a containment plan?"
"Go ahead."
Ivy materialized floating blocks of blue light. "You sign agreements with all companies where you own shares."
1. You do not interfere in internal decisions.
2. You maintain board presence with veto power.
3. You ensure automatic dividend transfers.
4. And you shield yourself from responsibilities or corporate retaliation.
Luna bit her lower lip, thoughtful.
After a few seconds, she smiled with a biting humor. "Ah, this is brilliant. That way I stay rich, powerful, untouchable… and still watch the giants' fight with a drink in hand."
"Exactly."
"Sign this protocol in my name and send it to the boards. I want everyone aligned before the end of the week."
"Yes, ma'am," Ivy replied, with her always serene and precise voice.
The car began to decelerate.
Luna looked through the window and saw the colossal Apple Orion Tower, with 180 spiral floors like a DNA helix, bathed in prismatic glass, and the holographic apple logo floating in the sky — with a faint pulsing glow, as if the tower were alive.
Luna let out another theatrical yawn and crossed her legs with charm. "Let's see what these ego engineers want today."
Ivy smiled in her holographic manifestation. "Let the game begin, CEO Luna."
Luna exited calmly, her heels impeccably aligned with the translucent marble of the entrance. Her white feminine suit, with angular cuts and silver details, shone under New York's mirrored sky. The wind blew her golden hair, but she merely tucked a rebellious strand behind her ear with lazy elegance.
In front of her, the president's assistant was already waiting — a man in a dark suit, rigid posture, and eyes that tried to hide curiosity.
"Miss Luna, it is an honor to receive you. The board is already gathered. This way, please."
Without wasting time, Luna was led directly to the presidential elevator.
Upon entering, the doors closed in silence, sealing her in a steel-and-glass cocoon that rose like an elegant projectile toward the absolute top of the tower.
Moments later, the doors opened with a soft pressurization sound and, ahead of her, a gigantic oval table occupied the center of the hall.
Around it, about thirty people, all directors, board members, and veteran shareholders of Apple, were gathered.
At the center, in the most imposing seat, a middle-aged woman with short silver hair, flawless skin, and eyes as sharp as liquid glass, watched her in silence.
It was Astra Velwyn, the president of Apple.
Luna entered without hesitation, smooth steps and impeccable posture.
She did not bow.
She did not greet anyone.
She simply sat in the empty chair reserved for her with the same boredom of someone sitting at a random café.
The meeting began almost instantly, with the president commanding the opening.
"Fiscal report of the last year. Let's get to the numbers."
Holograms were projected in the center of the table, surrounding everyone with three-dimensional graphics.
— Gross revenue total in the 10 continents: 50 trillion dollars.
— Consolidated net profit: 900 billion.
— Main losses: Personal hardware sectors and educational market, due to the rise of other tech companies.
One of the directors, a bald middle-aged man, cleared his throat and commented. "Despite still astronomical profits, we are being suppressed in the areas that defined Apple's supremacy for centuries. Our rivals keep expanding."
Another board member, a woman, added. "We need a differential. Something that isn't just aesthetic, but genuinely revolutionary."
"Miss Luna…" said Astra Velwyn finally, with her fingers intertwined under her chin, "…as the new shareholder with 10% of the shares, do you have any proposal to counter this suppression?"
Everyone turned to face her.
Thirty hungry eyes.
Thirty sharks.
Luna sighed.
"First… I feel like I'm in a Roman tribunal. So much pressure." she smiled, crossing her legs and resting her chin on her hand.
Silence.
"Second… yes. I do have something."
She opened the tablet in front of her with a gesture, activating a confidential project from her company.
A floating cube of light emerged in the air, slowly spinning.
"This…" she said, with a calm voice, "…is ÆVA."
The image expanded, revealing a pulsating data core, shapes dancing between neuronal circuits and digital synaptic maps.
The description accompanied the movements, in clean lines:
— Supreme AI ÆVA™
— Neural fusion of the world's best artificial intelligence cores: OpenAI Legacy, DeepMind Core, Synthetica Quantum, HyperCore V-9
> Capable of: Real-time emotional interaction, Biological personalization for each user, Autonomous integration with neural networks and holograms, User behavior prediction with 92% accuracy
The board members' eyes widened.
Even Astra didn't hide a slight change in expression. "And you are… offering this?"
"I'm offering access to the implementation of ÆVA in the Apple ecosystem," said Luna. "Phones, computers, personal systems. The AI will make the device almost… alive."
"What's the cost?" asked one of the board members.
"None for now. Diamante Tycoon will be responsible for integration and maintenance in the first twelve months."
"What's the goal?" asked another, more skeptical.
"To have the most powerful AI in the world running inside Apple devices. And rekindle the spark of innovation before you're forgotten."
Silence in the room.
The president leaned forward. "And will we have exclusivity?"
Luna smiled calmly. "Only if you sign an absolute confidentiality agreement. No leaks. No reverse engineering. No corporate espionage. If the contract is broken, the AI disappears from the system in 0.2 seconds."
Astra looked at the others.
No one dared to oppose.
"We accept," she said at last. "The contract will be drafted today."
Luna nodded slightly.
"Meeting adjourned," said Astra, and the holograms began to fade.
While the board members stood and murmured among themselves, Luna stood with a theatrical sigh and adjusted the collar of her suit.
"Guys… does anyone have a decent coffee on this floor?"
Some laughed.
Others sweat.
And the president of Apple, for the first time in years, looked excited.