Island. Palm trees lined the boulevard, swaying under the late-morning breeze

long enough. Come home be

te W

the screen wi

dollar business empire. Seven years since he'd rejected boardroom battles, backdoor deals,

was no co

Noir campaign was going viral. Zara's brand was everywhere - and so was hi

-

on a high-stakes investor meeting, but her mind ke

- it was strategic. Intentional. Calculated in ways only someo

atch his ré

spered beside her

to reality. "Sor

reholders, was sitting across the tabl

st to the Metaverse and drop its high-luxury model, you'll

y brand with digital handbags and AI influencers. That may work f

ghtened. "You're

restimating valu

se the tension, but Zara had already stood

ly registering Amara

eded c

reason, she felt she

-

herself standing in fro

time to rethink it. Her finger hovered over the

a towel slung over his shoulder. His damp hair curled sli

d but not shocked. "Didn'

ut waiting for an invita

the door b

e you,

w. "You came all th

in less than twenty-four hours. You understand emotional branding, consumer psych

dn't

second that you're ju

her. Then he exhaled and sat o

. Educated to run companies

hy

esit

ters. I watched my own reflection disappear behind tit

him. "And wha

lm. "Still figu

wasn't so different - a childhood of sacrifice, a rise carved with blood

ave, he asked, "Why

se if I don't succeed, everyon

e hall - a queen still wearing her crown, bu