Fidelia knew she couldn't waste today.
This was one of the days that mattered most the coin she'd invested in was about to skyrocket, and if she timed it right, her gains could fund everything that came next.
She had done all the planning, all the calculations. She just needed to be alert when the window opened.
So, she set an alarm for 20 minutes before launch, shut her laptop, and lay down for a nap. She hadn't rested all night, and now that the ground was moving beneath George's feet, she deserved at least an hour of peace.
Meanwhile At the office Andrian stood before the floor-to-ceiling mirror in his apartment, adjusting the cuffs of his suit. His eyes were cold, sharp, focused.
Today wasn't about subtlety. Today was about leverage.
He left the house, drove straight to the office, and walked in like he owned the building. Because after today — he just might.
He got to the top floor, called his assistant, and gave a single instruction:
"Bring George to me. Now."
George walked into the office with the smug confidence of a man who thought he'd already won.
"You called me in like some rookie," he said, dropping into the seat across from Andrian without being asked. "Let me guess you're going to beg me to back down? If so, don't waste your breath."
Andrian leaned back in his chair, unbothered.
"You think I'm joking?" George scoffed. "By nightfall, that deal will be sealed. Your precious Fidelia will lose everything. And when she does—"
Andrian cut him off, sliding a manila folder across the table.
"Take a look."
George paused. He frowned, clearly thrown off by Andrian's calm demeanor.
"What is this?" he muttered, flipping it open.
At first, he didn't react then his face started to change eyes narrowing, hands gripping the pages tighter with each turn.
Inside: forged receipts, shell company registrations, embezzlement trails, and most importantly documents bearing George's digital signature, time-stamped and traceable.
Proof that he had siphoned company money into offshore accounts, using ghost vendors and fake transactions.
His throat dried instantly "W-Where did you get this?"
Andrian stood now, slowly circling to George's side.
"You left a trail, George. I just followed it."
"You can't prove "
"I can prove everything," Andrian said, voice low and deadly calm. "This copy stays with me. The original? Let's just say a friend of mine in the finance ministry is keeping it safe… just in case something happens to me."
George's face turned pale.
"If you want to walk out of this building with your reputation and freedom intact," Andrian continued, "you'll withdraw from the deal. Quietly. No noise. No press. Just walk away and disappear."
George swallowed hard. His usual arrogance was gone.
"And if I don't?"
Andrian leaned in close.
"Then by tomorrow morning, your name will be all over every business journal in the country as a fraud, a thief, and a criminal."
Silence filled the air and George stood up, fists clenched, teeth grinding.
"This isn't over."
"No," Andrian said. "For you, it just might be."
---
Fidelia stirred, eyes fluttering open as her alarm buzzed softly beside her.
She sat up, stretched, and reached for her phone.
The price was already rising.
She smiled.
And as she checked her balance and saw the profit climbing in real time, she whispered to herself:
"Nice nice."
Adrian's phone buzzed just as he stepped out of the elevator and into the parking lot. He glanced at the screen.
' Grandmother' He sighed and answered.
"Andrian," her voice came through, calm and firm as always. "Come home. I want to speak with you."
He didn't ask questions. "I'll be there in thirty minutes."
---
The Richardson estate hadn't changed quiet, pristine, and imposing. He stepped into the sitting room where his grandmother waited, seated neatly in her favorite high-back chair, a porcelain teacup in hand.
"You're late," she said without looking up.
"I came as soon as I got the call."
She met his eyes. "Good. Let's get to it. I'm calling a board meeting. It's time you returned as managing director."
Adrian raised a brow. "After everything? The scandal, the press—"
"They've already moved on," she cut in. "You brought in the Alisocial deal. The board sees profit, not bad press. Some are still hesitant, but money always wins."
He nodded, absorbing the weight of her words. Then she added, casually, "Your ex-girlfriend called."
He blinked. "Who?"
"Charlotte."
He let out a breath. "Of course."
"She said she's coming to the board meeting. To support you."
Adrian scoffed. "She definitely wants something else."
"Well," his grandmother said with a sly smile, "at least she's coming to support you. Every vote counts."
Adrian didn't respond right away. He walked to the window, watching the estate grounds in silence. Then, almost to himself, he muttered, "Let her come. I'll take all the support I can get. Even if it comes with strings."
....
The board meeting was to start soon, they were waiting for the largest shareholder.
A few minutes later, everyone was seated. Every single one of them—members and shareholders of the company sat in tailored suits, polished shoes, and stiff collars. The room pulsed with tension. Some were allies. Others, sworn enemies. A few, just opportunists hiding behind friendly smiles. But they all had one thing in common: the company's future meant profit. Power. Survival.
Then the door opened, and silence fell like a heavy curtain.
Eleanor Richardson, matriarch of the Richardson empire and President of the company, stepped into the boardroom with quiet command. The entire room rose to their feet.
She nodded once, took her seat at the head of the table, and the rest followed.
"I've called this meeting," Eleanor began, her voice calm but firm, "to discuss the reinstatement of my grandson, Adrian Richardson, as Managing Director of the Alisocial Tech Division."
Whispers echoed briefly across the room before dying down again.
"Yes, he was involved in a scandal," she continued, her eyes scanning the table. "Yes, it affected our reputation. But he just secured the biggest deal this company has landed in three years. That alone deserves a conversation. A vote."
She paused.
"Today, you decide. Not just on whether he returns but on whether this company chooses to move forward or stay stuck in the past."
He had secured the tech acquisition a strategic move that gave the company majority control over a fast-rising technical firm known for its innovations in AI and cybersecurity. It was the biggest breakthrough the Richardson empire had seen in over a year.
Adrian Richardson sat quietly, watching them. He knew what this meant. This deal wasn't just a win it was his ticket back to power. Reinstatement as Managing Director of the Tech Division was within reach.
Eleanor Richardson sat at the head of the table, composed but observant.
Then, one of the board members leaned forward and spoke, his voice clipped and skeptical.
"I don't think he's quite ready to be reinstated," he said, fingers steepled. "The scandal only just died down. Don't you think it's too soon?"
He wasn't hiding his disapproval. He never had.
Another voice cut through the air—Maya, flanked by her sister. Both of them were rising influencers in the company's investment circle.
"If he brought back the deal that changes the entire trajectory of our Tech Division," Maya said calmly, "then that alone should already say he deserves to be reinstated."
"He has shown you his capability, hasn't he?" her sister added.
A murmur spread across the table.
Then Silas cleared his throat. Slowly, he leaned toward his desk mic, and spoke.
"I told you," he said smoothly, "the last time Adrian was in power, the company's stock took a hit. We lost investor confidence. The media ran us ragged."
He glanced around the room, letting the silence build.
"Are we really willing to forget that just because he signed one deal?"
There it was. Silas was planting seeds. The tension tightened.
Eleanor looked around slowly, giving no hint of her own decision—yet.
Several supporters nodded in agreement.
Then came another voice measured and sharp. Adrian's elder brother.
"This isn't about family. It's about leadership," he said. "Adrian wasn't ready then. And maybe, just maybe, he still isn't now."
Damon, another relative and executive, added, "He was given power too early. That's the truth."
Silence fell briefly.
Then Adrian tapped the mic on his table gently, signaling he wanted to speak. All eyes turned to him.
"I won't deny it," he said calmly. "I was reckless. And I understand why I was suspended. The company's image suffered because of me."
He took a breath.
"But I didn't come back empty-handed. I went out there and did what most people in this room couldn't. I secured a deal that shifts the future of our tech division—and positions us to compete head-to-head with our strongest rivals. This wasn't just a lucky catch. It took planning. It took negotiation. And it took damage control."
He leaned slightly forward.
"When a company values results over rumors, and growth over gossip then it should be clear that I've earned my place back at the table."
Adrian Richardson sat quietly as the boardroom buzzed with tension. The recent scandal had barely cooled off, but now the question of his reinstatement was on the table. He had brought in a major tech acquisition—one that could shift the company's future—but not everyone was convinced.
"He had gotten the technical company for the group," one board member began. "But the scandal just went down recently. Don't you think it's too soon to reinstate him as managing director of the tech division?"
It was clear the man wasn't in favor of Adrian's return.
Maya and her sister exchanged a glance before Maya leaned forward. "If he brought back the deal, that alone should already say he deserves to be reinstated. He's shown his capability, hasn't he?"
Silas cleared his throat and spoke into the mini-mic on his desk. "I told you. The last time he was in power, the company suffered. Stock prices dropped. Our reputation took a hit. He's still not ready."
A few of Silas's supporters nodded in agreement.
That was when Adrian's elder brother stood. "This isn't about family it's about leadership," he said coldly. "And Adrian wasn't ready to take on that position back then."
Then Damon chimed in. "He was given power too early."
Adrian finally spoke, voice calm but firm, tapping the table for attention. "I know I was reckless. And yes, I was suspended for the company's reputation taking a hit. But I've done the work. I secured a deal we all know wasn't easy to close. This changes our future in tech and gives us the edge over the competition. If this company values results over reputation, then you know I'm the one who should be back in."
Before the board could react, Charlotte his ex girlfriend stood up.
"I agree," she said confidently. "He should be reinstated."
Some board members shifted uncomfortably, surprised by her support.
"I've looked into the social tech company he acquired," she continued. "It wasn't a small feat. Buying shares, gaining control it takes strategy and strength. He's shown he can raise the company's revenue. I came here to support you, Adrian, not to drag you down."
She looked at him, lips twitching in what could've been a smile.
Elina Richardson took the opportunity to push the meeting forward. "The motion has been placed. If you all agree to Adrian's reinstatement, after he successfully increased the company's revenue, then we vote now. All in favor, stay seated."
There was a tense pause.
Everyone in the room understood what this vote meant not just for Adrian, but for the future of the company. Some saw it as another chance to challenge him. Others... as an opportunity to force him to fail again.
In the eyes of his enemies, this was an opportunity they couldn't afford to miss—a perfect chance to set him up for another downfall, masked as a second chance.
Only a few board members disagreed. The majority voted in favor.
The motion was passed.
Adrian Richardson was officially reinstated as Managing Director of the Tech Division under strict conditions.
He had exactly one month to prove himself.
One month to deliver real results. One month to raise the company's tech revenue and close the competitive gap.
Failure to do so would mean permanent removal not just from the board, but from every executive right tied to the company his family helped build.
The room was silent for a beat. Eyes lingered on Adrian, some watching with concealed resentment, others with cautious interest.
He gave a slight nod, accepting the challenge.
These were the moments that made his grandmother pause.
She watched him carefully, impressed for the first time in a long while. Her grandson once the careless playboy who lived for parties, clubbing, and women was finally stepping into responsibility. Andrian was showing signs of change.
He had started taking the family business seriously, and even though the room had been filled with tension and backhanded compliments, he stood his ground.
He held the weight of the boardroom like a man who had something to prove — and the determination to do it.
His grandmother nodded silently, saying nothing as she rose from her seat and exited the meeting. She had only her two Grandson Charles and Damien who were proving themselves to take control of company.
Now it seems her 3rd grandson would join the competition.
...
After the meeting, people began filing out, murmurs of strategy and suspicion trailing behind them.
But Andre remained seated, his eyes fixed on Charlotte who was across the room. Charlotte was also staring at him smiling like she was having all the fun in the world.
He walked up slowly, arms folded.
"What are you doing here?"
Charlotte didn't look up. "Yeah, what in the world am I doing here?" she said mockingly, then glanced at him with a smirk. "Oh right I'm a shareholder. Have you forgotten?"
Andre frowned. "I know that. But why now? Why show up here, of all times?"
"Grandmother said I came to support you," she replied, her tone dry. "Apparently I'm trying to be a better person or something."
He scoffed. "After all this time? I don't see why you'd suddenly care."
Charlotte leaned back, her smirk widening. "Let's just say I found something… interesting."
"The playboy's being serious now," she teased. "Don't flatter yourself. That's not nearly enough to hold my attention."
"You left Charlotte...why are you back, there must be a reason"
She blinked, then laughed walking towards him and giving him this seductive vibes. "No, darling. I got bored. You were the one clinging to the fantasy. I just did the honors and walked out."
Andre clenched his jaw but moved on. "So what do you really want?"
"I already told you. I want you" She bent her head now staring deeply in his eyes and then his lips
"I came to support you."
"Then maybe you should've shown a little of that support before attacking me," he shot back.
Charlotte rolled her eyes. "Come on, I just saved your ass. No one in that room wanted you reinstated. If I hadn't voted in your favor, you'd be toast. You should be thanking me" She pulled him and gave him a sharp peck on his lips and then he stood up immediately.
She was playing with him..he would let her.
"See you later " Andrian straightened up his suit and walked out.
She watcged him leave as she sat on the table then she held up her phone and dialed someone.
"Find out how he managed to seal the deal. I want every detail."
Her voice was serious.
Silas and his allies and a few other loyalists had planned this well. The vote hadn't gone exactly how they expected, but they still had cards to play.
They didn't need to block Adrian from getting in.
They just needed to sabotage him once he was inside.
Make him bleed. Make him fail.
Let the pressure crush him from the inside.
They only needed time and someone close enough to deliver the final blow.
Charlotte smirked.
Let them think she was just another bored rich girl.
She'd already picked a side.
But she wasn't going to make it easy for any of them.
He was already circling the drain. Few people were seriously interested in buying Andrian's shares when he loses.
It was just a matter of waiting.