AZRAEL
The private jet cut through the evening sky, its engines a steady hum beneath the polished interior.
I sat in the leather seat, tailored suit still impeccable, broad shoulders relaxed but alert. My dark eyes stared out the window at the fading German skyline, city lights shimmering below like distant constellations, yet my mind was far from calm.
I had won the boardroom showdown. Valken Dynamics had secured the contract, and Marcus Draven's calculated strategy had been dismantled with precision. Yet victory felt far from complete.
The tension lingered in his chest, a subtle reminder that Marcus would not stop. That fire in the rival's eyes during the final moments of the meeting haunted me.
Helena had remained silent beside me, reviewing notes for follow-up communications.
Even in silence, her presence was commanding, a steadying anchor that reminded him why the Aurelios legacy endured.
"The DravenCorp board won't forget this," she said finally, voice calm yet cutting through the cabin like steel.
"They'll strategize, regroup, and test us again. Marcus won't rest."
My jaw tightened, dark eyes narrowing. "Neither will I."
I leaned back, fingers flexing slightly on the armrest. The power of the day's victory was satisfying, yet my mind shifted forward back to America, back to my headquarters in New York. There were contracts to finalize, teams to brief, and, silently, other matters that could not wait.
The jet began its descent toward JFK International Airport, the lights of the city sprawling below like a sea of fireflies.
Helena glanced at me, sharp eyes catching the flicker of tension I tried to suppress. "You'll need a full debrief when we land. Investors, media strategy, and contingency plans.
Marcus may have lost today, but his influence lingers. We'll need every edge."
My lips curved into the faintest smirk. "Edge? We have more than that."
The plane hummed steadily as it crossed the Atlantic, the endless night stretching beneath them.
For me, the journey was more than just returning home it was the calm before the next storm. Germany had been a battlefield, and I had emerged victorious, but the war with DravenCorp, with Marcus, was far from over.
Every mile brought me closer to America, closer to his base of operations, and closer to the life that awaited me boardrooms, contracts, decisions, and the personal matters he had delayed but never forgotten.
As the first lights of New York pierced the clouds, my expression hardened. Victory was only the beginning.
I had the contract. I had the power. And soon, everyone who underestimated me would learn exactly what it meant to face Azral Aurelios.
The plane touched down smoothly, tires hissing on the runway, engines echoing through the night. As the jet taxied to the private terminal, I stood, broad shoulders squared, eyes dark and calculating. Helena followed, silent but formidable, and together they stepped into the crisp night air, returning home but already planning the battles to come.