Cassian sat at his sleek, polished desk, his eyes scanning the spreadsheets in front of him. To the outside world, he was the perfect heir—focused, calculating, composed. But behind the façade of routine meetings and boardroom discussions, his mind was elsewhere. The plan had already begun, and now it was time for the first step to unfold.He had trusted people within the company—people who had no love for his father but needed the right incentives. These were employees who had seen things, witnessed the shady dealings that had fueled his father's empire. To Victor, these people were mere pawns—disposable, forgettable. But Cassian knew better. He knew how to play the game.Cassian reached for his phone, his fingers hovering over the screen before tapping the contact he needed. A few moments passed, and then the call connected."Everything's in place," Cassian said in a low voice, his gaze never leaving the documents in front of him. "I need you to get started. Dig into the finances—anything related to illegal transactions, bribes, or suspicious activity. Don't leave anything out. And make sure no one knows you're doing this. I'll deal with the fallout when the time comes."There was a pause, and then the voice on the other end replied, "Understood. We'll be thorough.""Good. I need this done quietly," Cassian added, his voice cold and firm. "Victor's too clever. He's not going to suspect anyone close to him, but we need to be cautious. Move fast, but keep it under the radar.""Of course."Cassian hung up, the weight of the plan now fully on his shoulders. The investigation into his father's financial dealings was underway. Once the evidence surfaced, it would be enough to bury Victor. But for now, Cassian had to stay focused. He couldn't let his father see the cracks forming. He had to maintain the illusion of normalcy.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The day dragged on with meetings that were little more than scripted performances. Cassian's mind was sharp, always calculating, but outwardly he gave nothing away. Every word he spoke was measured. Every move he made deliberate. He couldn't afford to slip up—not when so much was at stake.The boardroom meetings were as tedious as usual, with his father taking center stage, delivering his usual speeches about the company's growth, the next steps, and the future. Victor had no idea that his son was already plotting his downfall, that Cassian was gathering the very evidence that would bring the house of cards crashing down.Cassian's attention occasionally flickered to his phone under the table, where he was waiting for updates. His trusted sources were already working in the shadows, pulling the strings. They were good at what they did. They would find the dirt, the documents, and the contracts Victor had hidden away for years. It was only a matter of time before it all came to light.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------During a break in the meetings, Cassian stood by the large windows of his office, overlooking the sprawling city below. The view was stunning—a contrast to the turmoil bubbling beneath the surface. He couldn't help but think of Seraphina, of the peace she brought him. The thought of her, safe at home, kept him grounded in the chaos of the day.He reached for his phone once more, quickly sending a text.Thinking of you. Can't wait to be home tonight.The reply came almost instantly.I'm thinking of you too. Stay safe, Cassian.A brief smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He put the phone back into his pocket, taking a deep breath. He was more determined than ever to make sure she would never be in harm's way again.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------As the day wore on, Cassian's meetings continued without a hitch. He kept his focus sharp, playing the part of the obedient heir while the real work was being done behind the scenes. His trusted team was already digging into his father's dealings, quietly unraveling the years of fraud, bribery, and manipulation that Victor had used to amass his power.But Cassian wasn't just playing a long game with his father. He was also preparing for the fallout when everything came crashing down. When the truth finally came to light, the public would turn on Victor, and Cassian would be ready to step into the role he'd always been meant to play—without his father's toxic influence hanging over him.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------That evening, after the meetings had concluded and the office had quieted down, Cassian made his way home. His car sped through the city streets, the weight of the day pressing on his shoulders, but his thoughts still lingered on Seraphina. He couldn't wait to see her again, to hold her, to feel the warmth of her presence.The house was quiet when he arrived, and he knew she was probably resting. He moved through the rooms, the familiar scent of chai candles filling the air, calming him in ways he hadn't expected.Cassian took a seat in the living room, his mind drifting back to the next steps of his plan. He would need to get the information to the right people, expose it all in a way that would be impossible to ignore. But for now, with Seraphina safe and the wheels of the plan turning, he allowed himself a moment of peace.The first part of the plan had been set into motion. And with each passing day, Cassian felt more certain that his father's empire would fall.