Chapter 2: The Walk to the Boardroom

Titan Vale Corporation Headquarters | April 12, 2041

The morning sun streamed through the towering glass facade of Titan Vale Corporation's headquarters, illuminating the sleek, black steel that framed the colossal structure. From the outside, it was an architectural marvel—a declaration of dominance over the business world. Inside, it was a machine of ruthless efficiency, where every cog, from executives to assistants, turned with precision.

Nevaris Vale, the man at the helm of this trillion-dollar empire, was currently dragging his feet down the executive corridor like an overgrown teenager being forced to attend summer school.

"This is so boring," he muttered under his breath, shoulders slumped.

Freya walked beside him, her posture crisp, heels clicking with sharp efficiency. "It's a quarterly report meeting, not a funeral. You'll survive."

"But will I?" he shot back dramatically, shoving his hands into his pockets. His white dress shirt, though expensive, was wrinkled at the sleeves from being rolled up carelessly. His tie was missing—probably abandoned somewhere in his office. His black hair was in its usual state of controlled disarray, the perfect contrast to the golden eyes that should have been focused on running a global empire but instead gleamed with mischief.

Freya didn't look at him. She was scanning their surroundings, old instincts never fully dulling. Even in the sterile safety of a corporate stronghold, she counted security cameras, memorized exit points, and assessed the body language of every executive they passed.

The murmurs followed them.

"The Demon of Contracts is here."

"I heard he dismantled an entire firm last week over a single clause."

"And that's his assistant—the Silent Blade. They say she used to be an assassin."

Freya ignored them. She was used to the whispers.

Nevaris, on the other hand, smirked. "Silent Blade, huh? Has a nice ring to it."

She shot him a look. "Keep walking."

He sighed, tilting his head toward the ceiling. "Remind me again why I can't just send an email that says 'good job' and be done with it?"

"Because you own the company," she replied.

"Technicalities," he said with a dismissive wave.

Freya exhaled through her nose. This was the routine. He always whined, always acted as if these meetings were beneath him—until something caught his attention. Then, like a predator catching the scent of prey, his entire demeanor would shift.

She had a feeling today would be one of those days.

The towering double doors of the executive boardroom loomed ahead, polished obsidian with the Titan Vale insignia etched in silver. As they approached, the biometric scanners confirmed Nevaris's presence, and the doors glided open with a soft hiss.

Inside, a long, matte-black conference table stretched across the room, flanked by the highest-ranking members of Titan Vale Corporation.

At Nevaris's entrance, every executive stood.

Nathaniel Huffington, the COO, gave a sharp nod. "Chairman Vale."

Nevaris lifted a lazy hand in greeting before dropping into his seat at the head of the table. "Yeah, yeah. Let's get this over with."

Freya remained standing at his right, arms crossed, gaze sweeping the room.

The board consisted of:

Nathaniel Huffington – The COO. Ruthlessly efficient, one of the few who could hold his ground against Nevaris in a debate.

Kenji Nakamura – Head of R&D. Quiet, methodical, more interested in projects than politics.

Langley Ashford – CFO. A numbers man to the core, but something about him always felt… off.

Gideon Park – Head of Global Investments. A smooth talker who thrived on high-risk, high-reward deals.

Victoria Lang – Chief of Cybersecurity. A genius with an unnerving ability to know everything.

Once everyone settled, Nathaniel turned to Langley. "Mr. Ashford, the floor is yours."

Langley adjusted his tie, tapping the holographic interface at the center of the table. A 3D financial report materialized above the surface, numbers and graphs rotating in crisp blue light.

"As of this quarter, Titan Vale Corporation maintains its position as the world's leading financial and technological conglomerate. Our market value currently stands at $17.4 trillion, with an annual revenue increase of 8.2%."

The projection shifted, displaying key sectors—cybernetics, AI-driven financial markets, space infrastructure. A breakdown of assets flashed across the screen, a web of power stretching across industries.

"Our strongest growth continues to be in TitanNet's financial systems, which now process 62% of global transactions. Additionally, our recent acquisitions have secured our influence over Eurasia's economic sectors."

Freya noted Langley's tone. Confident. Controlled. Carefully rehearsed. He was good at this—good at presenting the numbers in a way that soothed shareholders, reassured investors.

Nathaniel leaned forward slightly. "And liabilities?"

Langley hesitated.

For a fraction of a second.

Most wouldn't have noticed. But Freya did.

And so did Nevaris.

Still slouched, Nevaris twirled a pen between his fingers. "Yeah, Langley," he said, voice light, "what about liabilities?"

Langley's lips pressed into a thin line. "Overall financial risks remain within projected parameters. However, there has been a minor liquidity shift in certain divisions, primarily due to—"

Nevaris tilted his head, golden eyes sharpening.

Freya knew that look.

Langley kept talking, but the more he spoke, the more it became clear—he was avoiding something. The numbers didn't quite add up, and Nevaris saw it.

Casually, almost lazily, Nevaris sat up. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. The shift in his posture was subtle, but the effect was immediate.

The air in the room grew heavier.

The weight of his attention was suffocating.

His golden eyes gleamed with something far more dangerous than boredom.

A slow smirk curled at his lips.

"Interesting," he murmured.

Freya exhaled quietly.

Here we go.