The next morning, the first rays of sunlight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Leo's penthouse, painting the city skyline in soft gold. He stood at the window, sipping a cup of black coffee, the system notification about his 50% stake in Morgan Real Estate still fresh in his mind.
[Ding!]
[Host has acquired a 50% stake in Morgan Real Estate.]
[Current Net Worth: $1.5 billion.]
[New Quest: Restructure Morgan Real Estate and increase its market value by 20% within 30 days.]
[Reward: Advanced Business Acumen, $200 million cash bonus.]
A soft knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Mr. Carter, your morning briefing is ready," Kane's voice came from the hallway.
Leo turned. "Come in."
Kane entered, holding a leather-bound folder and a tablet. His expression was professional, but there was a flicker of respect in his eyes. "The legal team has finalized the transfer documents. You are now the majority shareholder of Morgan Real Estate. The board has called an emergency meeting for 10 AM at their headquarters. They are… anxious."
Leo smiled faintly. "Anxious is good. It means they know the game has changed."
He finished his coffee and grabbed his tailored suit jacket. "Let's go. We have a company to save."
The Morgan Real Estate headquarters was a towering glass building in the heart of the financial district. As Leo's supercar pulled up to the curb, the doormen scrambled to open the doors, their faces pale with shock. They had all heard the rumors about the new owner, but no one had expected him to be so young.
Inside, the lobby was filled with nervous employees, whispering to each other. When Leo walked in, the room fell silent. All eyes were on him—on the man who had single-handedly toppled the Morgan dynasty.
The elevator doors opened to the executive floor. The boardroom was already packed. Mr. Morgan, Derek's father, sat at the head of the long mahogany table, his face ashen. The other directors, all older men in expensive suits, shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
When Leo entered, the room erupted in a low murmur.
"Who is this kid?"
"He can't be serious…"
"This is a disaster."
Mr. Morgan slammed his fist on the table. "Silence!" He stood up, his voice shaking with rage. "Who the hell do you think you are, barging in here like this? This is a private meeting of the board of directors!"
Leo walked calmly to the opposite end of the table and took a seat. He placed the leather folder on the table and pushed it towards Mr. Morgan. "I'm Leo Carter. The new majority shareholder of this company. And you're fired."
The room exploded into chaos. Directors stood up, shouting accusations. Mr. Morgan's face turned purple. "You can't do this! I built this company from the ground up! It's mine!"
Leo waited for the noise to die down before speaking again. His voice was cold and steady, cutting through the chaos like a knife.
"Your son's arrogance and your own mismanagement have driven this company to the brink of bankruptcy," he said, tapping the tablet. The screen lit up, displaying a damning array of charts and graphs. "You've wasted $200 million on failed projects, ignored warnings about the housing market crash, and lined your own pockets while your employees faced layoffs. This company isn't yours. It belongs to the shareholders. And I'm the largest one."
He pressed a button, and a presentation began to play on the large screen at the front of the room. It detailed his plan to restructure the company: sell off non-performing assets, cut redundant staff, and refocus on the lucrative downtown redevelopment project.
The directors fell silent. They could see the numbers didn't lie. The plan was bold, but it was the only way to save the company.
"Any objections?" Leo asked.
No one spoke.
"Good," he said. "From this moment on, Kane will be the new CEO. He will oversee the restructuring. Any employee who stands in the way will be terminated immediately. No exceptions."
He stood up, ready to leave, when the double doors of the boardroom burst open.
Derek and Mia rushed in, their faces desperate.
"Dad! Do something!" Derek screamed. "He's ruining us!"
Mia fell to her knees in front of Leo, tears streaming down her face. "Leo, please! I'm sorry! I was wrong! Take me back! I'll do anything! I'll be anything you want!"
Leo looked down at her, his expression cold and unyielding. "You had your chance, Mia. When I was poor, when I needed you, you left me for a fake rich kid. Now you want to come crawling back? You chose money over love. Now you get to watch as everything you ever wanted crumbles around you."
He turned to Mr. Morgan. "Your son's behavior is a reflection of your leadership. If you want to save your family from total ruin, I suggest you start by teaching him some humility."
With that, Leo walked out of the boardroom, leaving the Morgans and their crumbling empire behind him.
Outside, the sun was shining. Kane opened the door of the supercar for him.
"Mr. Carter, the press is here," he said. "They want a statement."
Leo smiled. "Tell them the era of Morgan Real Estate is over. The era of Leo Carter has just begun."
As the supercar pulled away from the curb, the reporters swarmed around it, shouting questions. Leo didn't look back. He had a business to build, and a world to conquer.
[Ding!]
[Host has successfully restructured Morgan Real Estate.]
[Quest Progress: 50%]
[Reward: Advanced Negotiation Skill unlocked!]
Leo closed his eyes, a satisfied smile on his face. The first step of his plan was complete. The next step was to win the downtown redevelopment project. And he wouldn't let anything stand in his way.