"The renewable energy project has already lost three major suppliers within four days," Tristin said coldly as he tossed the documents onto the table.

"Pulling Blackwood Dominion out of that sector at such a crucial moment wasn’t the best decision," one of the directors said carefully.

"Our stock price has dropped another six percent this week alone," Miles Harper added grimly.

The room fell silent for a moment.

They had pushed Alexander out of the CEO position and placed Tristin in charge, believing Alexander’s methods had been too ruthless and overbearing.

They thought Tristin would soften the company’s image and stabilize the situation.

Yet barely one week after the transition, the company was already beginning to fall into disorder.

"We were recovering steadily before this," another executive spoke up cautiously. "But now Echelon Industries is rapidly moving ahead of us."

The moment the words "Echelon Industries" were mentioned, Tristin’s expression shifted slightly.

Daniel Caldwell.

Every major decision he had made during the past week had been influenced—directly or indirectly—by Daniel.

Suspending the renewable energy project.

Freezing internal investments.

Reducing logistics funding.

At the time, Daniel had convinced him those decisions were necessary to stabilize the company temporarily.

But now...

Echelon Industries was profiting from every single one of them.

A strange unease slowly crept into Tristin’s chest.

At first, he truly believed Daniel was helping him solidify control over Blackwood Dominion.

After all, Daniel had:

secretly helped him secure shareholder support,

introduced him to influential investors,

and even fed him information against Alexander.

Without Daniel, becoming CEO would never have happened this smoothly.

But now...

Things were beginning to feel wrong.

Very wrong.

Everything Daniel had pushed him toward over the past week had only accelerated Blackwood Dominion’s losses, while Echelon Industries continued gaining momentum.

And now even the shareholders were starting to complain.

Tristin suddenly stood up.

Without saying another word, he walked out of the conference room under the silent gazes of the executives.

— 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Less than forty minutes later, Tristin arrived at Echelon Industries.

Ignoring the secretary’s attempt to stop him, he pushed open the CEO office doors and strode inside.

Daniel Caldwell looked up from the documents in front of him, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Tristin," he said calmly. "Do you need something?"

"We need to talk."

Daniel glanced briefly at the files on his desk.

"I’m busy right now. Let—"

"I don’t have time to wait," Tristin interrupted coldly. "We’re talking now."

Daniel studied him for a moment before slowly closing the document in his hand.

"Alright," he said calmly. "I’m listening."

Tristin walked closer to the desk.

"You were the one who suggested pulling Blackwood Dominion out of the renewable energy sector."

"And now," his voice darkened, "Echelon Industries suddenly secures partnerships with the exact same companies immediately after they terminate their contracts with us?"

Daniel leaned back lazily in his chair.

"That only proves Echelon moved faster."

Tristin’s expression hardened instantly.

"Don’t play games with me."

The office fell completely silent.

Daniel merely adjusted the cuff of his sleeve before replying indifferently,

"The renewable energy sector was unstable from the start. Pulling Blackwood Dominion out early minimizes future losses."

"Minimizes losses?" Tristin laughed sharply. "Our stock price has dropped another six percent this week alone."

"And yet," Daniel replied calmly, "Echelon’s stock has risen."

The implication behind those words was impossible to ignore.

Tristin stared at him silently.

For the first time since becoming CEO, he felt something close to panic.

"Let me ask you something honestly," Tristin said slowly.

Daniel finally lifted his gaze fully toward him.

"Did you ever actually care about Blackwood Dominion?"

A faint smile appeared on Daniel’s lips.

"That depends."

"On what?"

"Whether Blackwood Dominion is useful to me."

The answer made the office go deathly quiet.

Tristin’s fingers slowly tightened into fists.

At that moment, all his suspicions were finally confirmed.

Daniel had never truly supported him.

He had simply needed someone inside Blackwood Dominion he could manipulate.

Someone ambitious enough.

Resentful enough.

Easy enough to control.

And Tristin had handed him exactly that.

"You pushed me to suspend the renewable energy project," Tristin said darkly. "You also advised me to cut funding from logistics and freeze several internal investments."

Daniel remained silent.

"But Echelon Industries immediately stepped into those exact sectors afterward."

A dangerous smile slowly formed on Daniel’s face.

"Business is about opportunity, Tristin."

"You used me."

"No," Daniel corrected smoothly. "I guided you."

Tristin suddenly slammed his hand against the desk.

"You’re destroying this company!"

Daniel’s expression finally turned cold.

"Careful."

The air inside the office instantly became suffocating.

Daniel slowly rose from his chair before fixing Tristin with a sharp gaze.

"You wanted the CEO position."

His voice remained calm.

"But do you really think you were capable of taking Alexander Blackwood down by yourself?"

Tristin’s jaw tightened.

Daniel walked toward him slowly.

"Alexander spent years building influence inside that company. The shareholders respected him. The employees feared him. Even now, most of senior management still haven’t fully accepted you."

Every word struck directly at Tristin’s insecurities.

"And yet," Daniel continued quietly, "I handed you the position he protected for years."

He stopped directly in front of him.

"So before accusing me of using you..."

His eyes darkened slightly.

"Ask yourself whether you would even be sitting in that chair without me."

The office remained silent.

No one dared speak.

Because deep down...

Everyone already knew the answer.

Tristin’s expression grew uglier by the second.

For years, he had convinced himself Alexander only became CEO because Grandpa favored him.

That Alexander had stolen what rightfully belonged to him.

But now that he finally sat in that position—

He realized something terrifying.

Holding power...

Was completely different from deserving it.

And for the first time since becoming CEO, Tristin finally understood why Alexander had looked so indifferent while walking away from Blackwood Dominion that day.

Because Alexander had probably already seen through everything.

Including Daniel.

Including him.

Daniel calmly straightened his suit.

"Since we’re done here," he said casually, "I’ll have Echelon’s revised partnership proposal sent to your secretary."

Then he paused briefly before adding,

"Oh, and one more thing."

His cold gaze swept across Tristin.

"Don’t disappoint the shareholders again."

With that, Daniel turned and walked out of the office.

The room remained completely silent long after he left.

Tristin stood there motionless.

But for the first time since obtaining the CEO position—

It no longer felt like victory.

It felt suffocating.