[Third Person POV]
[Two Days Later]
The morning sun poured through the wide glass windows of the Hudson Valley office building. Inside one of the conference rooms, nine people sat waiting around the polished table. The team had been called there by Sondra Brandenberg. She had passed on the instructions she was given, telling everyone that their boss would be arriving shortly.
Only Sondra and Oswald Silkworth had met the man before. For the others, including Raymond Jones, this was going to be their very first time seeing him in person. The quiet buzz of whispered conversations filled the room, the group restless and curious about the man they were about to meet.
The door opened.
David stepped inside, wearing attire that spoke of quiet power and precision. His suit was a tailored Brioni, cut in dark charcoal fabric with a subtle sheen that caught the morning light. A crisp white shirt sat beneath, paired with a slim black Tom Ford tie. His shoes, black calfskin Oxfords by John Lobb, were polished to a mirror finish, and on his wrist gleamed a Patek Philippe Calatrava watch. At 6'6", with brown hair neatly styled and sharp blue eyes, his presence filled the room at once.
He was followed by Flo Pauling, who carried a small stack of files in her arms. She moved to the side of the room as David walked to the head of the table.
The chatter died instantly. Every pair of eyes was on him.
David gave a small nod. "Good morning. I know most of you are seeing me for the first time. My name is David Brown. I am the CEO and the sole investor of this firm." His voice was calm, steady, but carried weight. "As you were informed before, this firm is my investment. I have certain companies I am looking into, but I would also like your suggestions. That is why you are here. Study the market. Analyze it carefully. Bring me your input."
He paused briefly, scanning the room.
"The world has been changing since the Chitauri invasion. But let's be honest, it was anything but normal even before that." A few chuckles broke the tension, but they quickly faded as he went on.
"Markets, companies, even nations—they shift faster than most expect. That's why we're here. Small team, sharp focus. We see what others miss, and we act before anyone else. That's how we'll stay ahead."
"And now, with these so-called Mandarin bombings shaking public confidence, chaos is spreading. Most will panic. But for us, this is opportunity. Fear in the market always leaves cracks to exploit. We'll position ourselves where others hesitate."
He gave a final nod. "For the time being, adjust to the office. By noon, I'll let you know what the plan is. You can all leave for now."
Rolling chairs shifted quietly as the group stood and began filing out of the room. Just as they reached the door, David's voice cut through the air again.
"Raymond. Oswald. Stay back. Flo, Sondra—you too."
David gestured to the chairs. They sat, Raymond and Oswald on his left, Flo and Sondra on his right. He leaned back in his seat, eyes moving from face to face.
He started with Flo. "How are the recruits? Have all the procedures, including the NDAs, been handled?"
Flo nodded and began explaining everything in detail, her tone precise and confident. David listened, saying nothing, only giving small nods as she spoke.
When she finished, he turned his gaze to Raymond. "You must be confused why you were brought in with such a small group."
David gestured to the chairs. They sat, Raymond and Oswald on his left, Flo and Sondra on his right. He leaned back in his seat, eyes moving from face to face.
He started with Flo. "How are the recruits? Have all the procedures, including the NDAs, been handled?"
Flo nodded and began explaining everything in detail, her tone precise and confident. David listened, saying nothing, only giving small nods as she spoke.
When she finished, he shifted his gaze. "Everyone here has a role to play. Some will have to learn faster than others. Some will have to prove themselves sooner than they expect."
His eyes settled on Raymond[1] for a moment. Raymond felt a chill run down his spine. The silence left the weight of unspoken expectations hanging in the air.
David looked at Flo. "You're my right hand. Sondra will learn from you—watch her, guide her."
Flo inclined her head with quiet confidence. Sondra glanced at her, realizing her new position was both an opportunity and a test.
Finally, David leaned forward, folding his hands on the table. "You guys will be taking positions temporarily in this firm as each of you has a place in it. But places aren't permanent. They're earned—and they can be lost. What you do in the coming weeks will decide how quickly you rise, or if you fall."
The room was silent. Even the hum of the air conditioner seemed distant.
David stood. "That's enough for today. I will give you further instructions. Raymond and Sondra, you may leave now."
Both of them stood quickly, nodding in silence. They pushed back their chairs and walked toward the door, Raymond keeping his eyes low, Sondra glancing once more at Flo before following him out. The door clicked shut behind them, leaving only David, Flo, and Oswald in the room.
After Raymond and Sondra left, David rose from his chair and led Flo and Oswald out of the conference room. They walked down the hall to a corner office, the one reserved for the CEO.
The room opened up with tall glass windows overlooking the Hudson Bay. From this height, the distant sprawl of the city could be seen, its skyline softened by the morning light.
The space was modern but understated, with dark oak furniture, a polished desk, and a few leather chairs facing it. Bookshelves lined one wall, holding carefully arranged binders and volumes, while a single abstract painting hung above a small sideboard.
David moved to his desk and sat in the high-backed chair, his presence filling the room. He gestured for the others to sit. Flo took the chair to his right, Oswald to his left.
David's blue eyes settled on Oswald. His tone was calm, steady, and left no room for doubt. "Oswald, from today forward you'll take up the position of Chief Operating Officer. You know what that entitles, right?"
Oswald adjusted himself in the seat, his back straight. At 5'9" with a sturdy build, balding hair touched with grey, and steady brown eyes, he carried the air of someone seasoned and reliable.
His voice was firm. "Yes, sir. I'll be responsible for overseeing daily operations, logistics, and executing the strategies we set. That will be my main role."
David nodded once, his expression even. "Good. And you, Flo, will be looking over the administration. This is only for now." She nodded in reply.
They spoke for about half an hour, mostly David giving instructions to Oswald and Flo. When it was done, he leaned back and said, "That will be all for now. You can take your leave."
As they stood to go, David rose and walked over to the full pane of glass. The city stretched beyond, quiet yet restless. He could feel that Flo had not left the room. She was standing still, hesitating. Without turning, he spoke directly. "What is it, Flo? Any problems?"
Her voice came carefully. "Can I ask you something, boss?"
David understood why she had that line of thought. With his abilities and Gideon, he could have lived in the shadows for a long time. Flo knew about his capabilities, and about the others too. Living in the shadows while gaining money would have been easy for him.
He let out a quiet breath. "Let's just call it a whim of mine. I had a dream a long time ago, of being really rich. Now I'm rich, but I want to take a step further. This world lacks some things that need to be put in place, and with money I can make it happen. But I also want to make a name for myself. So yes, it really is a whim of mine."
She couldn't quite understand his process of thinking right now, but just before she could ask, both David and Flo's attention was drawn to a streak of fire cutting across the morning sky. A blazing trail—Human Torch.
Once the streak vanished from sight, David spoke.
"You may leave for now. I'll be in touch if I need anything. Train Sondra as quickly as possible. We'll be moving to the next phase in six to eight months."
Flo gave a short nod. "Yes, boss." She turned and left the room.
David pressed a button, and the windows tinted until nothing could be seen through them. He set a small disc on the table.
"Gideon," he said, "show me any news focused on the Human Torch.
To Be Continued...
[1] Raymond Jones is the prostitute and an unnamed father, who was a wealthy banker who had an affair. That said prostitute was one of Maybelline Stokes, better known as Mama Mabel, who was a crime lord and the most powerful figure in Harlem, best prostitutes, who was promised by the banker to get her out of that life, but never left his wife. His father left soon after Raymond was born, leaving behind a book titled Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun. Raymond then grew up with his mother in New York, knew the Stokes Crime Family, and befriended Mariah Dillard now better known as Mariah Stokes Dillard an upcoming powerful woman working in Harlem politics, looking to bring a new era of change to the streets that she had grown up. After graduating City College, he visited his father, but ended up getting escorted out of the building.