It had all been coming to this. In less than a day, Leo would be in a room, not just with Romus Holgeld, but the entire Holgeld family. He would be face to face with the person or people who denied him his lineage and subjected him to a childhood of poverty and suffering. Leo was as ready as he would ever be.

On the way back from the mines, Leo tried to make sense of the folder of business documents he and Surya had stolen. They were inscrutable to Leo, so he had to take Surya’s word that they undeniably proved that her older brother Farthen was stealing money from Opal Corp and had betrayed their father’s trust. Leo knew that if he was to succeed in this cutthroat world of business, he would have to level up his skills in more than just Sorcery.

Leo was curious how much Surya would be willing to share. “You’ve spent your whole life in the world of the Holgeld family and Opal Corp and know how to thrive in it. Do you think that’s something someone can learn?”

Surya smiled an unknowable smile. “An ambitious young thing, aren’t you Leo? But a very smart question to ask. Opal Corp culture, my family’s culture is to look at everyone like an asset or an ally. The worst of us will either use or destroy others to get what we want, but those with a more productive outlook, myself included, can see the value instead in true alliances.”

Leo took this in. “Do you ever think we can be allies?”

Leo was grateful that Surya didn’t laugh. “You’re my bodyguard, my subordinate. A lot would have to change for us to be on the same level. But, theoretically, I have yet to see anything that would make that an absolute impossibility.”

Leo figured that was good enough for now. While he found himself growing to trust Surya, she had revealed that her Sorcerer blood gave her certain powers of manipulation. Leo didn’t feel like he was under a spell, but would he even know it if he was?

Surya had her driver drop her off at home and then take Leo to one of the city’s higher end fashion streets. She gave him a black company credit card, inlaid with pure Opal and told him to buy whatever he deemed appropriate for the upcoming board meeting.

Leo was intimidated by the upscale men’s store the moment he set foot in it. He was mostly used to doing his shopping in thrift stores or picking things out of the charity bin at his social worker’s office. Here there was every top name designer and label he could imagine, with prices that made his eyes bleed. But today money was no concern. Opal Corp was picking up the tab.

A flamboyantly dressed shopping assistant with wild purple hair turned up her nose at Leo when he first entered, but once he flashed his black card, she became as friendly and helpful as anyone Leo had ever met.

She showed Leo to racks and racks of leisure wear and sportswear, even some tuxedos and formal evening wear attire. Leo made some judicious selections. He knew that Cyra might need him to accompany her in situations where he would need to blend in with the high society crowd. The shopping assistant rang up these purchases one after another, Leo had to look away from how high the total was going.

This was enough money to support several foster children for a lifetime and here he was spending it on clothes. Still, he knew this was a necessary expense to complete his assignment and eventually his true goal of taking over all of Opal Corp.

Leo told the shopping assistant what he needed next. “My line of work will be very dangerous. I need something that will look appropriate in the executive suite but that could also save my life.”

A few years ago this would have been a ridiculous request, but the shopping assistant knew exactly what he was talking about. She showed him a number of designer suits in different cuts and materials, but that all had one particular thing in common.

Each of the suits had Brillianite thread woven into their fabric. The threads were loaded up with protective and shielding spells that would activate in a dangerous situation. Even though Leo was a Sorcerer, this would allow him to stay focused on the moment and not always have to be worried about throwing up a protective barrier in the middle of a fight or an ambush.

An in-store tailor measured Leo to his exact specifications and crushed a spell capsule over the suits to adjust them to Leo’s exact fit. Leo tried on a suit and checked himself out in the store's mirrors. He looked good enough to be named the CEO of Opal Corp that very day.

Surya’s driver took Leo and his purchases back to the Opal Corp Private Security Residence and the doorman took the giant haul of clothes up to his room. Leo would later find them all perfectly arranged in his spacious walk in closet. He had some time before he needed to turn in so he wanted to see how Bethany’s first day had been.

Bethany invited Leo into her rooms and they had room service brought up. Steak frites and a couple of bottles of champagne. Even though they were eighteen and nineteen years old respectively, it’s not like Opal Corp was going to card them.

Bethany tore into her steak like a cavewoman. “So I’ve been stationed as a security guard at the Opal Corp Executive Tower. You wouldn’t believe some of the people I saw walking around today. I even saw the back of Romus Holgeld’s head as he was getting into an elevator. Holy cow!”

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Leo couldn’t help but laugh, Bethany’s enthusiasm was infectious. He still didn’t want to tell her any more than it had to, especially because it could put her in danger. But he did trust her. “I am actually going to be at the Executive Tower tomorrow too. There’s a big board meeting and every member of the Holgeld family is going to be there.”

Bethany’s eyes went wide. “Every single one? That must be a pretty big deal then.”

Leo nodded. “I wonder if you can do me a favor? Can you keep track of everyone you see coming or going to the meeting. It could really help me figure some things out.”

Bethany toasted Leo with her glass of champagne. “Absolutely. Whatever you need, Leo, I’m your gal.”

Leo clinked his glass against hers. “Thank you, Bethany. It’s for a really important reason. I promise I’ll tell you everything when the time is right.”

The following morning, Leo put on his sharpest suit with the most powerful protection spells and met Surya at her mansion. He made sure to hand her the folder full of details about Farthen’s embezzlement.

Surya gave it a good look over as a car took them to the Executive Tower. “Did you give it any more attention last night? Is it starting to make sense ?”

Leo had spent several hours poring over the documents before he went to sleep. The champagne had made it a little difficult, but he did make some progress. “I think so. Your brother has been underreporting the amount of Brillianite that is being harvested at the refinement stage. This means he’s still hitting his quarterly quotas for overall harvesting while being able to skim off the top.”

Surya looked genuinely impressed. “Exactly. This doesn’t reveal who he might have been selling the black market Brillianite to, but that is beside the point. Here he’s able to line his own pockets while coming across as a model executive.”

Leo was surprised at how naturally he took to this line of thinking. It must be something in his Holgeld DNA. “And he’s able to blame any discrepancy on subpar ore deposits. Something completely out of his control.”

Surya’s eyes were beaming. “Leo, I could kiss you. That would be a terrible idea of course.”

Leo gulped. “Of course, I’m your employee, after all.”

Surya leaned back in her seat. “So is it true then, that you really have no family at all?”

This was a left turn for the conversation. It took Leo an extra moment to respond. “None whatsoever. I never even lasted at a foster home for more than a year or two. No constants in my life, no long term friendships even.”

This seemed like the most unpleasant thing Surya had ever heard. “That’s just awful. Here’s hoping things can be different for you here at Opal Corp. I have a very good feeling they just might be.”

Their car arrived just at the same time as another sleek, black town car landed outside the gleaming skyscraper that was the Opal Corp executive tower. Leo didn’t recognize the person who climbed out of the other car but it made Surya’s face immediately go sour.

The man wore a pinstriped suit and a loud power tie. He grinned at Surya with gleaming white implants. “It’s been a minute, little sis. How’s it been?”

Surya’s mouth set in a thin line. “I have nothing to say to you, Farthen.”

Farthen Holgeld grinned even wider. “Nothing to say about how you paid my mine a little visit yesterday? Maybe even how you rooted around in my office, in my private documents? I hope you found something extra juicy.”

Surya didn’t give him an inch. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Farthen shook his head. “I see you got yourself a new bodyguard. Popular idea. I did the same myself. Can’t be too careful with all these breaking and enterings these days.”

Farthen motioned for his bodyguard to exit the town car, Leo immediately felt his blood boil. Farthen’s bodyguard was none other than Jorash Morgeld.

Jorash took his place confidently behind Farthen. “Don’t you worry at all, Mr. Holgeld. I am well equipped to handle anyone who tries to interfere in your business, even pathetic street trash like your sister has seemed to have dug up.”

Jorash looked directly at Leo when he said this. Surya easily noted the boiling animosity between Leo and Jorash, then turned her attention back to Farthen. “Well brother, let’s hope things don’t escalate to violence. I’d hate for anyone to get hurt over these petty sibling squabbles. My bodyguard is more than meets the eye, I promise you.”

Leo couldn’t help but feel proud that Surya stood up for him. Surya didn’t give Farthen a second look as she strided into the tower. Leo gave Jorash one final glare. Leo needed to let that jerk know that he meant business.

Leo was relieved to see Bethany working the front desk, she scanned Surya and Leo for weapons before she let them in. She gave Leo a little wink as she waved him past.

On the elevator ride up, Surya gave Leo one final piece of advice. “Keep your head on a swivel from now until we leave. In many ways, Farthen is the least dangerous one in my family.”

They entered the boardroom and Leo couldn’t help but be intimidated. It was covered floor to ceiling in gold and marble. The central table was carved from one solid piece of Opal. Around it was seated the entire Holgeld family.

Leo stood behind Surya with the other bodyguards and support staff while she took her seat at the end of the table. At the head, Romus Holgeld himself stood up. He was more imperial and menacing in person than Leo expected.

Romus addressed his family. “I’m going to cut right to the chase. The rumors are true. I am done carrying Opal Corp on my shoulders. It’s time for all of you to step up and carry the company into the future. I am going to name my heir right here and right now.”

Surya stood up. the entire room hushed and turned to her. “Daddy, before you say anything else. There is something you should know.”

Leo was ready for this, Surya was about to drop the bombshell about her brother Farthen.

Surya looked Romus dead in the eyes. “Whoever you are thinking about naming as your successor is a mistake. I promise you they are a traitor. There is only one person who should be your heir. The son you pushed aside. The son you forgot.”

Leo felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. She couldn’t possibly be saying what he thought she was?

Surya pointed directly at Leo. Leo felt all eyes turn to him, including Romus Holgeld. His blood turned to ice. Surya smiled darkly. “Leo Holgeld should be your heir.”