Chapter 13
703 Words
Chapter 13: A Shadow of Power
The atmosphere inside the boardroom was cold.
Not because of the air conditioning—
but because of him.
Kian sat at the head of the long table, fingers lightly tapping against the polished surface as the executives around him spoke one after another.
Reports.
Numbers.
Forecasts.
All laid out in perfect detail.
And yet—
none of it seemed enough.
“…and with that, we believe the partnership will significantly increase our market reach—”
“Not good enough.”
The room fell silent.
Kian didn’t raise his voice.
He didn’t need to.
His gaze alone was enough to freeze everyone in place.
“If it’s predictable, it’s replaceable,” he continued calmly. “We’re not here to follow the market. We’re here to control it.”
No one dared to interrupt.
One of the senior managers shifted uncomfortably. “Then… what would you suggest, Mr. Anderson?”
Kian leaned back slightly, eyes sharp.
“Do it again,” he said simply. “This time, make it worth my time.”
“Yes… sir.”
The meeting ended quickly after that.
Chairs moved.
Papers gathered.
But no one left immediately—they waited.
For him.
Kian stood, adjusting his sleeves with quiet precision before walking out of the room without another word.
Only when the door closed behind him did the tension finally break.
Outside, the hallway was quiet.
His assistant walked beside him. “Sir, you have a call scheduled in ten minutes with our international partners.”
Kian nodded. “Who are they?”
“The Valemont Group.”
He paused.
Just for a second.
“Valemont?” he repeated.
“Yes, sir. They’ve been expanding aggressively in Europe and parts of Asia.
There are rumors they’re forming… strategic alliances with several elite families.”
Kian’s expression didn’t change.
But his eyes did.
“Set the call,” he said.
Ten minutes later—
Kian stood by the glass wall of his office, the city stretching endlessly below him as the call connected.
A voice came through, smooth and controlled.
“Mr. Anderson. It’s a pleasure.”
“Let’s skip that,” Kian replied. “What do you want?”
A soft chuckle.
“Straight to business. I like that.”
A pause.
Then—
“We’re building something… bigger than simple partnerships. Influence.
Expansion. Control.”
Kian remained silent.
Listening.
Measuring.
“There are families,” the voice continued, “who understand the value of unity through… more personal arrangements.”
Kian’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Speak clearly.”
Another pause.
Then—
“Marriage alliances, Mr. Anderson.”
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Deliberate.
“In our world,” the voice added, “business is no longer just about contracts. It’s about bloodlines. Connections that cannot be broken.”
Kian’s jaw tightened ever so slightly.
“And why are you telling me this?” he asked.
“Because,” the man replied calmly, “whether you choose to participate or not… this wave is coming.”
A beat.
“And those who stand alone… tend to be left behind.”
The call ended soon after.
No agreement.
No commitment.
Just information.
But it was enough.
Kian stood there, unmoving.
His reflection staring back at him through the glass.
Marriage alliances.
Elite families.
Control.
He had seen this before.
He knew exactly how dangerous that kind of world could be.
His phone buzzed.
A message.
He didn’t need to check who it was.
Still—
he did.
Monica.
“Busy?”
Just one word.
Simple.
But somehow—
it cut through everything else.
Kian exhaled slowly, the tension in his shoulders easing just a little as he typed back.
“Always. But not for you.”
A reply came almost instantly.
“Liar.”
A faint smirk appeared.
“A little.”
He stared at the screen for a moment longer.
Then—
his expression shifted.
Softer.
Quieter.
Real.
But behind that—
something lingered.
Something unresolved.
Because for the first time in a long while—
Kian felt it.
Not pressure.
Not fear.
But—
a coming storm.
And somehow—
he had a feeling
it was already closer than he thought.
- Writer
