The office ofColeman MediaLocated in an old Manhattan building, the office looked more like a sinking ship than a functioning company. Papers piled up on desks, screens blacked out due to unpaid bills in some areas, employees walking around with tired faces—it all conveyed an air of defeat.
In the midst of that decadent atmosphere,Richard Coleman, the director, sat behind his desk with a barely extinguished cigarette between his fingers. His suit was wrinkled, his tie loose, and the dark circles under his eyes spoke volumes: months of insomnia, debt, and the fear of losing everything.
"Given the current situation," asked one of the few remaining partners, "is Coleman Media doomed?"
"Yes!" an accountant replied bluntly from the corner, with a sigh that seemed like a sentence.
The silence that followed was so thick you could hear the buzzing of the fluorescent lights.
At that moment,Adrian FosterHe took a step forward. With his hands in the pockets of his designer jacket and a calmness that contrasted starkly with the chaos in the room, he said in a firm voice:
—Then I'll buy it. Comprar é Coleman Media.
Time seemed to stand still. The sounds of the city faded behind the windows, and even the smoke from Richard's cigarette hung in the air. What he had just heard hit him harder than any debt.
The cigarette fell from his trembling fingers and rolled to the carpet. His pupils dilated.
"What... what did you say?" he stammered, incredulous.
Adrian repeated in an even calmer tone, as if he were talking about ordering a coffee at Starbucks:
—I'm going to buy your company.
Richard stared at him in shock, then suddenly burst into bitter laughter. He threw his head back and let out a laugh that sounded more like a cry of despair.
"You?" he said, laughing. "Listen to me, kid... Renting this office costs more than you can imagine, not to mention the liabilities and contracts. You're not aware of the monster you're talking about. I appreciate the good intentions, but this isn't a game."
He said it with the confidence of a man who assumed Adrián was joking. To him, the young man was nothing more than a streamer with some success on Twitch, a friendly guy with the talent to entertain his audience, but nothing more.
After all, what millionaire would spend their nights playing online video games, dealing with trolls in chat, and laughing at memes?
"Don't you have lavish parties to attend, sports cars to drive, or beautiful women to chase?" Richard thought disdainfully. "No, you're not the kind of guy who really has money."
But Adrian wasn't offended. On the contrary, he smiled calmly.
—If you don't believe me, askEmily Carter.
Richard, bewildered, raised his voice:
—Emily! Come here, quick!
The employees in the hallways looked on curiously. The director looked like a drowning man who had just seen a rope fall from the sky.
Emily entered the office with her usual elegant demeanor, but with her brow furrowed with tension.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"This guy…" Richard pointed at him, "says he wants to buy Coleman Media. Is it true he could do it?"
Emily looked at Adrian with a slight smile. She knew he wasn't bragging.
"Of course he can," he replied without hesitation. "Buying this company would be like inviting someone to dinner for him."
Richard choked on his own air.
Emily continued calmly, as if she were revealing the truth to everyone:
—Remember that diamond-encrusted gold pendant Adrian always wears? It's worth over a million dollars. That necklace alone would cover most of your debts.
Adrian took off the pendant and dropped it onto the desk. The glitter of gold and diamonds hit Richard like a slap in the face.
"And that's just an accessory," Emily added triumphantly. "The Rolls-Royce Adrian drives costs more than your entire company."
The silence became absolute. Richard couldn't believe it. A lifetime of sacrifices, meetings, sleepless nights... and this young man treated his luxuries like mere whims.
Richard put his hands to his face, embarrassed.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, almost in a whisper.
Adrian smiled.
—Did I have to do it? Do you need a financial resume to be a streamer? I stream because I enjoy it, not because I need the money.
Emily stared at him.
—So, tell me, why do you want to acquire Coleman Media?
Adrian held her gaze seriously.
—Because I'm ready to take it to the next level. I no longer want to limit myself to streaming or being "the internet's millionaire kid." I want to build something real, something I can show the world... and my family.
The words resonated loudly. Even Richard, exhausted as he was, sat up straighter.
"I can show you the company right now," Richard said urgently. "I'll give you a tour of each department, you'll meet the managers, and you'll see that there's still talent here, even though we're on the verge of bankruptcy."
Adrian nodded with a confident smile.
—Perfect. Let's get started.
They walked out into the hallway together, Emily standing at his side, watching with a calculating eye. Richard regained some of his former enthusiasm, as if Adrian's presence had rekindled his last spark of hope.
They walked through the departments one by one: promotion, operations, administration, finance… many with empty desks because the competition had already "poached" several employees.
Finally, they arrived at thecontent departmentIt was the heart of the company, and it showed: cameras, lights, makeshift sets, an army of young people creating short videos for YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. The atmosphere was vibrant despite the debts that were stifling them.
Adrian stopped dead in his tracks. Between the crew and the cameras, she stood:Olivia HayesHer elegant figure and focused brow made her stand out immediately. Her arms were crossed, she was watching a recording with a critical eye, firmly correcting her team, radiating authority.
When she saw him, her eyes softened for just a second, but long enough for Adrian to notice. He walked toward them with a confident stride.
"Mr. Coleman," Olivia said clearly, ignoring Adrian for a moment. "When will we get paid last month's salary? We all have bills here, families... we can't go on like this."
Adrian watched her, fascinated. His tone was firm but gentle, a mixture of authority and compassion.
Richard swallowed uncomfortably.
"We'll figure this out soon, Olivia..." he stammered.
She then turned to Adrian, extending her hand with a professional smile.
—Nice to meet you, I'm Olivia Hayes, content manager at Coleman Media.
Adrian took her hand, surprised by how delicate and warm it felt. At that moment, he felt that the squeeze meant more than just an introduction.
And as he held that gaze, an idea began to take shape in his mind.
"If I buy this company… she'll be the first reason to do it," Adrian thought.