From the floor-to-ceiling window of his office atop Liberty Heights Tower, the city sprawled beneath him like a board game he had already mastered. Skyscrapers pierced the sky, traffic pulsed through wide avenues — all of it seemingly moving at the rhythm of his decisions.
He was the ruler of his own empire, a real estate tycoon whose name meant influence and success.
He had just finalized a deal that would add yet another fortune to his already immense wealth. Millions transformed, in his mind, into steel and glass monuments. His life felt flawless: thriving companies, a mansion worthy of royalty, a chauffeured luxury car, a calendar filled with elite gatherings. What else could he possibly need?
A soft knock interrupted his thoughts.
“Come in,” he said evenly.
His secretary, Ms. Collins, stepped inside. Her usually composed expression wavered with uncertainty.
“Mr. Victor,” she said carefully, “there’s… a boy downstairs. He insists on seeing you. He says he’s here to return something that belongs to you.”
Victor frowned. A boy? In his tower of negotiations and million-dollar contracts?
“A boy? Who allowed that?”