Chapter 15: Business as Usual (Which Means Corporate Bloodshed)

conference room | Titan Vale Tower

The grand conference room of Titan Vale Corporation was a monument to wealth and power. Towering glass windows framed a breathtaking view of the city skyline, the morning sun casting golden hues over the obsidian conference table.

Seated around it were the highest-ranking executives—department heads, key decision-makers, and the occasional underling who looked like they'd rather be anywhere else. All were waiting for one man.

And, as usual, Nevaris Vale was late.

Freya stood near the entrance, arms crossed, watching as some executives shifted impatiently. Others whispered in hushed voices, likely speculating about what fresh absurdity their chairman would bring today.

Then, right on cue, the double doors swung open.

Nevaris strolled in, exuding his signature brand

The Titan Vale Grand Conference Room was a masterpiece of modern architecture—floor-to-ceiling glass windows offering a breathtaking cityscape view, a sleek marble table stretching across the room, and a massive holographic display pulsing with live market data.

It was the kind of setting where fortunes were made, empires were destroyed, and coffee-fueled executives tried desperately to avoid Nevaris Vale's unpredictable wrath.

The board had already gathered.

Executives. Department heads. Key decision-makers.

All waiting for their chairman.

And, as usual…

Nevaris was late.

Freya stood near the entrance, arms crossed, silently watching the slow build-up of corporate anxiety in the room.

Some executives shifted in their seats, pretending not to be irritated. Others whispered to each other, likely placing bets on what absurd stunt their CEO would pull this time.

Then, right on cue, the doors swung open.

Nevaris strolled in.

Dressed in an expensive suit—crisp, sharp, and completely unbuttoned at the top. His tie? Loosely hanging, like he'd considered wearing it properly and then decided against it at the last second.

And in his hand?

A coffee cup.

Bold black letters across it read:

"I'M CEO, B*TCH."

Freya sighed. Of course.

Nevaris plopped into his chair at the head of the table, stretching like a cat waking from a nap. "Alright, let's get this over with. Someone give me the fun stuff."

Damian Frost—Titan Vale's COO, a composed man in his early forties with silver-streaked hair—adjusted his glasses. He was the kind of executive who exuded professionalism, the exact opposite of Nevaris in every conceivable way.

"Chairman Vale," Damian began with the patience of a saint. "We have several pressing matters, including the acquisition talks with Zenith Dynamics, the hostile takeover attempts from Orion Holdings, and—"

Nevaris lazily waved a hand. "Boring. Skip to the part where I get to crush someone's hopes and dreams."

A tense silence fell over the room.

The newer executives blinked in confusion. The older ones? They knew exactly what this meant.

When Nevaris started talking like this…

Someone was about to be financially obliterated.

Damian exhaled and tapped his tablet. "Orion Holdings has been making aggressive moves against our logistics subsidiary. They've been leveraging regulatory loopholes and political connections to slow down our shipping operations. If this continues, our supply chain will take a critical hit next quarter."

Nevaris sipped his coffee. "Ah. Corporate warfare. So predictable."

Freya narrowed her eyes. She had gone through the reports herself. This wasn't just business—Orion Holdings was testing Titan Vale's limits.

A younger executive hesitantly spoke up. "We could counter with legal action, but that would take months, and by then—"

"Too slow."

Nevaris cut him off mid-sentence.

Gone was the lazy slouch in his posture. His golden eyes sharpened, a predatory glint flickering to life.

Freya watched, silent.

This was the real Nevaris Vale.

The eccentric fool had vanished. In his place sat the Demon of Contracts.

Nevaris drummed his fingers against the table. "Damian, I want a full breakdown of Orion Holdings' financial health. Where are they weakest?"

Damian nodded, already pulling up reports. "They have significant capital, but they're over-leveraged in the tech sector. Their AI division has been bleeding money for months."

Nevaris smirked. "Perfect. We'll make them bleed harder."

His gaze flickered to Freya. "Get our black ops—uh, I mean, our strategic legal team— to dig up every possible vulnerability they have. If they've bribed anyone, I want receipts. If they have skeletons, I want the whole graveyard."

Freya nodded. She had already anticipated this. Orion Holdings wouldn't know what hit them.

Nevaris turned back to the table. "As for logistics—buy out their suppliers. All of them."

An older executive hesitated. "Chairman, that would be incredibly costly, and—"

Nevaris grinned.

A cold, sharp, merciless grin.

"And worth every cent when their entire operation grinds to a halt."

The room went silent.

Damian exhaled. "Understood. I'll initiate negotiations immediately."

Freya glanced around the table. Some executives looked downright terrified. They had known this was how Nevaris played the game, but watching it happen was an entirely different experience.

This was why Titan Vale dominated every industry it touched.

Nevaris stretched, cracking his knuckles. "That takes care of Orion. Now, what's next? Ah, right—Zenith Dynamics."

Zenith was a rising competitor in military tech. Titan Vale had been trying to acquire them, but negotiations had stalled.

Freya spoke up. "They're hesitant because they fear losing creative control. Their entire brand is built on innovation, and a corporate takeover makes them uneasy."

Nevaris tapped his chin. "Then we don't take them."

A few executives blinked. "Sir?"

Nevaris smirked. "We partner with them instead. Offer a joint venture. We provide funding, distribution, and market expansion, but they retain creative leadership. Give them freedom—but make them dependent on us."

Silence.

Then, Damian nodded slowly. "That… could work."

Nevaris beamed. "Of course it'll work. People don't mind being owned if they feel like they're in control."

Freya sighed. This man…

Then, Nevaris' phone buzzed.

He glanced at the screen.

His smug expression vanished instantly.

Freya raised a brow. "What?"

Nevaris groaned and turned the phone around, showing her the message.

[Mom]: Dinner. Tonight. No excuses.

Freya smirked. "You should be honored. Not everyone gets personal invitations from Celestine Vale."

Nevaris dramatically placed a hand over his chest. "I'd rather deal with Orion Holdings."

A few executives exchanged confused glances.

Why was their ruthless, terrifying chairman afraid of his mother?

Nevaris sighed, stuffing his phone back into his pocket. "Alright, that's enough business for today. You all have your orders. Dismissed."

Executives quickly filed out, some still whispering about the brutal strategies that had just been laid out.

As Freya and Nevaris left the conference room, she spoke without looking at him.

"Sometimes, I forget how much of a demon you really are."

Nevaris chuckled. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Freya."

She rolled her eyes.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw him glance at his phone again, his expression unreadable.

Freya smirked.

For all his power…

Even Nevaris Vale wasn't immune to a mother's wrath.