The boardroom at Jefferson Global was nothing short of a fortress.
Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of Nova Dominion's skyline, but inside, the air was colder than steel. Twelve seats circled the black obsidian table, each occupied by a member of the Jefferson dynasty or their most trusted executors.
At the head sat Cornelius Jefferson, Elsa's great-uncle. The de facto patriarch since Wallace's semi-retirement.
And beside him, seated like a guest but speaking like a host — Silas Kade.
Elsa entered, calm and poised in a navy silk suit. The moment she stepped into the room, the conversation paused.
Cornelius didn't even look up. "You're late."
Elsa smiled politely. "And yet, somehow, you haven't started anything meaningful."
Silas stood, extending his hand. "Elsa. Always a pleasure."
She ignored it. "Didn't expect to find you here, Silas. I thought you were busy cleaning up your mess over at Havencrest."
A few chuckles were stifled. Silas remained cool. "I'm here as a consultant. Jefferson Global is considering a restructuring. I've offered my services during the transition."
Elsa's eyes flicked to her uncle. "Transition? There's no transition on the table."
Cornelius finally met her gaze.
"There will be. Jefferson Global is absorbing Elaris Luxe."
💣 The words hit like a silent bomb.
Elsa didn't flinch.
She pulled out her seat and sat down.
"Interesting," she said calmly. "And who decided this?"
"The board," Cornelius said. "You've done well with Elaris Luxe, Elsa. But legacy cannot be split. Wallace would want unity."
"And he also made me CEO of Elaris Luxe — independently," Elsa countered.
Silas leaned in. "You don't need to lose your position, Elsa. This merger could make you the most powerful woman in the city."
Elsa's voice dropped an octave. "And whose leash would I be on?"
Silas smiled.
"No leash. Just... shared vision."
Meanwhile, across the city, inside a dimly lit study in a forgotten wing of Nova Library, Chess Golding observed the meeting through a silent live feed, piped in through an innocuous pen Elsa always carried.
He watched Silas with narrowed eyes.
Lance entered, holding a report.
"The Jefferson Board is compromised. Cornelius received campaign funds from Kieran Wolfe's political PAC. And two other board members have shell accounts tied to Kade Industries."
Chess nodded. "They're laying a trap. They want Elaris Luxe to fall under their web, then fracture it from the inside."
Lance frowned. "Do we intervene?"
Chess didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he picked up a black pawn from the board beside him.
"We let the lions think they're winning. Then we set the arena on fire."
Back at the meeting, Elsa stood up.
"If this is a power grab, you should've at least brought better knives."
Cornelius raised a brow. "Are you threatening us?"
"I don't need to threaten," she said smoothly. "I own sixty-two percent of Elaris Luxe' voting shares. This merger doesn't happen without my signature."
Silas stood. "And what if Elaris Luxe' board is pressured? What if your company's financials suddenly collapse? Investors flee?"
Elsa turned to him.
"If you so much as breathe wrong near Elaris Luxe, I will burn every bridge you've built in this city."
For a moment, the entire room held its breath.
Then Cornelius laughed.
"You are truly Wallace's granddaughter."
Elsa didn't smile.
She turned and walked out.
In the elevator down, Elsa leaned her head back, exhaling.
Then, her phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number.
"Keep your eyes on the west wing of the board. The knife won't come from the front."— W.
She stared at the message.
The signature… was a single letter.
W? Wallace?
Or… someone else?
Across town, Chess smiled in the dark.
Let them think it's Wallace.
For now.