Mirror Crown
Morning sunlight slashed through the massive glass panels of the Black estate like golden blades. I stood in front of the mirror in Christian's walk-in closet—more like a boutique, honestly—adjusting the cufflinks on my navy suit. Everything about me screamed "legacy," but deep down, I still felt like a stranger in someone else's destiny.
Amelia appeared in the doorway right on cue. "Your father is already in the boardroom. He flew in early from Monaco. No delays today."
I nodded. "Let's make a statement."
As we walked down the long hallway, polished floors reflecting the chandeliers above us, I could feel it building inside me—not nerves. Strategy. If I was going to wear this man's crown, I had to earn it with every step I took. Not just imitate—dominate.
We reached the private boardroom at the top floor of BlackCorp's headquarters. It had a panoramic view of the skyline, a long obsidian table, and a silence that could crush a man's confidence. Sitting at the head of the table, sipping espresso like he owned the sun, was the man himself—Christian Black Sr. Cold eyes. Perfect posture. The kind of father who didn't hug, only calculated.
"Sit," he said, without even glancing fully at me.
I sat. Calmly. Like I'd been doing this all my life.
"I hear you want to purchase Valtessa," he said, finally looking up from the financial report in front of him. "That's a very emotional move. Is this about that girl you've been seen with?"
I met his gaze without flinching. "It's about vision. Valtessa is undervalued and mismanaged. But it has raw potential. We can turn it into the cornerstone of our youth luxury vertical. I'm not asking for permission. I'm letting you know I'm executing it under BlackCorp."
Silence.
He studied me for a long moment. "You sound different."
I leaned forward slightly. "That's because I am different. Maybe it's time we evolve."
His mouth twitched. Not a smile, but something close. Approval? Surprise? Hard to say with him.
"I'll have the legal team draft the papers," he said at last. "But if you fail—"
"I won't."
I stood before he could finish the threat. Power wasn't just in making moves—it was in knowing when to walk away with the last word.
As I stepped out of the boardroom, Amelia handed me a new file.
"Valtessa's financials. You'll want to study that before the press gets wind," she said. "Also… the girl?"
"Tasha."
"She deserves to know," Amelia said softly. "One day, you'll have to tell her who you really are."
I looked out at the skyline, the empire below me.
"One day," I said. "But first, I'll give her a life so good… she won't care about the lie."
Because this wasn't just survival anymore.
This was empire building.
This was me—rewriting destiny one move at a time.