"The western hemisphere is dead to us."
The ancient aristocrat dropped the printed analytics report onto the heavy stone table.
The twelve leaders of the Elysium Summit sat in heavy silence. They hid in the dark subterranean chamber beneath the Swiss Alps. The shattered crystal glass from yesterday still stained the marble floor.
Ryan Parker controlled the digital streaming algorithm. He controlled the physical polymer factories. He commanded the global radio syndicates. He was culturally omnipotent.
"Isabella Rossi defected this morning," the junior envoy reported. "She signed a lifetime exclusivity contract with Parker Pavilion. He controls the acoustic monopoly and the visual aesthetic of global pop culture."
"She abandoned our Milan fashion syndicates?" the aristocrat asked.
"She
