Qin Corporation's boardroom was nicknamed "The Control Room."
Twelve chairs. One throne. No mercy.
Decisions were made here that toppled competitors, buried evidence, erased scandals.
And today?
Liana Zhou walked in like she owned the oxygen.
Scene: Morning – Qin Corp Headquarters, Executive Floor
Damon was already seated when she arrived. So were the board members.
All men. All tailored. All underestimating her.
"Ms. Zhou," one said, barely hiding his condescension, "this is a shareholders' briefing."
Liana smiled sweetly. "Good thing I'm engaged to the majority shareholder then."
She took the empty chair beside Damon—his chair.
He didn't stop her.
Mr. Liang, however, looked like someone had slipped cyanide into his tea.
Because he'd gotten her anonymous message. And he hadn't slept all night.
Scene: The Meeting Begins
They reviewed quarterly numbers. Boring. Strategic. Intentional.
Liana didn't say a word for the first twenty minutes. Just listened.
Watched.
Waited.
Then Mr. Liang pulled up a proposal to outsource a key department—"cost-saving," he said.
"Interesting," Liana interrupted.
All eyes turned.
"I happened to look over those documents last night. Outsourcing to Blue Spire Holdings, correct?"
Mr. Liang nodded, cautious. "Yes."
She slid a folder across the table. "Blue Spire was established four months ago. No assets. No track record. But the listed director? Is your nephew."
Silence. Sharp and instant.
She added, "Nepotism's one thing. Fraud's another."
Mr. Liang stuttered, "I—I didn't know—"
She cut him off. "If you're going to rob the company, Mr. Liang, at least make it look clever."
Damon said nothing. But his hand curled around his pen. Tight.
Scene: Hallway – Post-meeting
Mr. Liang chased after her. "You said we could work together—"
"I said we could talk," Liana said, not breaking stride.
"You don't have proof."
She turned to him, slow and dangerous. "I have your nephew's phone records, your shell company's tax filings, and video footage of you meeting with Shen Ruoyi. But by all means, lie to me again."
He swallowed.
"I can't go down with her," he muttered.
"Then don't." Liana handed him a flash drive. "Come to my side. Feed me the names. And when I make my move… you'll already be standing."
He took it like it was a loaded gun.
Because it was.
Scene: Damon's Office – Ten Minutes Later
He shut the door behind her. Didn't speak right away.
Then: "You humiliated a board member."
Liana raised a brow. "He humiliated himself. I just narrated it."
"You had that ready. You were waiting."
"I'm always waiting."
"You're not afraid of making enemies."
She smiled faintly. "Damon, I am someone's enemy. That's the job now."
He stepped closer. "Are you my enemy?"
She didn't back down. "Not yet."
He stared at her for a long moment. Then quietly:
"I keep thinking you're about to slip up. Show your real self."
She tilted her head. "Maybe I already did. And maybe you didn't like what you saw."
He stepped back. "I don't know what you're planning, Liana."
"Good," she said. "Then it's working."
Scene: Rooftop Smoking Terrace – Nightfall
Mr. Liang stood alone, lighting a cigarette with shaky hands.
A second lighter clicked beside him.
Liana.
Flawless. Composed. Holding her lighter like a weapon.
"You chose wisely today," she said.
He exhaled smoke. "I'm not used to working for a woman."
"Get used to it," she said. "You'll be working for me very soon."
He chuckled nervously. "Does Damon know?"
She looked out at the skyline.
"Damon thinks this is still his company," she said.
"But when he finally sees the truth, it'll already be mine."
Back in Damon's office, a single security camera blinked red.
Someone else had been watching.
And the footage of Liana's little power play?
Was already in Shen Ruoyi's inbox.