Location: DuskHaven Café – Early Morning
Mackiah walked into the café looking tired but determined, clutching a worn folder of papers and a flash drive. Kyrell glanced up from behind the counter, Ivan was wiping down a table nearby.
Mackiah (dropping the files on the counter):
"Everything I could dig up. Legal reports, tampered audits, laundering trails... and this—" He tapped the flash drive.
"Lucien's movements for the past year. Shady offshore investments. But there's more… something's off with the CEO murder case too."
Alric (entering from the back):
"You found something on my father's death?"
Mackiah (nods grimly):
"More like a cover-up. But it's all circumstantial...unless you get your hands on their private logs."
Alric (straightening a blueprint of Halovex HQ):
"So here's the deal. I've got the board patterns, entry logs, and scheduled press briefings. I even greased a few old board members with what dirt I had… But I'm still missing the core files—real proof. Private dealings. Transaction logs. Internal messaging systems. Evelyn and Lucien's true sins are buried deep in that system."
He leaned back, eyes narrowed.
Alric:
"The server room is buried on Sublevel 3. Heavily guarded. Firewall'd to death. There's no way I can just walk in. And if Mackiah tries to get through with his badge, he'll be branded a traitor by morning."
Mackiah (dryly):
"Not that I'd mind. But yeah, I'd prefer not to get shot or fired just yet."
Alric ran a frustrated hand through his hair. The tension was real.
Alric (to all three):
"I need help. Someone fast. Smart. Untraceable. Someone who can get in and out before security even realizes."
Kyrell and Ivan exchanged a knowing glance.
Ivan (leaning forward with a mischievous twinkle):
"Well, you're in luck. We know a guy. Two, actually. Honestly, it's kinda flattering."
Kyrell (dryly):
"Both very skilled. Very charming. And excellent at cappuccino hearts."
Alric (blinking):
"…Wait. You mean—?"
Mackiah (squinting):
"Hold on. Are you two really just baristas?"
Ivan bursted into a laugh. Kyrell smirked but said nothing, sipping his drink.
Ivan (cheerfully):
"Depends. Are we behind the counter or in a server room?"
Kyrell (calmly):
"You only see what we let you see, Mackie. That's sort of the point."
Mackiah looked genuinely baffled. Alric looked between them, piecing together a silent puzzle. Then, with a disbelieving huff:
Alric:
"You're not normal people, are you?"
Ivan (grinning wider):
"Define 'normal.'"
Ivan casually flipped a sugar packet, letting it land perfectly in Kyrell's mug without even looking.
Ivan (with a sly smile):
"You've seen us make latte art. Imagine what we can do with a high-end security system."
Kyrell (softly):
"We've broken into places a lot worse than Halovex. Blindfolded."
Alric (after a beat, stunned but hopeful):
"You're serious?"
The two nodded in perfect sync.
Ivan (cheerfully):
"Just leave it to us. You'll have all the files by tomorrow."
Kyrell (reassuringly):
"And once you do... we'll help you burn that empire of lies to the ground."
Alric:
"…I don't know who you guys really are. But I'm suddenly very glad you're on my side."
Alric exhaled, a smirk tugging at the edge of his lips. For the first time, he looked less like a grieving heir and more like a man ready to take back everything.
Alric:
"Let's wreck Halovex."
Location: Halovex Global Headquarters – 2:16 AM
Kyrell and Ivan were dressed sharply, disguised flawless. Ivan's dark suit blended with the shadows as he waited outside the restricted server room hallway. Kyrell slipped through, silent as smoke, disabling security panels with calm precision.
Inside the server room, blue light from monitors flickered across Kyrell's face.
Kyrell (softly into his earpiece):
"I'm in. Give me ten."
Ivan (outside, murmuring):
"You've got six. Security is looping, but not for long."
Kyrell plugged in a small decryptor drive. His eyes scanned rapidly through directories—he cracked into Lucien's private server, bypassing firewalls with fluid skill.
Files flooded the screen:
"Project Hydra – Mafia Contract"
"Eric E. – Operation Clean Exit"
"Italian Trade Wire Logs"
"Board Bribery Sheets"
Kyrell (soft gasp):
"...He really did it. And...she killed him."
Just as he began copying the files into a flashdrive, a red blinking alert pinged.
Ivan (sharply):
"Ky! You've got company—move!"
Kyrell ejected the drive, slipped out just as guards passed through the adjacent corridor. Ivan casually flicked his jacket and greeted the guards with a warm, fake smile—distracting them long enough.
They vanished into the shadows before alarms triggered.
Halovex Headquarters – Executive Boardroom | Broadcasted Live
News flooded every screen: "HALOVEX TO ANNOUNCE NEW CEO IN TODAY'S LIVE BOARD MEETING"
The boardroom was pristine, sterile, and suffocatingly elegant. Sleek glass walls. A massive screen broadcasting the meeting worldwide. High-level stakeholders sat around a long table — men and women with tailored suits and ice in their veins.
At the head sat EvelynEirwen, poised, serene, dressed in an ivory suit like she already owned the throne. Next to her, LucienGray, cold and unreadable. Cameras flashed. The public was watching.
Evelyn (with a gracious smile):
"Thank you all for attending today. As Halovex moves into a new era, we must ensure stability. With the former CEO's... unfortunate death, I believe it's time to appoint a leader with clarity and experience."
A few nods, murmurs of agreement. She stood.
A large screen behind her displayed Halovex's latest investor sheet — and among them, highlighted in gold, was:
> Biggest Stakeholder: Avenar Corp. – 43.7%
The crowd erupted in murmurs.
One of the board members stood. "Avenar Corp? That's… unheard of. A private equity firm? Where did they even—?"
Evelyn sighed dramatically, waving a manicured hand. "Avenar Corp has always been a silent investor. The CEO never attends meetings. Never speaks to the press. Never expresses any interest in our internal affairs. So let's not romanticize their involvement."
She turned to the board with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "In their silence, they've made their position quite clear: they don't want the power. And since I'm the only senior executive left, after... unfortunate recent circumstances," she cast a faux-grieving glance.
Lucien, seated beside her, smirked. "Actually, I did some digging. Got news from contacts abroad. The supposed chairman of Avenar Corp... died last year. In a car accident somewhere in Vienna. No body was recovered, but the explosion was pretty conclusive. No succession announcement has been made either. That firm's a ghost shell now."
Evelyn leaned back smugly. "So, shall we proceed?"
"Therefore, I, Evelyn Eirwen, nominate myself as CEO. For the sake of continuity and to preserve the legacy of Halovex—"
Voice (calm but commanding):
"—Legacy? You mean the one you tried to destroy?"
All heads turned. The back doors opened. In strided AlricEirwen—dressed in a crisp white shirt and charcoal grey suit. Calm. Composed. And utterly unbothered by the dozens of eyes now glued to him.
Eyes blazing, flanked by Mackiah, Ivan, and Kyrell watching from the sidelines, each dressed in subtle black. The room stilled.
The silence cracked with tension as he slowly walked toward the end of the table.
He glanced at Evelyn, then Lucien. "It's cute," Alric said coolly, placing a thick dossier on the table. "The confidence. The theatrics. But sadly, based on delusion."
Lucien scoffed. "You're not even part of this board anymore. What gives you the right to interrupt this meeting?"
Alric's gaze sharpened. "What gives me the right?" He opened the folder and slid a printed certificate across the table. "This does."
Evelyn blinked. "A—what is this?"
One of the board members picked it up, reading it aloud:
> "Alric Asher Eirwen – Official Sole Heir and Acting Chairman of Avenar Corp."
Gasps broke around the room. Alric stepped closer.
"You see," he continued, voice low but firm, "the man Lucien thought he killed was a decoy. Paid to pretend to be the chairman. I never needed to be seen. Until now."
He fixed his gaze on Evelyn.
"And while I was silent all this time, I was watching. Gathering. Preparing. Because this—" he spread his arms wide— "was never your empire to take. It was my father's-Eric Eirwen's. And now, it's mine."
Lucien stood up. "You're bluffing—!"
"No," Alric said, smile razor-sharp. "You were. All along."
Evelyn (coldly):
"You have no right—"
Alric (cutting her off):
"I'm the rightful heir to Halovex. And the largest shareholder."
"I have the documents to prove it. You can check the encrypted shareholder registry. Dad hid it away after suspecting betrayal."
He tossed a sleek drive onto the table. Another board member plugged it into the screen. Files flashed open, revealing a hidden clause in EricEirwen's last will — naming Alric as the primary beneficiary and contingency CEO should anything happen to him.
Lucien (low growl):
"This proves nothing."
Alric (smirking):
"Then let's talk about what does."
Ivan clicked a remote. A hidden screen on the wall powered up — showing footage and records Kyrell and he extracted:
Lucien's accounts tied to illegal weapon shipments and mafia transactions.
Evelyn's encrypted messages confirming the hit on EricEirwen.
A chilling final voice memo from Eric:
"If I don't make it… it was Evelyn. She wants the company. Tell Alric…"
The room exploded in uproar. Evelyn's face cracked. Lucien rised—
Lucien:
"This is slander—"
Evelyn (screaming):
"You can't do this! I built this empire! He's just a child!"
Alric (quietly):
"And yet you underestimated the child you tried to erase."
"I am the rightful CEO—not as a son, but as the man who built this company's backbone when you thought I was a scared little boy." Alric states turning towards the board members.
The room was silent for a long, suspended moment after Alric's declaration.
Gasps rippled through the room. Several board members shifted uncomfortably, while one elder gentleman flipped through the file with trembling fingers.
"The footage, the wire transfers, the signatures — all verified and cross-referenced. I'd advise each of you to go through the flash drive that was just distributed."
Across the table, Ivan — in a sharp, charcoal black suit — discreetly handed out small drives to the core board members. He didn't say a word but offered them a slight bow.
The oldest board member, Mr. Ronald Roe, cleared his throat and spoke for the first time.
"I've served this company since the day Eric founded it. I've seen its rise, its principles, and its corruption." His gaze hardened as he looked at Evelyn and Lucien. "And I've seen enough."
He turned to the others.
"We've been waiting for leadership with integrity. With fire — yes — but also with vision. Today, I cast my vote for Alric Eirwen, rightful heir of this legacy."
One by one, hands were raised.
A woman in a navy suit, then a man in glasses. Another followed, and another.
Evelyn's lips quivered as the vote count climbed. "This is absurd. This is—"
"Twelve out of fifteen votes," Mr. Roe interrupted her. "That makes it official."
He turned to Alric, eyes soft with something akin to pride.
"Congratulations, Mr. Eirwen. You are now the CEO of Halovex Global."
The room broke into quiet applause — not the loud, celebratory kind — but the kind that marked the beginning of something monumental.
Evelyn looked as though she'd been slapped. Lucien stood, ready to argue, but a few men in uniform appeared at the doorway.
Evelyn rose from her seat slowly, gracefully, her voice syrupy sweet as she walked toward Alric.
"Alric, darling…" she cooed, like a mother placating a child. "You don't have to do this. All this... bravado. You've been through so much already. You're tired. You've suffered. You don't need the weight of this company on your shoulders." She smiled, gently touching his arm. "Just sign over the Avenar shares and I promise, I'll take care of everything. Just like I always have."
Alric didn't flinch. "Like you did when you locked me in that private psych ward overseas?" His voice was icy. "When you drugged me and erased every trace of my existence so you could rewrite my father's legacy in your image?"
Her hand froze on his arm. But he didn't stop.
"You're right, Evelyn. I have suffered. Because of you."
Lucien stood up from his seat now, no longer smiling. "That was necessary. You were unstable. Weak. Still are."
Then he stepped closer, voice dropping to a threatening whisper.
"Don't forget, I still have the contacts. I could have you locked away again. You wouldn't see daylight for another decade. We both know how close you are to breaking."
Alric stared at him.
And then… laughed.
Not a bitter laugh. Not a mocking one.
A soft, almost pitying chuckle.
"You still think fear works on me?"
He turned to Evelyn.
"You both think I'm still that shattered boy. Alone. Afraid. Starved for affection." His gaze hardened. "But I'm not."
He stepped back, lifting his chin with quiet pride.
"I've found something stronger than your lies. Stronger than your manipulation.
Love."
The room fell into stunned silence.
Lucien scoffed. "Love?" he sneered. "Is that supposed to save you? You think that'll protect you from what's coming?"
"No," Alric said, voice calm but resolute. "But it gave me a reason to fight. And I don't break anymore. I burn."
He looked both of them in the eye, unflinching.
"Because unlike you two, I have people who see me—not a pawn, not an asset, not a liability. Just me. And I'll protect them. With everything I have.
The game's over now," he said leaning towards Evelyn and whispered in her ears,
"CHECKMATE!" Alric smirked as Evelyn tried to hit him and just then Mackiah stepped in handcuffing both Evelyn and Lucien.
DuskHaven Café – Rooftop | Later that evening
The city sparkled below. The rooftop of the café was peaceful, lit by warm fairy lights strung along the rails. The door creaked open. Mackiah stepped in, tie loosened, face worn from the day. He dropped his bag at the entrance with a sigh.
Mackiah (teasing):
"Should I be worried you didn't text me first after taking down a criminal empire?"
Kyrell (grinning):
"You were busy being heroic. Thought I'd let the headlines tell you."
Mackiah chuckled, then sat beside him. The wind brushed lightly. Kyrell looked up at the stars.
Kyrell:
"Alric did it. He really did."
Mackiah:
"Yeah... and you and Ivan helped him do it."
Beat.
"You're not just a barista either, are you?"
Kyrell (smiling faintly):
"No. I was never just that."
A pause. Mackiah's gaze lingered.
Mackiah:
"I think I always knew. There's something about you... like you carry galaxies in your eyes but pretend you're just looking at coffee beans."
Kyrell turned to look at him, caught off guard by the words — vulnerable, unguarded.
Kyrell (softly):
"I've done terrible things, Mackiah. In another life. Things I can't ever take back."
Mackiah:
"You saved people too. You saved me."
He leaned closer, voice low.
"And I don't care what you were. I care about who you are now. Right here. With me."
He let out a deep sigh.
"Sector hopping is hell. Remind me why I'm still in the force?"
Kyrell (from the couch, holding out a mug of tea):
"Because you're noble, brave… and incredibly hot in uniform?"
Mackiah flashed an instant smile.
Mackiah:
"Flattery works. I feel 5% better."
Kyrell slid closer, his fingers slipping under the hem of Mackiah's shirt, brushing warm skin.
Kyrell (whispering):
"I can help you feel 100% better…"
Mackiah raised an eyebrow, but didn't stop him.
Mackiah (teasing):
"You trying to seduce an overworked government officer?"
Kyrell (grinning):
"Oh absolutely. I'm a part-time barista and full-time stress reliever."
They laughed, easing into each other's arms. Kyrell leaned in for a kiss, gentle at first. The tension melted away in the warmth between them.
As things heated up, Mackiah paused for a breath.
Mackiah (panting slightly):
"Wait. Do you think Ivan's gonna walk in again?"
Kyrell smiled softly, trailing his fingers across Mackiah's chest.
Kyrell (playfully):
"Unlikely. He's probably busy doing the exact same thing with Alric right now."
Mackiah blinked, then laughed.
Mackiah:
"Damn. They didn't even wait for the ink to dry on the paperwork."
Kyrell (smirking):
"Neither did we."
They kissed again, this time slower — a moment of peace in their chaotic world.
Halovex Headquarters – CEO Office | Night
The office door clicked shut as Alric walked in, finally alone—until he noticed Ivan leaning casually against the window, illuminated by city lights.
Ivan (grinning):
"Took you long enough, boss."
Alric (raising an eyebrow):
"You're still here?"
Ivan:
"You think I'd miss watching you step into your empire? Well, boss, should I get you your coffee now?"
Alric grinned. "Only if you're serving it shirtless."
Ivan smirked. "Tempting… but let's not traumatize the interns. Yet."
Alric moved behind the desk, mock-formal.
Ivan (smirking):
"Feels strange, doesn't it?"
Alric (quietly):
"I thought it would feel victorious. Like I finally won."
He exhaled, voice softer.
"But it just feels… heavy. Like I walked into a room full of ghosts."
Ivan:
"You didn't walk into it. You took it back. With your own hands."
Pause.
"You didn't just survive, Alric. You redefined everything they tried to break."
Alric (half-smile):
"You make it sound heroic."
Ivan (grinning):
"Well, I do have a flair for the dramatic."
Alric:
"Well then, Mr. Hart, are you looking for a job?"
Ivan (walking closer):
"That depends. What positions are open? I'd prefer something that allows me to stay by your side at all times."
Alric (smirking):
"How about becoming my personal bodyguard? You'd get to be around me 24/7."
Ivan (voice low, teasing):
"Hmm, sounds demanding. What exactly does a bodyguard do for the mighty CEO?"
Alric (stepping around the desk slowly):
"Oh, the usual… protect me… care for me… obey me…"
He stopped in front of Ivan, tilting his head.
"…and satisfy my needs."
Ivan's eyes darkened with amusement and desire. Without missing a beat, he lifted Alric effortlessly, setting him on the desk with a thud. Their lips meet in a slow, searing kiss.
Ivan (murmuring between kisses):
"This… is wildly inappropriate. You know, we're still in the company."
Alric (hooking his finger in Ivan's shirt collar):
"And you seem to forget…"
He pulled Ivan in closer, lips brushing his ear.
"I own this place."
A wicked smirk from Ivan before he leaned in again. "You just know how to make go insane all over again, Honeydrop."
The kiss deepened. Jackets slided off. Fingers tangled in hair. The city outside remained unaware as passion took the reins within glass walls and polished floors.