THE LAST LAUGH OF THE FORGOTTEN

Chapter Ten — Shadows of Power

The echo of Richard’s laughter lingered in Paige’s ears long after the boardroom emptied. She sat alone, her papers neatly stacked, her mask still firmly in place. To him, she was nothing more than an assistant—useful, but insignificant. And yet, HGpower’s success had already begun to ripple through the city, drawing eyes, stirring whispers.

Later that week, Richard convened a private dinner with Clarissa and Marissa. The restaurant was lavish, the kind of place where deals were whispered over wine. Paige wasn’t there, but word reached her through HGpower’s network: Richard was plotting ways to secure HGpower’s backing, convinced it would be the key to doubling his profits.

“HGpower is the future,” Richard declared, swirling his glass. “If I can tie our company to theirs, we’ll dominate this town. And Paige—poor girl—she’s just an assistant there. She’ll see reason eventually.”

Clarissa’s smile was sharp. “Convince her, Richard. She’s pliable. She always wanted your approval.”

Marissa laughed, tossing her hair. “She’ll crawl back. She always does.”

Richard dismissed Paige as “just an assistant,” he knew the company’s influence could tip the balance of power in the city. But if Paige wouldn’t bend, perhaps someone else could be used to draw HGpower closer.

That was when his attention turned to Ken.

Ken’s family empire was vast, respected, and already intertwined with HGpower through quiet partnerships. Richard saw opportunity: if Ken could be tied to their family—through Marissa—then HGpower’s strength might be theirs by extension.

Richard laid out his plan. The restaurant glowed with chandeliers, Clarissa’s pearls shimmered, and Marissa leaned forward eagerly.

“Ken is the key,” Richard said, his voice low but certain. “If he falls for Marissa, we’ll have him. His empire, his influence, and through him, HGpower. Imagine what we could build.”

Clarissa’s smile was sharp, approving. “Charm him, Marissa. Show him you’re the better choice. Paige is nothing more than a shadow in that company.”

Marissa laughed, tossing her hair. “Ken won’t resist me. Men like him always want the brightest star in the room.”

But Ken was no fool. He had already seen the way Richard’s family treated Paige—the mockery, the dismissal, the cruelty hidden behind polished smiles. He admired Paige not only for her vision but for the resilience that had carried her through years of neglect.

When Richard’s family approached him with their carefully rehearsed charm, Ken listened politely, but his eyes were steady, unreadable.

“Marissa is delightful,” Richard pressed, his tone dripping with persuasion. “With her by your side, our families could build something unstoppable. HGpower, your empire, our company—all united.”

Ken’s lips curved into a faint smile, but his words cut through their ambition. “I don’t build alliances through manipulation. I build them through respect. And I already know who deserves mine.”

Clarissa’s smile faltered. Marissa’s confidence cracked, her laughter fading into silence. Richard’s jaw tightened, frustration simmering beneath his polished exterior.

Ken rose from the table, his voice calm but firm. “You underestimate Paige. One day, you’ll realize the strength you dismissed was the very force you needed. And when that day comes, it won’t be Marissa standing beside me—it will be her.”

He left them in stunned silence, their scheme unraveling before it had even begun.

Back in her office, Paige remained unaware of the dinner’s details, but Ken’s loyalty was already shaping the battlefield. Richard’s family had tried to play their game of power, but Ken had chosen his side—and it was hers.