Lyco called a meeting with Angel and the few remaining allies. Sitting around a large oak table, everyone was tense, the silence heavy in the air. Angel was the first to speak.
"Father, we need to change our approach. Continuing to sabotage Aiden will only lead to our ruin. We must focus on rebuilding Sys Corp. and saving what is left."
Lyco glared at her daughter.
"Rebuild? Do you really think we can survive with Aiden in our way? He is determined to destroy us, and if we keep waiting, he will succeed!"
One of Lyco's allies, a middle-aged man named Bernard, cleared his throat before speaking.
"Sir, perhaps Angel is right. We can negotiate a deal with Aiden. He is a businessman, and perhaps we can come to an understanding before all is lost."
Lyco's hand slammed down on the table, sending papers flying.
"Negotiate? I won't stoop to that! He wants to destroy me, and I won't give him the satisfaction!"
Angel sighed, crossing his arms.
"Father, if you keep obsessing, there won't be anything left to negotiate. Aiden is light years ahead of us, and you know it. There's no shame in admitting that we need a new strategy."
Lyco was silent for a moment, his face a mask of suppressed fury. But deep down, he knew Angel was right. He just didn't want to admit it.
Across town, Aiden was reviewing Ada's latest reports. He had cemented his position as Sys Corp.'s largest shareholder, but he knew there was still work to be done to ensure Lyco was completely removed from the equation.
"How's it going, Ada?" Aiden asked, as he looked out the window at the illuminated city.
Ada handed him a tablet with the latest data.
"Investors are fleeing Sys Corp., and the financial scandals have hit the company's reputation hard. Our contacts have confirmed that Lyco is in a desperate position. He has lost the support of the board members."
Aiden smiled, pleased.
"Excellent. What about our next acquisitions?"
"We are already finalizing the contracts. Soon, Star Comp. will have full control of Sys Corp.'s most profitable divisions. The rest will be liquidated or reorganized to maximize our profits."
Aiden nodded, picking up a glass of wine from the table next to him.
"Lyco is at the end of his rope. But I still want to watch his downfall closely. Make sure we get real-time updates on his moves."
The next morning, Lyco received official notice that a special board meeting of Sys Corp. had been called. He knew it was the beginning of the end. With the majority of shareholders now aligned with Aiden, Lyco no longer had control over the company he had built. Still, he prepared to face the board, determined to fight until the last second.
The boardroom was full when Lyco arrived, his posture rigid as he strode across the room. He glared defiantly at the board members, but he knew he had no allies there. The meeting began, and the board members submitted their surrender to Aiden as CEO.
"This is treason!" Lyco shouted, rising from his chair.
"This is not treason, Mr. Lyco. This is survival," one of the board members calmly replied.
The meeting was quick and unanimous. Aiden Baskerville was 100% accepted as interim CEO of Sys Corp.
When the news reached the press, the impact was immediate. Sys Corp. shares soared, buoyed by the confidence that Aiden, now free and in 100% control, would be able to turn the company around. Meanwhile, Lyco returned to his mansion, completely defeated.
A few days later, Lyco received an unexpected invitation to meet Aiden. Against Angel's advice, he decided to accept. The meeting was scheduled at an exclusive restaurant, where Aiden had reserved a private room.
When Lyco arrived, Aiden was already seated, calmly sipping a glass of wine. He stood up when Lyco entered, a smile on his face.
"Lyco, it's nice to see you. Please, have a seat."
Lyco sat down, his expression full of anger and resentment.
"You've already won, Aiden. I don't know why you called me here."
Aiden leaned forward, resting his arms on the table.
"I wanted to see you in person. So you'll understand that this wasn't just a business game for me."
Lyco clenched his fists, but didn't respond.
"But here's the difference between us," Aiden continued. "I won't destroy you completely. There's still a path for you, if you're willing to accept it."
Lyco frowned in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
Aiden smiled again.
"I want you to work for me. Not as CEO, of course. But as a consultant for Sys Corp. You still have knowledge and experience that could be useful to me. And who knows, maybe this will give you a chance to rebuild what you lost."
Lyco remained silent, fighting his wounded pride. He knew he had no choice.
"Very well, Aiden. You win. I accept."
Aiden raised his wine glass, toasting with a victorious smile.
"To the future, Lyco. And to our new partnership."
After that night, Lyco began working again, but not as CEO as he was used to, a constant reminder of his defeat.
Despite everything, Lyco found a strange relief in no longer carrying the weight of control of Sys Corp. He knew that his future now depended on his ability to learn from his mistakes and rebuild his life, even if it was under the shadow of his greatest enemy.
City M, Sunday...
The soft sound of his alarm clock rang, filling the silence of Aiden's luxurious bedroom. Sunlight filtered through the half-open curtains, illuminating the space with a golden glow. He slowly opened his eyes, allowing himself a moment of contemplation before getting out of bed.
Aiden slid out of the covers, his feet touching the soft carpet beside the bed. He walked to the spacious bathroom. A subtle light automatically turned on as it detected his presence.
In front of the full-length mirror, he studied his reflection. "Time to trim the chaos," he joked to himself as he picked up the razor and shaving cream. He applied the cream in precise strokes, covering his face with a thin layer before he began to shave.
His movements were firm, controlled, while the blade removed the stubble with ease. When he was finished, he washed his face with cold water, the refreshing sensation invigorating him. Picking up his toothbrush, he repeated the ritual, the scent of peppermint filling the air as he brushed with precision.
Satisfied, Aiden left the bathroom and headed to his closet. The space was almost as large as his bedroom, with clothes organized by type, color, and occasion. He chose a casual yet elegant outfit: a white linen shirt, well-fitted dark jeans, and brown leather shoes. The cologne he always wore completed the look.
Descending the stairs that led to the kitchen, Aiden was greeted by the impeccably clean space. The kitchen was modern, with state-of-the-art appliances and a central island that dominated the space. He poured coffee into the automatic machine and began making toast with scrambled eggs.
As he stirred the eggs in the pan, the soft voice of the house AI echoed through the room.
"Good morning, Mr. Aiden. Daily report ready. Would you like to hear it?"
"Sure, go ahead."
The AI began to list:
"You have 15 unread messages. Three are from Ada reporting financial updates and strategies; two are from investors requesting meetings; and the rest are social notifications and stock market alerts. Also, today's weather will be sunny with a high of 82 degrees."
Aiden smiled as he placed the eggs on the plate next to the toast.
"Great, Ada first, the rest later."
The AI nodded, sorting through the messages as he walked to the dining room table. Sitting down, he placed the coffee and plate in front of him, activating the system's holographic screen.
The main menu appeared, and he clicked on the profile tab. The data appeared, floating in the air with numbers that made him smile with satisfaction:
『Profile: Aiden』
Charm: 79
Strength: 71
Intelligence: 110
Dexterity: 73
『Bank Account: 59,749,981,584 Credits』
Looking at the total in his bank account, Aiden gave an amused smile, holding the coffee cup.
"Not bad."
Standing up, Orion looks at the clock "I think it's time for the party my mother told me about."
"Kira, send the gift to the Baskerville ancestral home and prepare the car for my departure in 1 hour," Aiden informed the house's AI, going upstairs to get ready.