Skylar Blackwood's POV
The press conference had come and gone, but its impact was only beginning to take shape. The Empire, as Chris knew it, was on the brink of a shift—and I was the one steering the wheel.
Sitting in the dim light of my private office, I took a moment to breathe. The weight of the decision I'd made was heavier than I had anticipated, but it was necessary. Chris thought he had me under his thumb. That I was just another pawn. But I was more than that. I always had been.
I had to show the people that there was an alternative, a new way. A way that didn't involve blindly following the Empire's rigid structure. I wasn't breaking away from Chris—I was carving a path alongside him. In my own way. In my own image.
I stood from the desk and walked toward the large holo-screen that now glowed in front of me, casting an eerie light over the room. This was where it all began.
"The People's Agency," I whispered to myself, a smile curling on my lips.
This was the agency that would serve the masses—the ones who had been forgotten in the endless cycle of wealth and power. I would provide them with a voice. With hope. And when the time came, I would take it all away.
I tapped a few commands, and the screen shifted, showing the preliminary designs. A sleek, modern logo materialized, bold and unmistakable. The People's Agency.
It was time to recruit.
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The Next Steps
I turned toward my team, who had been working tirelessly behind the scenes. Christiana, Classic, Amara—all were moving in their own circles, but now, it was my turn to set the wheels in motion. No more shadows. No more whispers.
"Gather the brightest minds from across the Empire," I instructed. "We need economists, strategists, and public relations experts. Those who understand what the people want. Those who can manipulate public perception."
I paused, letting my words sink in.
"But also... we need visionaries. Those who are willing to challenge the very system that has kept them beneath our feet."
Amara raised an eyebrow as she walked in. "You're playing a dangerous game, Skylar. Do you think the people are ready for this kind of change?"
I didn't hesitate. "They don't need to be ready. I will make them ready."
Christiana stepped into the room, her eyes narrowing as she observed the preparations. "And what of Chris? Do you think he'll let you get away with this?"
I smiled, an icy edge to my voice. "Chris will think this is part of the plan. He doesn't realize that the pieces I'm putting in place now are his undoing."
I turned back to the holo-screen, where the People's Agency logo flickered briefly before settling into place.
"We will provide aid. We will promise prosperity. And we will ensure they depend on us more than they ever depended on him."
I knew what I was doing. I wasn't just creating an agency. I was laying the groundwork for something bigger.
The People's Agency would not just be a voice for the people—it would be their lifeline.
And when they came to rely on me? That's when the real game would begin.
End of Scene.
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