When Nesa stormed out of the elevator, clipboard abandoned on the floor, her sharp eyes darted across the lobby. Years of working under the crushing pressure of Fortis's constant PR disasters had trained her to read a room in seconds.
Two guards writhed on the tiles, groaning, clutching at ribs and jaws. Their armor had failed them. Beyond them, Chief Nonto and Darno stood coiled like springs, fists clenched, shoulders braced for violence.
And then there was the red-haired boy.
Nesa froze for half a heartbeat, her thoughts racing. Red hair wasn't common, not in this city, not in this country. Warma's warning echoed fresh in her mind: "He may look young, but he's important. You'll know him by his hair."
It couldn't be coincidence. Not today. Not here.
Her jaw tightened. She already had enough headaches cleaning up Darno's messes; she wasn't about to let him destroy the single most important meeting in Fortis's history.
"WHAT. ARE. YOU. DOING!" Nesa's voice cut like a whip through the tension.
Every head snapped toward her. Guards jolted upright, stiff as poles. Even Chief Nonto faltered, his scarred jaw clenching. Only Darno stood stubborn, a sneer tugging at his lips as though daring her to scold him.
"Ma'am, " Nonto started quickly, his tone sharp but almost desperate. "I know today is an incredibly important day, which is why we were trying to throw these two troublemakers out immediately, "
She didn't let him finish. Instead, Nesa strode across the lobby, heels clacking on polished tile, heading straight toward Max and Na. She stopped in front of them, and then, to everyone's shock, bowed deeply at a perfect ninety-degree angle.
"I apologize for what has taken place here," she said firmly, her voice ringing with sincerity. "I should have been here from the very beginning to greet you properly. Please, forgive the incompetence of our staff."
Her sudden gesture left the lobby stunned into silence.
Even Max blinked. For all the insults he had endured since stepping through the door, the sharp dismissal from Suzie at the desk, and Darno's constant posturing, he hadn't expected someone in this company to actually bow.
But Nesa wasn't done. Straightening, she looked Max in the eye. "Are you here as a representative from the Billion Bloodline Group?"
The words dropped into the room like stones into water.
Nonto's face drained of color. His heart sank to his stomach as the truth clawed at his mind.
No. It can't be. He's just a kid…
"Yes," Max answered without hesitation. His voice was calm but firm, his chin tilted ever so slightly upward. "I'm here on behalf of the Billion Bloodline. I apologize for being late, but I had… difficulties even getting past the reception desk."
His pointed words carried weight.
Nesa turned her head, glaring daggers at Suzie, the receptionist who stood frozen at her station. Then she bowed again to Max, lower this time, her hair nearly brushing her knees.
"I am sincerely sorry for everything," she repeated, and the tension in her tone left no doubt she meant it.
For her, the choice was simple. Even if there was only the slightest chance this young man was truly who he claimed to be, the only possible response was respect. Risking offense to someone representing the group that had just purchased Fortis was unthinkable.
Nonto's chest tightened. If Nesa believed it… if she was bowing… then this boy had to be real. He dropped to one knee, lowering his head. "I'm sorry for my mistake. Please forgive me."
The lobby filled with the sound of gasps. Guards looked at one another, eyes wide, their chief bowing to a teenager in a hoodie.
"What the hell is this?" Darno's voice broke the silence, sharp and mocking. He folded his arms across his chest. "You're all bowing to some kid? For what? Just because he dropped the name of some random company? What's the big deal if he's from some group I've never even heard of?"
The tension flickered again. Max almost laughed bitterly. Was it always him who drew trouble like this? No matter where he went, someone had to test him, to insult him, to throw obstacles in his way.
But when I really think about it, Max mused, it wasn't me who caused this mess. It was Suzie, snapping at me before I even opened my mouth. She made me the enemy before I'd said a word.
Almost without realizing, he murmured, "If I were to start improving things here, I'd probably get rid of her first."
It wasn't meant for anyone's ears. Just a stray thought voiced aloud.
But Nesa heard it.
Her eyes flashed, and without hesitation, she turned sharply toward the receptionist. "Suzie. Pack your things and leave this place immediately. On your way out, tell Sharon to take your position at reception. Do not come back from this day onwards."
The order cracked like thunder.
Suzie's mouth dropped open. "WHAT?!"
"Hey, hey, what the hell are you doing?" Darno barked, throwing his hands up. "Nesa, are you on some kind of power trip? You're firing her, just because of this one guy?"
"Darno!" Nonto snapped, his voice raw. He whirled on the younger man, eyes blazing. "Shut your mouth and bow! If you want to keep your job here, if you want to stay breathing under this roof, then bow right now. Because not even I can protect you from this."
Suzie trembled. She wanted to argue, to shout about how unfair it was, but the truth clawed at her. Deep down, she knew she had been rude to Max the moment he walked in. She hadn't even given him a chance. And with Nesa's steel glare fixed on her, she understood, there was no saving herself now.
She lowered her head and began to pack her belongings in silence.
Darno, however, only scowled deeper. Folding his arms tight across his chest, he sneered. "You expect me to apologize? To bow my head to some kid in a hoodie? Forget it. I don't bow to anyone in Fortis. The only man who can tell me what to do is Tim Heart himself, the CEO. He's the only one worthy of my respect."
It was arrogance, pure and unfiltered. But it wasn't baseless. Darno knew his worth. He knew he was Fortis's poster boy, the fighter whose face still sold their brand, the man who had single-handedly saved celebrities in viral videos that had gone worldwide. They couldn't get rid of him. Not really.
At least, that's what he thought.
"You fool!" Nesa exploded, her patience finally snapping. Her voice shook with fury, echoing off the glass walls. "You have no idea what's happening right now. You dare to talk back here, now? This is a man that even Tim would bow to!"
The lobby froze again.
Darno blinked, confusion flashing across his face. "What are you talking about?"
Nesa drew in a steady breath, her fists clenching at her sides. "I didn't want to reveal it like this. I didn't want to shock everyone at once. But you leave me no choice. Tim Heart no longer owns Fortis. The company, " She raised her chin, her voice ringing clear. ", belongs to the Billion Bloodline Group!"