[ Sinclair Media Group Headquarters ]
David Sinclair sat behind the imposing desk in the CEO's office of Sinclair Media Group Headquarters.
His piercing blue eyes swept over the three men standing before him: Gerald, Jong-kook, and Frederick Sinclair.
The tension in the room was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife.
"Gentlemen," David's voice was calm but carried an undercurrent of steel,
"I want to know exactly what's been going on with Brandon Blackstone and BMG. No excuses, no sugar-coating. Just the facts."
Before Gerald or Jong-kook could open their mouths to respond, Frederick let out a derisive snort.
"What's been going on? I'll tell you what's been going on, David. Your so-called children have been flaunting their incompetency, letting a little brat run circles around them."
Frederick's words dripped with contempt as he glared at Gerald and Jong-kook.
"It's pathetic, really. To think that the future of our empire rests in such incompetent hands."
Jong-kook bristled at the accusation, his face flushing with anger.
"Now wait just a minute-"
"Shut your mouth, you illegitimate piece of trash,"
Frederick snarled, cutting Jong-kook off mid-sentence.
His eyes blazed with fury as he rounded on the younger man.
"You don't even have the right to speak in this room. Your very existence is an insult to the Sinclair name."
Jong-kook recoiled as if he'd been physically struck, the color draining from his face. Frederick's words hung in the air, harsh and unforgiving, as an uncomfortable silence descended upon the room.
David remained composed, his aura domineering as he leaned forward in his chair. His piercing gaze swept over the three men before him.
"Enough," he said, his voice quiet yet commanding.
"This is not the time for petty squabbles. We have a more pressing matter at hand."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in.
"There has been an assassination attempt on NOA grounds. The targets were the Blackstone twins."
The revelation sent a shockwave through the room. David's eyes narrowed as he studied their reactions.
"I want to know if any of you were responsible for this."
Gerald's eyes widened in shock. He quickly shook his head, his voice earnest.
"No, absolutely not. I had nothing to do with this. The gala was the first time I'd ever even noticed Brandon Blackstone. I wouldn't dare attempt something so brazen, especially not on NOA grounds."
David's gaze shifted to Jong-kook, who looked panicked. He quickly threw his hands up in a defensive gesture.
"I swear, I'm innocent. I've just come to the capital. I don't have access to the resources for something like that, even if I wanted to. Which I don't!"
David considered their responses, his face unreadable. After a moment, he gave a slow nod.
"Unfortunately, the truth doesn't matter in this situation. We're the prime suspects, and even if the Blackstones know that we're innocent..."
In a dimly lit office somewhere in the capital, a man sat behind an imposing mahogany desk.
Shadows danced across his face, obscuring his features as he leaned forward, his fingers steepled beneath his chin.
"Have the Blackstones or The Round Table started to suspect anything?" he asked, his voice low and gravelly.
His assistant, a tall, thin woman in an impeccable suit, stepped forward from the darkness.
"No, sir. There's no indication that they're aware of our activities," he replied smoothly, reaching into his pocket to retrieve his phone.
With a few quick taps, she pulled up a recent tweet and held it out for her employer to see.
"In fact, it seems young Blackstone boy is quite preoccupied with his little music label. Look at this, sir. E.L. Leclerc just announced a partnership with BMG for his latest film soundtrack."
The man behind the desk leaned in, his eyes narrowing as he read the tweet.
The assistant continued,
"Our sources indicate that Brandon has been spending most of his time at the BMG studios, working on this project. He appears to be fully invested in his role as a music producer and artist."
A low chuckle escaped the shadowy figure's lips.
"How quaint," he murmured, leaning back in his chair.
"The boy thinks he's building an empire with his puny music label. Let him play his little games for now. It'll keep him distracted from what's really going on."
The enigmatic man's tone shifted, becoming more serious, his eyes narrowing as he leaned forward in his plush leather chair. The air in the dimly lit office seemed to thicken with tension.
"What about Victor and NOA? We can't afford to underestimate them. They've proven to be formidable adversaries in the past."
His assistant's lips curled into a smirk, a glint of triumph flashing in her eyes as she delivered her report.
"It seems Alaric has folded like a house of cards. They've found our insider at NOA, just as we anticipated. The Blackstones and NOA are scheduled to meet tomorrow at noon. It's a pity we've lost our operative amongst the NOA higher-ups."
The man nodded slowly, his fingers drumming a rhythmic tattoo on the polished mahogany desk.
The soft tapping echoed in the silence, punctuating his thoughts.
"No matter, he's but a pawn. Keep a close eye on them. These two old foxes should not be underestimated."
He paused, considering the implications, his brow furrowing slightly.
"What about the loyalty of our insider? Can we trust them to keep their mouth shut under pressure?"
The assistant's chest puffed with pride, her voice brimming with confidence as she replied.
"Even if he wanted to sing like a canary, he'd have no idea who to point the finger at. Our network is too intricate for him to unravel. Plus, he knows the dire consequences of opening his mouth. The lives of his family are at our mercy, after all. We hold all the cards."
The shadowy figure leaned back in his chair, satisfaction evident in his relaxed posture. A thin smile played across his lips as he contemplated their next move in this high-stakes game of power and influence.
The room fell silent, the air thick with unspoken threats and dark intentions. In the shadows, unseen by all, the true masterminds of this intricate game continued to move their pieces across the board.