[ Conference Room, Queen Consolidated HQ, Star City ]
How could he explain himself now?
The middle-aged man, Andre, felt a bead of sweat run down his forehead. In truth, he just wanted to siphon off some research funds and enjoy his evenings with a drink. But now, with everyone in the room staring directly at him, it was clear that nobody believed him.
He had been doing this for years—slipping long, technical-sounding project names into annual reports. CEOs typically didn't understand the jargon, so as long as he submitted the projects on time, no one batted an eye. He never expected Thea to have been studying Queen Consolidated's weapons catalog so thoroughly.
Thea had read that catalog three times. Even though the anti-gravity suit project was only mentioned in passing, Thea noticed it instantly. Her plan had been to quietly address it in a private follow-up. She didn't expect Andre to leap into the spotlight and practically beg for exposure.
Regret flooded him. He clung to a faint hope and muttered hesitantly, "It might be a coincidence. Maybe the staff made a mistake… or maybe it's an upgraded version of the original. I'll definitely look into it when I get back."
Now you're scared? Where was that smug confidence when you tried to corner me? Thea had no intention of letting him off so easily.
She reached into her bag and pulled out a sheet of paper, waving it in front of the room. "This is the index report of the G-12 anti-gravity suit—downloaded from our internal network. May I see your personal computer? According to company protocol, all projects are to be registered with the company's main server. Let's compare your report with the original index. I'm sure the truth will be clear then."
Andre suddenly felt the urge to slam his head against the table. Didn't this girl just join the company yesterday? How did she already know procedures so well? What else was in that preliminary report she read?
He panicked. His computer was a liability. It held enough evidence to land him ten years behind bars. The mental image of himself gripping iron bars and singing, "Ten years later, we're friends who can still wave hello… but the tenderness is gone, and there's no reason left to hug," flashed across his mind. Thea could not see that computer. No way.
But he had no legitimate excuse to refuse. Moira Queen, seated at the head of the table, stared him down with a knowing smile. He sent her a desperate glance, pleading for leniency.
It didn't help. Voices from the room began piling on.
"Miss Queen is right, Andre. We need to see your personal computer."
"Andre, you're a parasite in this company! I've had my suspicions for years!"
"You haven't confessed yet? My uncle's great-uncle's neighbor works at the Star City Police Station. I will file report about you."
The once-formal boardroom quickly devolved into chaos. People from every camp, loyalists and skeptics alike, began tearing into Andre. No one was really angry that a few funds were misused—Queen Consolidated was rich enough that minor embezzlements could slide. But Andre had done it poorly. Sloppily. And worst of all, he got exposed by a 15-year-old girl.
That humiliation stung the most. The managers in the room, many of whom prided themselves on their intelligence, now felt collectively embarrassed. Andre's ineptitude made the whole board look bad. What if someone left Queen Consolidated and tried to work elsewhere? Their association with this meeting would follow them. This kind of behavior had to be condemned.
And Thea? Thea Queen, the instigator, leaned back with a thoughtful expression. She reached up to stroke her chin, only to remember she couldn't grow a beard. She glanced toward her mother whose face had a flicker of frustration—only to realize Moira was already watching her. It was a silent moment of understanding: Moira was waiting on her daughter's cue.
Thea didn't want to start her first day by turning it into a witch hunt. She gave a soft, subtle nod. Let it go.
Moira Queen had been furious at first. She had carefully planned everything the day before. Thea was young—it was her first day—so she deserved room to breathe. Moira had always turned a blind eye to certain staff, knowing that cracking down too hard could backfire. The person replacing a corrupt employee might be worse.
As long as people didn't cross the line, things stayed manageable. Whether the Queen family's wealth was a hundred million or a hundred and one made no difference. But Andre had crossed that line.
She had been about to step in and shield Thea. Instead, her daughter defused the situation with grace and delivered a clean, effective counterattack. Moira was stunned. Was her daughter actually a management genius?
She had only shared the company documents with her yesterday. Today, Thea had taken down a senior executive. Moira hadn't had that kind of sharpness at her age.
So when Andre looked to her for help, Moira ignored him. After Thea gave her nod, she rose and addressed the room.
"Today's meeting is adjourned. Thank you, everyone."
She didn't even mention Andre again. Officially, he was untouched—for now. He had backing from other shareholders, and removing him wouldn't be simple. But Moira didn't need to lift a finger. Because Thea was Malcolm Merlyn's biological daughter.
And Malcolm believed in overkill.
If someone touched a single strand of his daughter's hair, he would burn their world down.
Sure enough, Malcolm had already seen everything.
...
[ Malcolm's Office, Merlyn Global HQ, Star City ]
As the hidden king of Star City's underworld, he had thousands of operatives under his thumb. He had eyes inside Queen Consolidated's boardroom—video footage and all.
He was pleased to see Thea emerging from grief and stepping into her role. Her calm demeanor, measured speech, and razor-sharp logic reminded him of himself—just the female version. Fortunately, Malcolm didn't believe sons were superior. He believe his daughter could rule just as well, if not better than his son.
When he saw Moira let Andre off with no punishment, he didn't react. Because he'd already given instructions to his assistant.
There was a viaduct under construction—perfectly secluded, with towering concrete pillars and no surveillance. It was just the place to host someone who needed to disappear. Andre wouldn't be lonely; there were plenty of rats for company.
As for Thea, Malcolm's pride swelled. She was brilliant, composed, and fierce.
And then there was Tommy. Malcolm's son hadn't returned his calls, wasn't home, and ignored his texts.
Thea had already run 200 meters in the race of life. Tommy hadn't even reached the starting line. For the great manipulator Malcolm Merlyn, that was the most painful realization of all.
To Be Continued...
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[POWER STONES AND REVIEWS PLS]