Black Veil System

The tension in the room thickened as the seven hands remained raised, a silent yet deafening vote against Justin Black.

The air felt stifling, not from the heat but from the tension that weighed down on every soul present. Justin leaned back in his chair, his gaze cool but burning with unspoken fury. The raised hands before him were like knives, each one stabbing at the remnants of his patience.

He didn't flinch, didn't blink, but the scoff that escaped his lips was cutting. These vultures—impatient, greedy, and self-serving—could barely contain their eagerness to push him out. He didn't care about their votes. To him, they were insignificant. But that didn't mean the sting didn't cut deep—not for himself, but for his parents.

The thought of how his mother and father had trusted these opportunistic clowns, allowed them into the sacred business they'd built with their bare hands, made his blood boil.

His eyes darkened as he scanned the room. A few of them squirmed under his stare, their confidence faltering for a moment. Good. They should be uncomfortable.

They needed to remember who he was—who they were dealing with. Scandals or no scandals, they would've found another way to worm their way into control, to wrest the agency from his grasp. It wasn't about fairness or principle; it was about power, and they thought they could overpower him.

But they were wrong.

Votes or not, Parker wasn't stepping down. Not now. Not ever. Even with the odds stacked against him, teetering dangerously close to the edge of a humiliating loss, he wasn't going to back down. They thought they had him cornered.

Let them think it. The lesson he was about to teach them would echo for years to come. "I will play long-term, let's see where this ends!"

Selena, seated just two places to Justin's left, tapped her pen against the table. The faint click echoed like a countdown in the heavy silence. She leaned forward, her tone measured but sharp enough to cut through the suffocating air.

"So… that's it?" Selena's eyes swept the room, landing briefly on each of the seven hands before locking onto the silver-haired woman. "You're all basing his entire capability on a handful of headlines and opinions? That's your measure of fitness to lead?"

The silver-haired woman's lips twitched into a thin smile, one that held no warmth. "Ms. Black," she began, her tone dripping with faux patience, "if you think we're acting prematurely, allow me to enlighten you."

She pressed a button on her remote, and the projector flickered back to life.

"While the media has been kind enough to withhold the majority of their findings—for now—it's only because we, the board, have been keeping them at bay. For the sake of what's left of this company's reputation. But should I pull back that restraint…"

The screen changed, displaying a series of yet-to-be-published headlines from major outlets:

"Black Veil's Empire in Turmoil: Kid CEO and new Chairman Tied to Fraudulent Modeling Contracts"

"Exposé: Exploitation at Black Veil Under Justin Black's Leadership"

"The Party Prince Strikes Again: Evidence of Illicit Deals"

Each headline carried the potential to destroy what remained of the company's credibility.

The woman continued, her voice growing sharper with each word. "These aren't baseless rumors. We have credible sources, verified documents, and eyewitness accounts. Shall I go on?"

Justin's expression remained stoic, but Selena was far less composed. "You mean to tell me," she shot back, her voice rising, "that you've been sitting on this information—letting it fester—instead of addressing it? All for the sake of what? Waiting for a convenient time to throw him under the bus, and we all know most of these are false or trace way too back?"

"Don't be naive," a man from across the table interrupted, his voice cold. "We've been protecting the agency. True or false... If we let the media run wild with this, everything collapses overnight. But if we let him stay in control? It's a slow, painful death either way."

The silver-haired woman seized the moment to press forward. "Let's not pretend this is just about media scandals. The clients are talking. The employees are talking. Hell, even the industry is talking. You think this room is harsh? Step outside, and you'll see what the real world thinks of Justin Black."

Selena's gaze flicked to Justin, searching his face for a reaction, but his expression was unreadable.

"And let's not forget this." The woman clicked the remote again, and another document appeared on the screen—a legal notice.

"Class-action lawsuit," she announced, her voice like a dagger. "Filed by former employees. Allegations of harassment, exploitation, and unsafe working conditions—all tied directly to late Mr. Black's leadership. The media doesn't have this one yet, but it's only a matter of time."

Justin's fingers twitched under the table, but his face betrayed nothing. They even dared to bring his father into this!

"That," the woman concluded, gesturing toward the screen, "is what we're basing our decision on. Not just some headlines, but hard facts. This is bigger than one man's ego or reputation. This is about survival."

The weight of her words pressed down on the room, and for a moment, it seemed as though no one would speak.

But then Selena leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "Let me ask you something," she said, her tone biting. "Do you honestly believe dragging him down fixes this? Do you think throwing him out of this seat saves us from all of this?"

The room shifted uncomfortably.

"Because from where I'm sitting," Selena continued, her voice steady and unwavering, "it looks like you're all more concerned about finding a scapegoat than an actual solution."

"Enough!" the man at the far end of the table barked, slamming his fist against the surface. "We don't need a lecture, Ms. Black. What we need is leadership, and clearly, Justin isn't capable of providing that." He didn't bother to sugarcoat or even regard Justin with any respect as an equal or in their case....their current boss.

Eight hands were still up, still solidifying the vote to remove Justin.

Selena glanced at Justin again, her eyes narrowing as if to say, Fight back. Do something.

But Justin simply leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled under his chin. His gaze was sharp, calculating, and unnervingly calm.

"Are you finished?" he asked, his voice low and cold, cutting through the tension like a blade.

The silver-haired woman tilted her head, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "For now," she replied. "Unless you have something to say that can save your career."

Ding! Black Veil System Activated]

The voice slithered into his mind, smooth and unnerving, like a late-night FM host mixed with a devil whisper.

[Welcome to the Veil System, Justin Black. The shadows of manipulation, deceit, control, greedy and lust are your playground now.

Ding! The Veiler can view their status, the system core features and triggered abilities!] Justin's smirk returned—slow, dangerous, and entirely unfazed.

He didn't flinch. Didn't stammer.

He let the silence stretch, the weight of it pressing down on the room like a vice.

"Good," he said finally. "Now it's my turn."