Inside the master suite of a massive mansion in Beverly Hills, a young heiress named Victoria Jameson stood beside the bed of her father, Harold Jameson.

Harold had built one of the biggest real estate empires in the country. His name was stamped across skylines in several major American cities. Years ago he could move senators and billionaires with a single phone call.

Now he looked weak and pale under white silk sheets. A heart monitor beside him beeped slowly, like time itself was running out.

“Sign the merger before sunrise, Victoria,” he whispered.

“I can fight this in court,” Victoria replied, trying to stay calm while gripping a leather folder. “I already have legal teams in Boston and Chicago preparing a case against the government.”

Harold let out a dry laugh that turned into a cough.

“Court will take months,” he said. “We don’t have months. Regulators are waiting for me to die so they can tear the company apart. They’ll claim there’s no strong successor. You need a husband with influence. Someone whose last name makes politicians nervous.”

Victoria felt a chill creep up her spine.

“This isn’t a discussion,” she said quietly. “It’s a deal.”