Royce Empire - Boardroom.
Again, in the expansive, glass-walled boardroom of Royce Empire, Emma Sinclair sat composed and poised, surrounded by her trusted delegates. The tension in the air was palpable, but Emma wore it like a second skin—shoulders squared, lips curved in a polite, almost unreadable smile. Her navy-blue suit was crisp, her hair tied in a sleek knot, and her eyes focused ahead, betraying none of the anticipation bubbling under the surface.
Then the door flung open with authority.
Xander Royce stepped in, his presence alone commanding attention. Theo trailed behind him, tablet in hand, sharp and efficient as always. Emma's spine straightened instinctively, her fingers interlocking on the table as her gaze met his.
Xander gave her a curt nod. A gesture so brief, so casual, yet it left a trail of electric awareness in its wake. She responded with a light smile, barely perceptible, but genuine.
Without a word, Xander took his usual seat at the head of the long table, sinking into it with the casual confidence only he could exude. His tie lay discarded at the edge of the table, and he leaned forward, arms folded and resting on the polished surface. His head lay on those arms, eyes half closed—appearing utterly uninterested.
But Emma had come to learn that behind that relaxed, almost lazy posture was something else entirely: acute observation. Calculation. Precision.
Theo gave her a slight nod, signaling that it was time.
She stood, smoothing invisible creases from her blazer, and stepped forward. Despite the fact that Xander looked to be resting, she knew better. One eye was shut, the other half-lidded, but both ears were listening—and likely already processing everything before she even opened her mouth.
"Royce Empire," she began, her voice steady and cool, "we've adjusted the designs according to the last review, refining the details based on your observations. I'm confident the revisions meet your standards and align with the expectations for the proposed launch." She paused, then added with subtle assurance, "Possibly even exceed them."
A quiet murmur passed through the room as she pushed the designs toward him.
Xander reached out casually. The moment his fingers touched the sheets, something shifted. His eyes snapped open, sharp and awake now. He skimmed the first page, then the next. And like magic, a pen appeared between his fingers—quick, efficient, precise.
He leaned forward, and the laid-back posture vanished. His pen moved over the designs, making minute adjustments. A line redrawn. A proportion shifted. A softer curve in one corner. A bolder edge in another. The room fell into a hush, watching him work as if they were witnessing an artist perfecting a masterpiece.
A few minutes passed, and then he pushed the designs back to her.
"Perfect now," he said simply.
Emma stared at the pages, her breath catching slightly. Every modification was subtle, yet impactful. Her eyes flicked from the paper to Xander, something akin to awe widening them. He had taken their already polished designs and elevated them in mere minutes.
Amazed was an understatement.
Before she could say a word, Xander gestured, and Theo pushed the final contract files across the table.
Emma didn't hesitate. She picked up the pen and signed swiftly, passing the documents back. Then, silence.
All eyes turned to Xander.
He took his time—deliberate, unbothered. His gaze swept the room slowly, noting every face, every reaction. Finally, he leaned back, clicked his pen, and with an effortless flick of his wrist, signed the dotted line.
The collective breath in the room was released as though someone had lifted a weight off everyone's shoulders.
"I hope we all work well to make this contract a success," he said, rising smoothly to his feet. His tone was neutral, yet final.
Then, he turned his eyes back to Emma.
"I suggest you buy materials from JBL Company. Better quality," he added bluntly, with the authority of someone who knew what he was talking about.
And with that, he gave a sharp nod. "The meeting is over. Theo, walk them out."
He was gone before anyone could respond—just like that.
Sinclair Corps - Afternoon
Back at Sinclair Corps, Emma sat at her desk, her gaze fixed on the revised designs spread out in front of her. She had studied them multiple times now, yet they still held her attention. Every change made by Xander bore the stamp of brilliance. Flawless. Unforgiving.
He had caught flaws even her design head had overlooked.
A knock on the door, and Maya stepped in.
"Ma'am," she started, holding a digital notepad, "should we notify JBL Company about our purchase now or wait for final confirmation?"
Emma didn't look up. "Get me the head of procurement."
Maya blinked, surprised at her decisiveness, then nodded and disappeared.
Moments later, the head of the procurement department entered. Emma stood, handed over detailed instructions for the purchase process, and dismissed him with a brief nod. She then reached for her coat, draping it over her shoulders as she stepped out of the office without another word.
Sinclair penthouse - Late evening
The lights of the city glittered beyond the tall windows of the Sinclair penthouse. Emma sat cross-legged on the sofa, her laptop glowing in the dim light. Fingers moved quickly over the keys, her mind still juggling logistics and design tweaks.
"Coffee?"
She looked up to find Reid standing beside her, holding out a steaming cup. She accepted it with a grateful smile.
"Thanks," she murmured, taking a long sip.
"How did the meeting go?" he asked, flopping down beside her, curiosity lighting up his boyish face.
"He signed the contract," she replied, the exhaustion in her voice undeniable.
Reid grinned. "That's great! I knew you'd pull it off."
Emma leaned back, her eyes drifting to the open tab on her laptop. JBL Company's website stared back at her. Another sigh left her lips.
"He's always right," she said softly, more to herself than to Reid. "Faster than I am. Always three steps ahead."
Reid chuckled. "Must be infuriating."
"It is."
"But also... kinda hot?"
Emma glared at him, and he raised his hands in surrender.
"Alright, alright. I was just saying."
Her features softened, and she shook her head. "When are Mom and Dad arriving?"
"Tomorrow," he said, smiling wistfully. "Can't wait to see them."
"Me too," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Royce Empire - Late night
Xander shut down his laptop with a click, rubbing his temples briefly before standing. The day had been long, but not unproductive. He reached for his coat, slinging it over his shoulder, just as his phone buzzed.
A message lit up the screen.
Larry: Meet us at the usual place by 10pm.
Xander checked the time. 9:20 PM.
He let a small smile cross his lips before heading for the elevator. The drive would take thirty minutes—enough time to unwind, to remind himself that life wasn't entirely about contracts and betrayals.
Downtown Bar:10:03 pm
The bar was dim, stylish, and private—just the way they liked it. Xander pushed the door open and stepped inside, eyes scanning the familiar layout. His gaze landed on the far booth where his three closest friends sat.
Xander slid in beside Eddie.
"No surgeries?" he asked, glancing at Stiles.
"Just finished one," Stiles grunted, downing a glass of whiskey.
"Dead?" Xander asked without flinching.
Stiles nodded, jaw tight.
"So you decided to drink," Xander frowned.
"Leave him alone, man," Larry cut in. "He's spoiling the vibe, sure, but the man deserves a break. We haven't seen each other in two months."
Xander turned to Eddie. "How was your match?"
"Beat India's best," she said calmly. "Took the title."
"That's great," he said sincerely.
Eddie—known to the world as Phoenix—was a force. Just eighteen, she had taken the underground fighting world by storm, never showing her face, always in a black mask and gloves. Her speed, precision, and sheer power had earned her respect even from grown men twice her age.
"So... how's the company?" she asked.
"As usual," Xander muttered.
They lapsed into a silence only close friends could share.
Larry began to speak. "We should—"
But he was cut off by the sharp ring of Xander's phone.
He looked down.
Damien Royce.
He picked up.
"Come to the Royce mansion now," his father barked, not waiting for a response before the line went dead.
The booth went silent.
"Uhm… You should take it easy, man," Stiles said cautiously.
Xander didn't respond immediately. Instead, he stood up, smoothing down his coat.
"Quicken the investigation," he said quietly to Larry, eyes unreadable.
Then he walked out without another word.