The rain had stopped by morning, but the storm was only beginning.
News broke just after dawn: a heavily armed crew had been arrested attempting to infiltrate one of Eversage's research facilities. Police reports described a sophisticated operation involving cutting-edge equipment, forged credentials, and an insider connection. Anonymous sources whispered that the target had been a "high-value intellectual property" — the kind that could topple companies and make fortunes.
The story exploded across every business network before noon.
"Corporate Espionage Attempt Foiled at Eversage Labs!"
"Mystery Behind Attempted Moisturizer Formula Theft Deepens!"
"Police Suspect Competitor Involvement in High-Profile Break-In!"
Within hours, social media was ablaze. Hashtags tied to Eversage and C&B trended citywide. Influencers speculated. Analysts debated. Rivals watched with bated breath. The skincare industry, long known for its petty feuds and quiet legal battles, had just witnessed open warfare.
And at the center of it all stood Jason Yun.
Jason sat at the head of the boardroom table, the morning sunlight filtering through the glass walls behind him. Around him, his closest allies filled the seats — Daisy, Hendricks, Natalie, the former Eversage CEO, and a handful of senior executives. Every one of them had a tablet in front of them, scrolling through the headlines with wide eyes.
"This," Hendricks said, breaking the silence, "is bigger than I thought it'd be."
"It was always going to be," Jason replied, his voice calm and measured. "They didn't just try to sabotage a shipment this time. They tried to break into a secured lab. That's a federal crime. And once the authorities start digging, they'll find ties that lead straight back to Titan."
Natalie looked up from her screen. "The arrests have already rattled their investors. Titan's stock dropped eight percent since markets opened. That's over two billion wiped in less than three hours."
"And that's before the board starts panicking," Daisy added. "I'm hearing whispers that two of their senior partners are considering pulling out."
Jason leaned back slightly, steepling his fingers. "Good."
The old Eversage CEO — a man who had weathered decades of corporate warfare — cleared his throat. "And us? How do we respond publicly?"
Jason thought for a moment before answering. "We don't gloat. We don't accuse. We let the evidence speak. Our official statement is simple: Eversage was targeted by an attempted theft, our security measures prevented it, and we are cooperating fully with authorities."
Hendricks frowned. "That's it?"
"That's it," Jason said firmly. "We're not trying to score points. We're reinforcing the image we've built — secure, reliable, professional. Let Malcolm rage in the shadows. We'll be the ones standing in the light."
The room fell silent again. Outside, the city hummed with energy — news vans parked outside the building, drones hovering above the street, reporters swarming for a quote. Eversage had become the epicenter of a storm it hadn't started but was now poised to control.
"Sir," Daisy said softly, "there's something else."
Jason raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
"Two of the operatives are refusing to talk," she said. "But three others are cooperating. They've already confessed they were hired by a shell company — one that, according to financial tracing, leads back to an offshore account tied to Titan's legal division."
The corner of Jason's mouth lifted slightly. "Then Malcolm's mask is starting to crack."
"It's not a smoking gun," Daisy warned. "But it's close."
"Close is enough," Jason said. "Once law enforcement connects the dots, Titan will be dragged into a scandal they can't contain. And even if they manage to distance themselves legally, the court of public opinion won't be so forgiving."
Hendricks chuckled darkly. "From king of the market to corporate criminal. Quite the rebrand."
Jason didn't smile. "Don't underestimate Malcolm. He's furious, humiliated — and cornered. That's when men like him are most dangerous."
Across the city, Malcolm Veyra was living proof of that.
The once-pristine boardroom of Titan Skincare was a disaster. Papers were scattered across the floor. A projector screen had been smashed. A chair lay overturned near the window. The executives sitting around the table looked more like hostages than decision-makers.
"Do you have any idea what you've done?" one board member shouted, his face red with anger. "Armed break-ins? Corporate espionage? This isn't a hostile takeover, Malcolm, this is a felony!"
Malcolm didn't respond. He stood near the far wall, staring out over the city, his reflection ghostlike against the rain-streaked glass.
"Investors are pulling out," another executive snapped. "The press is crucifying us. Our stock—"
"I know," Malcolm said quietly.
"Do you?" the first man barked. "Because it doesn't look like it! It looks like you've lost control of this company!"
That got a reaction. Malcolm turned slowly, his gaze cold and sharp as a blade. "Control," he said softly. "Isn't taken. It's maintained. And that's exactly what I'm doing."
"By getting us indicted?" another board member scoffed.
"By making sure this Eversage blight doesn't erase everything we've built," Malcolm shot back. "Do you think they'll stop here? No. They'll eat us alive. They'll dominate the market, push us into irrelevance, and then they'll come for the scraps. I will not let that happen."
The room fell silent, the weight of his words pressing down on them. Some looked away. Others shifted uncomfortably. But none dared speak again.
Malcolm stepped closer to the table. "The board will convene. The regulators will investigate. And they'll all believe they're the ones pulling the strings. But make no mistake — I'm not done. Not even close."
"Malcolm," the CFO said cautiously, "with all due respect, we need to focus on damage control. If we don't—"
"If we don't," Malcolm interrupted, his voice low and dangerous, "we die. That's the reality. And if I have to choose between breaking the law and watching everything I built crumble, I'll break the damn law."
No one argued after that.
Two days later, Jason stepped out of a black sedan in front of Eversage's headquarters. A wall of cameras greeted him instantly.
"Mr. Yun! Any comment on the attempted break-in?"
"Do you believe Titan is behind this?"
"Will Eversage be pressing charges?"
Jason raised a hand, silencing the barrage. "Our company was targeted by a coordinated and illegal attempt to steal proprietary research. Thanks to our security measures, the attempt failed. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement. Beyond that, we have no further comment."
"Mr. Yun—"
"Thank you," Jason said simply, and walked inside.
Inside, the mood was very different. Applause rippled through the lobby as he passed. Employees stopped him to shake his hand. Some even called him a hero. But Jason didn't bask in it. This wasn't victory. It was survival.
Upstairs, Daisy was waiting with new reports. "The investigation is moving quickly. The three who flipped are giving up names. That shell company's offshore account is now under federal review."
"And Titan?" Jason asked.
"They've gone dark," Daisy said. "No public statements. Malcolm hasn't been seen in two days."
Jason frowned. "He's planning something."
"Should we increase security?" she asked.
Jason shook his head. "No. Keep everything as is. If he thinks we're overreacting, he'll feel safe. And if he feels safe…"
"…he'll make a mistake," Daisy finished.
Jason nodded. "Exactly."
In a quiet corner of the city, Malcolm sat alone in his penthouse, the lights off, the curtains drawn. The only illumination came from the faint glow of a single screen — the live news coverage of Titan's implosion.
"Titan Skincare Faces Possible Legal Action."
"Anonymous Sources Link Titan to Failed Eversage Heist."
"Will Malcolm Veyra Step Down?"
His reflection stared back at him from the glass, older and more tired than he remembered. His empire was bleeding — but it wasn't dead. Not yet.
Kade entered quietly, dropping a folder on the coffee table. "Police are closing in on the shell accounts. We'll lose them by the end of the week."
Malcolm didn't look up. "And the operatives?"
"Three are cooperating," Kade said. "The rest are keeping quiet, but it's only a matter of time."
Malcolm's fingers drummed against the armrest. "We need a reset."
"What kind of reset?" Kade asked.
Malcolm finally looked at him, and in his eyes was something new — something colder. "A public one. Something that shifts the narrative. If we can't beat Eversage quietly, we'll do it loudly."
Kade raised an eyebrow. "How?"
Malcolm leaned forward, his voice barely above a whisper. "We expose them."
"Expose what?" Kade asked. "They're clean."
"No one's clean," Malcolm said. "Everyone has something. A dirty deal. A buried scandal. A secret they'd burn the world to hide. And if Eversage doesn't have one…" His lips curved into a razor-thin smile. "…then we'll create one."
Kade stared at him. "You're talking about framing them."
"I'm talking about survival," Malcolm said. "And if I have to scorch the earth to do it, so be it."
Back at Eversage, Jason stood on the rooftop balcony, the cool night wind tugging at his coat. The city stretched endlessly before him, glowing and alive — a sea of opportunity and danger in equal measure.
Hendricks joined him, two cups of coffee in hand. "You should get some sleep."
"I will," Jason said absently, accepting the cup.
"You don't believe this is over," Hendricks said.
Jason's gaze didn't leave the skyline. "Because it isn't."
"Even after the arrests. The investigations. The public humiliation."
"Especially after those," Jason replied. "Malcolm's not a man who retreats. He's a man who adapts. And now he's going to come for us in ways that don't involve break-ins or stolen formulas."
Hendricks was quiet for a moment. "You mean publicly."
Jason nodded slowly. "Reputation is just as powerful as product. Maybe more. And if he can't destroy what we build in the lab, he'll try to destroy it in the court of public opinion."
Hendricks sighed. "Then we prepare for that too."
Jason smiled faintly. "We already are."
The following morning, a sealed envelope arrived at Titan headquarters. Malcolm tore it open with a snarl — only to freeze as he read the contents.
Subpoena.
The federal government had officially opened an investigation into Titan Skincare for attempted corporate espionage.
His hands shook with fury. The war had moved beyond the shadows now. It was in the open.
"Sir?" Kade asked, stepping into the room.
Malcolm's voice was low and venomous. "If it's war they want…"
He crumpled the subpoena in his fist.
"…then war is what they'll get."