Chapter 14 - Rise of the Heir
With Victor Vance permanently out of the picture and his criminal syndicate dismantled, Sterling Technologies entered a golden era of unprecedented growth.
Ethan was promoted to Director of Supply Chain Operations, a monumental leap for someone who had started as a disgraced internet meme just months prior.
He traded his old hoodies for bespoke tailored suits, but the arrogance that once defined him was entirely gone, replaced by genuine humility and relentless work ethic.
One afternoon, while driving his own newly purchased, modest sedan out of the corporate parking lot, Ethan spotted a group of young influencers posing aggressively next to a parked Lamborghini that clearly didn't belong to them.
He stopped his car for a moment, watching a young man in a flashy jacket boast loudly to a group of mesmerized teenagers about how his dad bought him the supercar.
Ethan felt a wry smile tug at the corner of his mouth. He rolled down his window, shook his head lightly, and drove away without saying a word.
Some people never change, he thought to himself. But he had learned the hardest lesson life could possibly teach.
Back at the penthouse, Antoine called Ethan into his office for a private briefing regarding an upcoming international expansion.
'You've earned your place here, Ethan,' Antoine said, sliding a golden keycard across his desk. 'This gives you access to the executive floor and our subsidiary operations in Europe.'
May you like
'Thank you, Antoine,' Ethan replied respectfully. 'I won't let you down.'
'I know you won't,' Antoine smiled. 'Because now you know what real power actually looks like.'
