If Words Won't Reach, Threaten Them

Harlan Debonair sat behind his mahogany desk, temple pinched between his fingers, the skyline of Country X glittering behind him through the glass walls like distant, mocking stars.

Lorenzo stood near the bookshelf, stiff in his suit, jaw clenched, pacing.

"I'm telling you, Father… she's getting dangerous."

Harlan exhaled slowly. "Krishna has always been dangerous."

"No. Not like this." Lorenzo's voice was low, clipped, brimming with frustration. "Before? She was reckless. Loud. A public scandal waiting to happen. But now… she's strategic."

His tone sharpened. "She took Vale's company down with nothing but timing and leverage. And now she wants him planted inside our walls? Close to you?"

Harlan said nothing at first, simply staring at the untouched tumbler of whiskey on his desk.

Lorenzo pressed on. "You know what this means. Having him here isn't about giving her a toy to play with. It's about giving her eyes. Ears. Access."

Harlan's gaze narrowed. "I'm well aware."

"She's always been underestimated," Lorenzo continued, pacing faster now. "We thought she was just… noise. An embarrassment we had to manage. But the way she flipped Vale? The way she manipulated the market to protect our shares? That's not noise. That's war footing."

The air grew heavy.

Even Harlan, cold as steel and twice as immovable, felt the weight of it.

Because as much as he hated to admit it…

Lorenzo was right.

Krishna wasn't playing games anymore.

And for the first time in years, Harlan doubted if keeping her at arm's length was still a winning strategy.

But still…

No.

He couldn't allow this.

"I won't accept it," Harlan said finally, voice a deep, decisive cut through the tension. "Vale is not stepping foot inside this company as my advisor. Or secretary. Or anything else. She's pushed far enough."

Lorenzo let out a breath, relieved. "Good. It's about time she heard 'no' for once."

Harlan stood, adjusting the cuffs of his suit. "Tell her. End of discussion."

But just as Lorenzo reached for his phone--

The doors to Harlan's office slammed open.

Both men froze.

There she was.

Krishna.

In leather boots, ripped jeans, and an oversized blazer like she'd stormed straight off a magazine shoot and into corporate hell.

Her hair unbrushed.

Her lipstick, perfect.

And her eyes?

Bright with fury and something sharper…

Intent.

"Tell me what?" she said, voice dripping with poison and honey in equal measure.

Lorenzo visibly tensed. "Krishna, get out. This isn't--"

"Oh, cut the eldest-son-in-a-power-trip act." She rolled her eyes and crossed the room like she owned it. "I heard enough from the hallway."

Harlan's stare hardened. "You're not welcome here during business hours."

"Then good thing I'm not here for business." She planted both hands on his desk, leaning in close enough for him to see the glitter in her pupils. "I'm here for war."

Lorenzo stepped forward, ready to intercept, but Krishna's glare pinned him mid-step.

"Sit, Lorenzo. Daddy's already stressed enough."

Harlan's jaw twitched. "You're making it worse."

Krishna laughed once, sharp and humorless. "Oh, I haven't even started."

She straightened, crossing her arms loosely over her chest like she had all the time in the world.

"You're refusing Lucius Vale?"

Harlan didn't blink. "I am."

Krishna tilted her head, smiling thinly. "You're sure about that?"

"Yes."

"Final answer?"

"Yes."

Her grin widened.

Slow.

Deadly.

"Alright," she said with fake cheer, turning to pace towards the glass wall overlooking the city. "Then I guess it's time I pay a visit… to the Kaneko Group."

Both men stiffened.

Lorenzo's voice dropped to a warning growl. "You wouldn't dare."

Krishna glanced over her shoulder, all teeth.

"Wouldn't I? You forget… I've got a bit of a reputation now. Vale's board remembers me real well. So does every shareholder we snatched during the crash." She let her fingers trace along one of the glass vases by the window, eyes glinting like she might just throw it for sport. "If I offer them my full, undivided support? Publicly? Along with a few choice leaks about Debonair Holdings' internal dysfunctions…"

Her gaze slid back to Harlan.

"You'll have another corporate bloodbath on your hands by next quarter."

Silence.

Harlan's fingers tightened around the edge of his desk.

"You'd tank your own family's reputation just to get your way?" he asked, voice low with disbelief.

Krishna's smile softened, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"You've spent my entire life reminding me I'm not really part of this family." Her tone turned almost… fond. "So why would I care about the family name now?"

Lorenzo's face flushed with pure rage.

"Father, we can't let her blackmail--"

Harlan lifted a hand, silencing him.

For several long beats…

The room sat in weighted silence.

Harlan stared at her… calculating… measuring the risk.

And Krishna…

Stood there like she had all the cards in the deck.

Because she did.

Finally… with the heaviness of a mountain shifting, Harlan exhaled through his nose.

"…One condition," he said darkly.

Krishna blinked. "Go on."

Harlan's voice dropped low.

"You take full responsibility for him. If Vale steps out of line, even once, he's out. And so are you."

Krishna smiled slow, like victory tasted sweet on her tongue.

"Deal."

And with that…

She turned on her heel, striding out of the office like she hadn't just threatened to tear down the empire that built her.

Lorenzo glared after her.

"She's going to burn this place down one day," he muttered.

Harlan's gaze lingered on the door she'd left swinging open behind her.

"…Yes," he said quietly.

Then under his breath--

"But at least she'll be burning it from inside."