Rain fell steadily over the city.
The kind of cold, quiet rain that turned the streets into mirrors of neon light and shadow.
In the financial district, most offices were already dark.
But one building still glowed faintly on the 27th floor.
Lucien Hale stood alone in the glass-walled conference room, staring down at the city below.
His reflection stared back at him in the window.
Sharp suit. Perfect posture. Controlled expression.
Anyone looking at him would see a successful executive.
A man with wealth, influence, and a promising future.
But inside, Lucien's mind churned with frustration.
Everything was slipping.
Contracts that should have gone through had suddenly collapsed.
Investments had quietly disappeared.
Competitors he once dominated had begun overtaking his markets.
And the strangest part?
It all started months ago.
Right around the time strange financial forces began manipulating global markets.
For someone like Lucien someone obsessed with control losing ground like this felt like suffocation.
He needed leverage.
Power.
An advantage.