Chapter 149: A Seat at the Table

The private jet sliced through the night sky, its cabin filled with the quiet hum of power. Chris sat at the head of the table, reviewing the latest intelligence briefings. Across from him, Skylar watched, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass.

"This isn't just another meeting," she said. "The EU isn't happy."

Chris barely looked up. "Good. I'd be worried if they were."

By the time they landed in Brussels, the tension in the air was thick. Security was tight, and the press swarmed outside the European Commission headquarters. Cameras flashed as Chris stepped out, his expression unreadable. Skylar followed a step behind, her presence a silent declaration—she was at his side, no matter the consequences.

Inside, the room was filled with world leaders, each one carrying years of political weight. Some regarded him with veiled hostility, others with cautious respect.

The EU President, a sharp-eyed woman with a practiced smile, spoke first. "President Blackwood, I assume you understand why we're here."

Chris took his seat, his gaze steady. "Of course. You want to discuss my administration's new policies. The ones that put my country first, rather than bending to your outdated global order."

Murmurs rippled through the room. A French diplomat scoffed. "You're isolating yourself, Mr. Blackwood. If you continue down this path, sanctions will be inevitable."

Chris leaned forward, his voice calm but laced with steel. "Sanctions? Interesting choice. You seem to forget—your economies rely on my administration's cooperation. Your energy sectors, your defense contracts, your financial markets—they all intersect with my policies."

Silence. Uneasy shifting.

The German Chancellor cleared his throat. "Are you threatening us?"

Chris smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "No. I'm reminding you that power is leverage. And I hold more than you think."

A tense pause filled the room. Then, one by one, leaders glanced at each other, realizing an undeniable truth—Chris Blackwood wasn't just at the table. He was reshaping it.

Skylar sat back, watching him in action. The world had underestimated him once.

They wouldn't make that mistake again.