The Art of Dominion

July 25, 2009 – 5:00 PM

Blackwood Manor, Switzerland

The great hall of Blackwood Manor was bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun, the light reflecting off the polished marble floors. The air was thick with the scent of aged wood, cigar smoke, and the faintest hint of vintage cognac. Inside, seated around a vast obsidian table, were the most trusted men of Nathaniel Blackwood, each hand-picked to advise on matters that dictated the course of global economics and power.

Nathaniel leaned forward, his sharp silver eyes scanning the intelligence dossier laid out before him. Every page was a map of influence, detailing the financial empire that Aritra Naskar had built in an astonishingly short time.

"One hundred million Nova One units sold," Richard Graves, the family's chief financial strategist, remarked as he flipped through the reports. "That translates to over $18 billion in revenue, with an estimated $6.3 billion in profit after manufacturing, logistics, and marketing. And that's just hardware sales. The real money is in OmniLink."

Lucas Hawthorne, the Blackwoods' expert on digital infrastructure, picked up where Graves left off. "OmniLink is a beast of its own. 120 million daily active users, bringing in $1.2 billion per quarter in ad revenue alone. At this rate, he's on track to control the largest independent digital ecosystem outside of corporate conglomerates."

Nathaniel exhaled slowly, setting his whiskey glass down on the table. "We don't need to be reminded of the numbers," he said coldly. "What we need is a way to secure control over his empire. He's proven resilient against corporate pressure, he's sidestepped government interference, and now, he's making moves into global telecommunications. His power isn't just wealth—it's influence. The kind that can't be bought. That makes him a problem."

"Then we make him need us," Alistair Vaughn, their geopolitical strategist, said. "He owns India's 5G infrastructure, but the rest of the world is still up for grabs. What happens when the European Union, the United States, and China refuse to let him operate without regulatory oversight? That's where we position ourselves. If we control global 5G licensing outside of India, he'll be forced to negotiate. He'll have no choice but to come to us."

Nathaniel nodded but remained silent. Control through necessity was one method. But there were others.

"There's an alternative," Richard suggested, clearing his throat. "If we can't force him to work with us, we absorb him. Not through direct acquisition—he'd never sell. But through an alliance that binds him to us permanently." He hesitated for a moment before continuing. "We secure him through family."

A slow smirk crossed Nathaniel's lips. "Go on."

"Marriage," Richard said, his voice level. "It's an old strategy but an effective one. And we have a perfect candidate. Katherine Blackwood, direct daughter of Nathaniel Blackwood, the head of the family. She turns 18 in December. She's already completed her studies, she's brilliant, poised, and carries the Blackwood name. A union between her and Aritra would secure influence over him without direct force. It would bring his empire into ours through blood rather than battle."

The room fell into a tense silence as the implications of the proposal settled over them. Nathaniel ran a hand over his chin, considering the long-term ramifications. Aritra was fiercely independent, but even the most independent men had weaknesses. And what greater weakness was there than the illusion of choice?

Lucas leaned forward, tapping a finger on the table. "The problem is, he's not an ordinary businessman. He won't be easily manipulated. If we offer this without positioning it correctly, he'll see through it and refuse outright. We need to make it something he can't say no to."

"Which means?" Nathaniel asked.

"We make it look like he's in control of the decision. We let him believe that this is a move that strengthens his position, not ours."

"And how do we do that?" Vaughn asked.

Nathaniel smirked. "We give him the illusion of leverage. We present Katherine not just as a brilliant student, heir to an untouchable dynasty, and an equal in ambition, but as someone whose connections solidify his global standing. We ensure that rejecting the proposal is costlier than accepting it."

Richard nodded. "As Nathaniel's own daughter, she has been meticulously groomed from birth for this level of responsibility, inheriting not only the Blackwood name but the legacy of control and influence that comes with it. She knows what's at stake, and she knows how to command respect without demanding it. If anyone can handle Aritra, it's her."

Lucas exhaled. "Then it's settled? We proceed with the proposal?"

Nathaniel lifted his glass, taking a slow sip before setting it down. "We proceed. But not as a demand. We introduce her into his world first—let him see her value, let him believe that this is his decision. And then, we let the pieces fall into place."

A knock on the heavy wooden doors of the hall echoed through the chamber. A butler stepped inside, bowing slightly. "Sir, Miss Katherine Blackwood, your daughter, has arrived."

Nathaniel smiled, motioning toward the door. "Show her in. Let's see how our future unfolds."

The doors opened, and a young woman stepped in, poised yet commanding, her presence alone enough to shift the air in the room. As she walked toward the table, the Blackwood men observed in silence, watching as the next move in their grand game entered the room.