Aiden's phone buzzed relentlessly, each ping more urgent than the last. He groaned, fishing it out of his pocket with a sluggish swipe, eyes squinting against the unforgiving morning light spilling through the office windows.
Kyle’s name blinked on the screen, accompanied by a flood of critical texts.
"Where the hell are you?? We're all waiting..."
"This is so unprofessional, Aiden. Honestly."
"You're making the company look bad!"
Aiden rolled his eyes, fingers flying over the screen in a half-hearted response.
"Oh my Godddd STOP WHINING"
"I’m literally walking your way now."
It was nothing short of a miracle that Aiden had dragged himself into the office after the weekend he’d survived. From dawn until dusk, he’d indulged in a nonstop spree of wild partying, with enough alcohol consumed to make most people reconsider their life choices. For Aiden, it was go hard or go home, and now he paid the price with a pounding headache and muscles that felt like they’d been trampled by a freight train.
Still, the business world wouldn’t wait for his recovery. Kyle's persistent messages about the day’s crucial meeting had been impossible to ignore, dragging him from his comfortable, albeit messy, bed — complete with the lingering presence of a nameless woman whose name he couldn’t quite recall.
“I need some good news,” Aiden muttered as he passed the front desk, eyes narrowing at Davina, the secretary whose polite smile was a stark contrast to his disheveled state.
“I’m afraid not, Mr. Grayson,” Davina replied, tapping her tablet. “The meeting hasn’t started yet. Everyone’s waiting on you.”
“Great,” he groaned. “Now I get to endure the whole thing sitting upright.”
True to his sense of ownership, Aiden didn’t bother to knock before pushing open the boardroom door. He stepped in with the casual swagger of a man who owned the building, nodding lazily to the assembled guests, who returned stiff, guarded greetings.
Sliding into the chair at the head of the table, Aiden plopped his designer sunglasses down, rubbing his temples as the harsh lights stabbed at his sensitive eyes. “Let’s get this party started,” he said, voice thick with forced enthusiasm. “I have other places to be this morning.”
Kyle’s lips twitched with a mix of frustration and embarrassment. The three guests — Mr. Pryor, Mr. Wong, and Mrs. Scotts from Hope World, Inc. — sat motionless, exchanging cautious glances as they assessed the infamous CEO. They’d heard the rumors: Aiden Grayson was brilliant but volatile, his reputation as a reckless playboy preceding him. Their hopes for a smooth negotiation were already dampened by the palpable tension.
“Aiden, this is Mr. Pryor, Mr. Wong, and Mrs. Scotts from Hope World,” Kyle introduced, voice steady despite his brother’s demeanor. “I spoke to you about them earlier, remember?”
The silence stretched uncomfortably until Kyle gave Aiden a sharp kick beneath the table, a silent nudge to bring him back from the edge of a nap.
The jolt was enough to snap Aiden upright, clearing his throat with a raspy cough. “Yeah, yeah. I know who they are. So what? Why are we here?”
Kyle’s patience thinned, but he kept his cool. “I called this meeting because I believe Hope World has potential. I’ve seen preliminary designs for an upcoming project that could be a game-changer. I think we should invest.”
“Did you see the email I sent you last week?” Kyle pressed, scanning Aiden’s face for any flicker of recollection.
Aiden shrugged, the effort required to remember nearly overwhelming. “Briefly.”
Kyle knew better, but spared the confrontation. “Together, we could dominate the market.”
“Hold on.” Aiden’s tone sharpened, and he leaned forward, eyes narrowing behind his shades. “We don’t need to partner up to dominate tech. Grayson Enterprises is already crushing it, based on the latest numbers I reviewed. Why dilute our power?”
He glanced at the guests, who shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. “If what you say is true, Kyle, then these folks could become my competitors after this project. Why would I help them climb their ladder at my expense?”
Kyle started to respond, but Aiden cut him off, waving a hand dismissively. “Save it. I don’t really want to hear your reasoning.”
Then, his lips curled into a smirk as he addressed Mr. Pryor. “And I’m not blind to your past, either. Heard all the sordid rumors about your shady dealings last year. Your company’s stock took a nosedive thanks to those scandals, and you scrambled to bury the mess. Trust me, I might indulge in my vices, but when it comes to business, my mind is sharper than ever.”
The older man’s mouth opened in shock but remained silent, the accusation hanging heavy in the room.
Kyle exchanged a frustrated glance with Aiden but said nothing, sensing the meeting was veering off course.
A tense silence followed, broken only by the faint ticking of a sleek wall clock. The air was thick with unspoken challenges and simmering doubts. Aiden reclined slightly, his fingers drumming impatiently on the table while calculating the next move in this high-stakes game.
“Look,” Aiden finally said, voice lower but no less firm, “I’m not against ideas that grow the company. But I’m the one who has to pick up the pieces if things go south. So, forgive me if I’m a little cautious about shaking hands with anyone who has a history of playing dirty.”
Mrs. Scotts exchanged a subtle glance with her colleagues and cleared her throat. “Mr. Grayson, we understand your concerns. Hope World is committed to transparency and innovation. Our past was challenging, but we’ve learned and evolved. This project could open doors for both our companies.”
Aiden’s gaze flicked back to Kyle, who nodded encouragingly, silently urging his brother to consider the offer.
Reluctantly, Aiden removed his sunglasses completely, revealing eyes still glazed from exhaustion but sharp with determination. “Alright. You’ve got five minutes to convince me why this gamble won’t blow up in my face.”
The room seemed to exhale collectively, the meeting finally moving past its rocky start. As the presentations began, Aiden found himself battling weariness but also a flicker of curiosity about the future these strangers proposed.
Despite himself, he knew this was only the opening round in a much longer game — one where trust was as valuable as the company’s stock, and betrayal could come from the most unexpected places.