A Seat at the Table

Ethan sat in his penthouse, staring at the shimmering city skyline. The world was finally acknowledging his existence.

$25 million.

That was his new net worth after crushing Blackwood Financial.

Yet, he felt no sense of accomplishment. It was just the beginning.

He took a sip of whiskey and smirked.

"Let's see who tries next."

A Mysterious Invitation

At 8 AM sharp, Alexander called.

"You made too much noise," he sighed.

Ethan chuckled. "Let me guess—someone important noticed?"

"Very important." Alexander's voice turned serious. "You've been invited to a private business gathering."

Ethan's fingers tapped against the desk. Interesting.

"Who's hosting it?"

"The Windsor Conglomerate."

Ethan's smirk faded. That was a name even billionaires feared.

The Windsor Family controlled one of the largest financial networks in America. They owned banks, investment firms, and even influenced politicians.

And now?

They wanted to meet him.

The Gathering of Giants

The event was held in a private club in Manhattan.

Ethan arrived in an elegant black suit, exuding effortless confidence. The moment he stepped inside, he felt the weight of a hundred powerful gazes.

This was a room filled with CEOs, investors, and corporate kingpins.

And every single one of them?

They were watching him.

Alexander, standing nearby, whispered, "Your reputation is growing, Ethan. Some see you as a rising star. Others? As a threat."

Ethan smirked. Good. Let them watch.

He grabbed a glass of wine and walked toward the heart of the gathering.

That's when he saw her.

The Enigmatic Heiress

Standing near the balcony was a woman who radiated power.

Long, raven-black hair cascaded down her back.

Piercing blue eyes that could freeze a room.

A posture of unshakable confidence.

She was Amara Windsor.

The sole heiress of the Windsor Conglomerate.

Ethan met her gaze.

She studied him for a moment before smirking. "So, you're the man causing trouble in our world."

Ethan took a sip of his wine. "And you must be the woman who thinks she owns it."

A brief pause.

Then?

She laughed softly. "I like you."

The Real Test

As the night progressed, Ethan was introduced to several corporate titans. Some wanted alliances. Others wanted to test him.

Then came James Harrington.

A self-made billionaire who despised newcomers like Ethan.

"So, Mr. Cole," Harrington said, voice dripping with condescension, "I heard about your little stock gamble against Blackwood."

Ethan smirked. "You mean my strategic investment that earned me $25 million?"

A few nearby CEOs chuckled.

Harrington's smile thinned. "A lucky win. The real business world isn't so kind. You should know your place."

Ethan's eyes darkened. His place?

He leaned forward slightly, his voice smooth yet sharp.

"My place," he said, "is at the top. Whether people accept it or not is their problem."

Silence.

Then, Amara spoke, her voice amused. "Bold words. But can you back them up?"

Ethan smiled. "Why don't you wait and see?"

A Secret Offer

As the event ended, Amara approached him.

"Ethan," she said, voice lower now. "I have a proposition."

Ethan raised an eyebrow.

"There's a company on the verge of collapse, but it has technology that could revolutionize AI." She handed him a file. "It's a risk, but I think it's worth looking into."

Ethan took the file. "And why are you telling me this?"

She smirked. "Because I want to see what you're truly capable of."

Ethan glanced at the file.

Then, he smiled.

"Then watch closely, Amara. Because I never lose."

Back Home:

Ethan sat at his desk, his laptop open, displaying a real-time stock market dashboard. His eyes scanned the numbers, and then—

Ding!

A system notification appeared in the corner of his vision.

[System Alert: Investment Surge Detected!]

Your portfolio value has increased by 460%.

New available balance: $312,000,000.

Ethan's fingers froze over the keyboard.

"…What?"

He leaned back in his chair, his mind racing.

Four hundred and sixty percent?! In less than a week?

He quickly opened his investment logs, checking the stocks he had bought earlier. The numbers didn't lie.

Ares Tech: +312%

Skyline Pharmaceuticals: +285%

Zenith Energy: +410%

Every stock he had invested in—companies the system had hinted at—was experiencing a massive surge.

He let out a slow breath.

The system wasn't just giving him money.

It was giving him foresight.

System Feature: Shadow Accounts

Ethan clicked on the system interface, searching for more information.

[System Upgrade Unlocked!]

You now have access to Shadow Accounts, a hidden financial network.

Funds can be stored, withdrawn, and moved anonymously.

Untraceable transactions can be conducted without alerting authorities.

Additional features will unlock as your financial influence grows.

Ethan exhaled.

With this, he could now access hundreds of millions without raising suspicion.

This changes everything.

A Private Conversation

Alexander knocked on the door and stepped in. "You called?"

Ethan turned his laptop toward him.

Alexander's eyes widened. "Jesus… where did all this money come from?!"

Ethan smirked. "Remember the companies I invested in last week?"

Alexander nodded slowly.

"Well, they just made me richer than most hedge fund managers."

Alexander rubbed his temples. "And I'm guessing you have another move planned?"

Ethan closed the laptop. "I'm looking into a company called Nexus Dynamics. Their AI research is ahead of its time."

Alexander frowned. "A struggling company?"

Ethan nodded. "And that's exactly why we're taking it."

Alexander's lips curled into a grin. "You really don't stop, do you?"

Ethan chuckled. "Why stop when you're winning?"