C1 - New Start

Far removed from the clamor and commotion, a stately abode of wood, stone, and glass stood ensconced within the tranquil embrace of nature. Secluded, self-contained, and untouched by the world's restlessness, it emanated a quiet grandeur—a silent sentinel of affluence and solitude.

Within one of its most inviting chambers, bathed in the hush of filtered daylight, a young boy sat—his focus absorbed by the screen before him. The space, adorned with lush greenery, mirrored the world beyond its walls, an indoor sanctuary thriving under his quiet dominion. 

A stylus glided across his drawing tablet, his attention flitting only briefly to the laptop before him. A woman's voice, crisp yet smooth, broke the silence with measured deliberation.

"The stocks are performing poorly. Do you contemplate further investments?"

Her presence was one of unyielding poise, her long, obsidian waves cascading in effortless elegance. Each glance, deliberate. Each word, precise.

Raelyn Jeong. A woman whose allure was rivaled only by her self-assurance. She possessed the air of a high-powered CEO—graceful, detached, effortlessly commanding. The kind of woman who could hold an entire boardroom hostage with a single look.

One of my most trusted advisors. And yet, despite her evident disapproval, I remained unmoved.

"Please, continue."

My dismissive gesture earned a flicker of irritation. She seemed poised to press the matter—until Adisa intervened.

Adisa Chyris. A name whispered through the legal corridors of influence. A man on the precipice of his twenty-fifth birthday and already a force in his field.

Nearly six feet tall, his presence was a study in controlled authority—elegance shaped by discipline, confidence woven into his every move. His deep brown skin, sculpted like a deity's own creation, carried a quiet intensity, yet it was his piercing green eyes that held dominion, compelling and unreadable.

He was a man most women dreamed of. But he already belonged to Raelyn.

"Our contracts are prepared. I will send them over by the end of the day."

His voice, smooth and deliberate, held the practiced cadence of a man who never fumbled a negotiation.

"…Mm."

My response was absentminded at best, my hand moving ceaselessly over the tablet. By conventional standards, my indifference would be labeled discourteous, but they had long since adapted.

Hopefully, my mother never bore witness to this behavior.

In my defense, words had never been my strong suit.

Securing their loyalty had been no easy feat, especially at my age. Adisa, three years prior, was still a rising talent, a man with ambitions that exceeded his resources. His aspirations of establishing his own firm required backing—and I had provided it.

I was not counted among the world's wealthiest. But for my age, I was far from inconsequential.

Through him, I met Raelyn. A natural pairing, the two of them. Meticulous. Brilliant. Inescapably sharp.

There were others, of course—brokers, accountants, analysts—but these two stood at the helm. I trusted them implicitly.

Yet trust was not a reason to forego contingency plans.

With their updates conveyed, parting words were exchanged. But before silence could settle, yet another presence emerged on my screen.