Marc Family

rand executive suite of the Marc I

remained wide, locked on the tall, commanding figure who had just stepped through the inner priva

umed was an impoverished, courageous stranger who had suffered a brutal beating at the hands of the Power family on her behalf. Yet here he was, dressed in a flawless, ta

He was the secret ruler of the

ed squarely on Stacy's pale, astonished face. The subtle air of danger surro

esturing toward the polished mahogan

xecutive chair. Her mind was a swirling chaotic storm of emotions-disbelief, utter shock, and a strange,

the table and sat down, his movement smooth and calculated. H

n?" Daniel a

heavy leather-bound folder. "Miss Diamond has officially

rs. Faith, I want you to broadcast the news immediately across every major media outlet and financial network in the country. Let it be kn

"It will be on every headli

on, trade regulator, and central financial clearinghouse that Ethan Power used to freeze Stacy's assets. Inform their board of directors to deactivate eve

issuing a nuclear threat to the nation's entire banking sector over a single subsidiary was a level of aggression the Marc family h

aith replied crisply. "Is

taking smile touched the corner of his lips as he turned back to his assistant. "Tel

stepped back toward the private executive ele

t, a heavy, suffocating silence descended

stiffly in her chair, her fingers tightly clutching her leather handbag in her lap. She didn't know what to say, her tongue f

in on his steepled fingers, his intense dark eyes quietly scanning her face with an unreadable, enigmatic expression. The

vy silence any longer, Stacy sw

y asked, her voice trembling slightly de

mply staring at her, his e

couldn't possibly be for free," Stacy said, her tone growing firmer. "A fifty-billion-dollar investment... total immunity under the most powerful family on Earth... lifting blocka

y table. The temperature in the room seemed to plummet instantly, h

anything from you?"

d, Daniel leaned in closer, his voice dropping into a low, resona

said, his eyes burning with an ancient, dark fire. "And

osing in around them. Stacy stared at him, her breath catching in her throat, her mind racing to comprehend the depth of his words. He w

or ask him what he meant, the sudden, sharp ring

evice from her purse. The screen flashe

glance toward Daniel, and walked over toward the sweeping, floor-t

e of her General Manager exploded through t

e voice. "Speak," she ordered

We just received direct, official communications from every single major commercial bank and central regulatory body that Et

. "What?" she replied, her tone filled with sheer surprise. "Are you telling me... are you telling m

he sound of rapid keyboard clacking echoed through the speaker

o a tone of pure, bewildered awe. "...what I am looking at on the pri

her sharp cream suit as if the astronomical figure physical

ng in complete, interrogative confusion. "How?! Wh

ing of our original twelve-trillion-dollar liquidity, the Marc Empire Treasury just cleared a direct, twenty-trillion-dol

ollars of extra credit... on top of the fifty-billion-dollar direct investment. I

hastily into the phone, ending the call

tly against her ribs, opening her mouth to demand an

d dead in

d leather chair at the head of the table was pushed in neatly

l was

no sound of a door opening, no chime of the executive elevator, no rustle of fabric. He had vanished like

re and blessing her life had suddenly become. Realizing she would get no answers standing alone in the empty penth

ng, pristine marble lobby of the Marc Intercontinental Hotel. She made her way

! Excuse me,

through the lobby, holding a sleek, silver-trimmed mahogany gi

kitchen before vanishing. "Oh... you don't have to worry about giving me the order," Stacy said,

'am," the waiter interrupted respectfully, bowing slightly as he exten

ing a sharp leap in her ches

d delivered the words precisely as

ning down her spine. See you soon? What did that mean?

er arms, nodded politely to the waiter, and stepped out into

, an entirely different storm was brewing within the for

s detailing corporate dominance lined the vast space. Ethan Power stood near a crystal decanter, pouring a glass of aged whiskey, while h

doors of the council room were

his breath coming in wild, ragged gasps. Sweat beaded on hi

" Aemond yelled, his voice cracking with c

ion and disgust. Without even glancing at the phone screen, Ethan saw a thumbnail image of Stacy Diamond o

Stacy Diamond! She is a dead woman walking! Once we secure the formal alliance with the Jones and Bush families at the

he slapped Ethan's hand away, shoving the

ond screamed, completely disregarding his brothe

insubordination. Suppressing the urge to strike Aemond where he st

ncy banner running across the top of

1 MANDATE OF SOVEREIGN PROTECTION OVER STACY DIAMOND AND ALL DIAMOND

e body went d

his neck strained against his collar. Three years of meticulous corporate warfare, billions of dollars spent bribing regulatory boards, and the total financial str

UN

mond's smartphone onto the marble floor and stomped his heavy leather bo

asped, standing up fr

s voice echoing off the high ceilings like thunde

ached rapidly. The double doors swung open, and Ciara stepped in

are you screami

L

nding speed and delivered a brutal, open-handed slap across her face. The force of th

ising from his chair, but Et

L

polished floor. She gasped, clutching her reddened, stinging cheek, tears of sh

twisted into the terrifying mask of a lunatic. "The Marc Dynasty just placed Stacy Diamond under their sovereign protection! They erased every single one of my

ace, her voice shaking violently. "Ethan... I... I

AC

dgun slide being pulled back echoed

a fr

was pointing the barrel directly between Ciara's eyes. His hand was dead s

wer screamed in horror

s commanding voice laced with genuine panic fo

away into the corner, his hands

mercy in her brother's eyes. In that terrifying second, she realized the absolute truth: Etha

e entire room tremble. "Forty-eight hours to move your belongings into a suite at the Marc Headquarters, find Th

own until the cold steel of the barrel

p foot back in this house without that contract signed... I will h

ically against the cold metal of the gun. "I

back and turning his back on her. "Leave this house ri

face. Without grabbing a bag or looking back at her cold, silent parents, she turned and sprint

he holstered his weapon. He picked up his whiskey glass from the table,

s burning with absolute hatred. "Let us see if your shadow h

he city like a he

iamond sat on the edge of her bed. The sleek mahogany gift

crafted gold pocket watch. Its surface was engraved with intrica

eavy timepiece. As she lifted it, she noticed a small, fol

in sharp, elegant, handwritten

ep the watch close. When the clock strik

D.

ing wildly against her ribs as the golden watc

ock. Ti

ing illuminated the dark sky, followed by the