Chapter 12: A Game of Gold and Shadows

Billy Roy sat frozen, his fingers still curled around his phone. The voice on the other end had vanished, leaving only a hollow silence and the rapid beat of his own heart. A warning, a threat—one he couldn't afford to ignore.

For once in his life, Billy wished he wasn't the heir to a billion-dollar gold empire. Maybe if he had been a simple fisherman or a pastry chef, he wouldn't have to deal with corporate sabotage and ominous phone calls. But no. He was Billy Roy, prince of the gilded kingdom, and someone wanted to burn it all down.

"Alright, alright. Don't panic," Billy muttered to himself, standing up and pacing the length of his office. "Maybe it's just a prank. Maybe someone's jealous of my impeccable hair and superior relaxation skills. Or… maybe this is actually serious."

A sharp knock on his door startled him. Before he could even say a word, Rin marched in, her expression one of barely concealed irritation.

"Billy, you look like you've just seen a ghost. Or worse—like you've actually been working."

Billy forced a laugh. "Oh, Rin! My beloved, sister. Always a pleasure. What brings you to my humble—"

"Cut it," Rin snapped, crossing her arms. "Father called an emergency board meeting. Apparently, Roy Industries is facing something much worse than your usual incompetence. We leave in five minutes."

Billy gulped. "That bad, huh?"

Rin narrowed her eyes. "Worse."

The Boardroom Battle

The Roy Industries boardroom was a cavernous space of opulence and authority, its walls adorned with golden-framed portraits of past Roy leaders. At the head of the long table sat Omio Roy, the patriarch of the empire, exuding an air of unwavering command. His steely gaze scanned the room as executives shuffled in, murmuring anxiously amongst themselves.

Billy slid into his seat beside Rin, clutching a leather folder to at least pretend he was prepared. Across the table sat their father's most trusted advisors, their faces grim.

"We have a problem," Omio announced, his voice like a sharpened blade. "An internal leak. Supplier contracts are compromised. Key shipments have been delayed, and, most concerningly, someone is feeding our competitors privileged information."

A hush fell over the room. Billy coughed awkwardly. "Soooo... should we, like, call security? Maybe get a really aggressive IT guy?"

Rin smacked the back of his head. "Idiot. This isn't just about one leak. Someone is systematically trying to dismantle Roy Industries."

Omio continued, ignoring Billy's theatrics. "We are under attack, and if we don't act quickly, we will lose everything we have built. We need a countermeasure. And we need to know who's behind this."

One of the senior board members, an older man with salt-and-pepper hair, cleared his throat. "We could do an internal audit, cross-check the financials with our supplier chains—"

Billy, who had been mostly nodding along, suddenly perked up. "Or we could hire a spy! Like an actual, trench-coat-wearing, alleyway-meeting, super slick, espionage expert!"

Rin sighed. "Billy, this is not a movie."

"But imagine how cool it would be! We'd have code names! I could be 'Golden Falcon.'"

Omio slammed his hand on the table. "Enough! This is not a joke. This is war. And we need results."

The room tensed. Even Billy felt the weight of the moment. His father had always been a pillar of control, but now—now he looked like a man ready to crush whoever dared challenge him.

"Rin, you'll oversee the internal audit. I want a report in twenty-four hours. Billy..."

Billy straightened. "Yes, Father? Ready for duty! Do I get a cool assignment? Maybe one with less... numbers?"

Omio fixed him with a hard stare. "You will personally handle the supplier investigation. Get on a plane if you have to. Speak to them. Find out who's been approached and by whom."

Billy blinked. "Wait. You want me... to actually do work?"

Rin smirked. "Yes, brother dear. Welcome to the real world."

Billy groaned. "Great. I should've been a pastry chef."

A Dangerous Road Ahead

Later that night, Billy sat in his dimly lit office, sifting through supplier reports with all the enthusiasm of a cat at a dog show. He groaned, rubbing his temples. "Why couldn't they just hire an actual investigator? I mean, sure, I have charm, wit, and devastating good looks, but corporate espionage? Not really my thing."

His phone buzzed again. Another unknown number. He hesitated, then answered.

A low voice whispered, "We warned you. Stop digging. Or next time, you won't get a warning."

Billy's grip on the phone tightened. "Yeah? Well, jokes on you, buddy. I wasn't even digging yet! I was... skimming. At best."

The call ended abruptly. Billy stared at his phone, a chill running down his spine.

For the first time, he realized something.

This wasn't just business. This was personal.

And Billy Roy, the self-proclaimed prince of procrastination, had just become the reluctant hero of his family's greatest battle yet.

He leaned back, exhaling deeply. "Well... crap."

The game was on.

Just as Billy reached for another report, his office lights flickered. The power cut out completely, plunging the room into darkness.

A sudden creak from the hallway made his breath hitch.

Someone was inside the building.

Before he could react, his door handle turned slowly.

Billy's heart pounded. He grabbed the nearest object—a golden paperweight—and braced himself.

The door opened.

A shadow loomed.

And then—

The screen of his phone lit up with one final message:

"You should have listened."