Chapter 15. The Essence

"You can't do this to me!" Brooklyn cried out, rushing to find Medusa.

Andrew didn't say anything else; he didn't want to be implicated in the same trial as Brooklyn. He didn't want to be sued for forgery, so he remained silent and didn't utter a word.

Medusa had already been generous enough not to take the house and the money in the savings account. She simply wanted to reclaim the company for its rightful owner. For Andrew, this is already enough.

He didn't need to think further about how to save the company from the brink of collapse or how to keep it running to earn a few dollars. Stardust Cybernetics was only Brooklyn's pride; she loved to tell everyone about her being the company owner and him as the CEO and her boyfriend, but beyond that, she had little genuine interest in it.

"Andrew! You need to say something! You're the CEO!" Brooklyn screamed, but Andrew did nothing.

"You put me in the CEO chair, but I didn't know you forged the will," Andrew said calmly.

Brooklyn halted in her steps, while Medusa sneered and continued walking outside. "Andrew, you bastard! You've been enjoying all of this, and now you want to say you had nothing to do with it?"

"You're the owner, and also the owner of the house," Andrew's words were cut off as a stiletto flew towards his face.

"Fuck you!" Brooklyn yelled, her fury evident in the sudden violence of her actions.

While Brooklyn and Andrew were engaged in their heated confrontation, Medusa continued walking, followed closely by Bernard. She had entrusted Timothy to handle everything, and he had already brought his own lawyer, as well as the lawyer representing Steven Wilson's original will. Medusa had designated Zoey Robinson as the sole owner and CEO of Stardust Cybernetics.

She had also instructed Timothy to deal with Stardust and restore it to its original condition. Medusa was willing to invest in the company, with specific terms and conditions, if Zoey was reinstated to her rightful position and allowed to work as she wished. This collaboration with Stardust was one of the advantages for Timothy and his Zenith Softworks, as it would help ensure the smooth operation of their online games.

"You can just leave!" Brooklyn continued shouting at Medusa, "Mrs. Ariadne Evangelou!"

"It's Miss Evangelou," Timothy corrected, a smile playing on his lips. "She's too important to deal with the likes of you. I'll be the one who handles this."

"Who the hell are you?" Brooklyn snarled, her frustration evident.

"Timothy Johnson, the owner of Zenith Softworks, but also the next in line to lead the Johnson Conglomerate," he replied, settling himself comfortably. His words caused Andrew, Zoey, and Steven's lawyer to stare at him with a mixture of shock and apprehension.

"You mean," Andrew began, but Timothy cut him off.

"That was Bernard Johnson, the current head of the Johnson Conglomerate. And Ariadne Evangelou, the one who owns everything. We're working for her," Timothy explained, his tone laced with a hint of superiority.

"That's why it's not wise to be on her bad side. I'd advise you to tread carefully," he continued, his gaze sweeping across the room. "Now, let's begin this meeting, we need to move all the power and work into Mrs. Zoey Robinson, officially. And you two, with everyone you bring; leave this building after."

Brooklyn was about to retry and say something, but Andrew held her down harshly. When she glared at him, she found a very scared expression on Andrew's face, and she gulped, deciding to sit and listen. Andrew wasn't usually timid or scared of anything, so as a last resort, she took out her phone to search for information on the Johnson Conglomerate, only to find out that it was one of the top 10 most powerful entities in the United States.

The realization that such power as the Johnson Conglomerate dealing in front of her made Brooklyn's heart sink. She had been so confident in her hold over Stardust Cybernetics, believing that she could easily fend off any challenges. But now, faced with the might of such a powerful organization, her bravado quickly turned to trepidation.

"We'll begin by checking the accounting," Zoey stated, feeling confident now that she knew the Johnson Conglomerate was backing her.

"Do it," Timothy asserted, exerting his dominance in the room.

The power dynamics had shifted dramatically with the revelation of the Johnson Conglomerate's involvement. Brooklyn was now facing a formidable force that had the capability to challenge her in ways she had never imagined.

"Fuck," Andrew muttered under his breath as he held Brooklyn, trying to prevent her from doing anything foolish. Because this time, her foolishness can bring doom over their lives.

-

"How are you going to say this to Miss Aleysia, Madam?" Bernard asked as they rode back to the hotel in the car.

"Let Zoey deal with it. I've already made sure she'll do her duty. If she fails, she'll face the consequences anyway," Medusa answered.

"Timothy knows how to handle it," she continued.

"You trust that boy a lot," Bernard said, smiling.

"He has the guts, which you don't have. The Johnson Conglomerate will be great in his hands. You don't have to worry," Medusa said, her gaze fixed on the road outside the car.

"I'm glad you chose the right successor," Bernard said, his tone genuine.

"You're also one of the ones I chose, Bernard," Medusa said, her mind drifting back to the young and hopeful Bernard she remembered.

"And now I'm old," Bernard said, his voice tinged with a hint of humor, but Medusa knew the underlying truth. Time was running differently for Bernard and her. While her time had seemingly stopped when she was at the peak of her beauty, time continued to move for Bernard, like any other mortal. He would soon reach the end of his lifespan and leave Medusa behind.

"Stop it. You know how I hate such words," Medusa spat, her discomfort evident.

The car rode on in silence as Bernard reminisced about the old times when he had been one of Medusa's chosen ones and how the younger version of himself had dedicated his life to serving her. No matter how much love he had for her, she would never treat it as more than mere admiration. He had his own family—his wife had died of cancer, and his two children were now working with the Johnson Conglomerate's subsidiaries.

There was no guarantee of becoming the head of the Johnson Conglomerate, even for those born as the children of the current leader. The only one who could decide that was Medusa. She had built this family from the ground up, and she could also destroy them or replace them with someone else.

Bernard knew this all too well. He had witnessed Medusa's unwavering power and her ability to shape the fates of those around her. Despite his own loyalty and years of service, he understood that his position was not unassailable. The Johnson Conglomerate was Medusa's creation, and she could mold it as she saw fit.

As the car neared the hotel, Bernard asked Medusa a question, "Do you need to go anywhere tonight, Madam?"

"Yes, I need to go to Brooklyn and Andrew's house, as well as Aleysia's house," Medusa said.

"What will you do, Madam?" Bernard asked, as he needed to make some preparations.

"Don't you think you need more statues to sell?" Medusa said, and Bernard smiled gently.

"Certainly, Madam, I'll arrange it," Bernard said while opening the car door for Medusa.

As Medusa stepped out of the car, people stopped what they were doing, their eyes following her and basking in her presence, devouring it entirely. Their eyes were filled with adoration, surprise, love, and even lust.

Medusa's aura was undeniable, commanding the attention of all who crossed her path. She exuded an air of power and confidence that was palpable, and her mere presence was enough to make those around her feel insignificant in comparison.

Bernard observed Medusa walk effortlessly toward the hotel. She displayed all power and grace with every step. He knew that whatever she had planned for Aleysia, Andrew, and Brooklyn, she would carry out with the same firm determination that had made the Johnson Conglomerate what it was today: a very powerful and influential company.

As Medusa disappeared into the hotel, the air around the hotel seemed to hum with palpable energy, the essence of Medusa's presence still lingering in the atmosphere, a constant reminder of the power she wielded and the influence she commanded.