Chapter 227

Chapter 227
Blake

I stood at the head of the glass conference table, trying to look like I belonged there. Twenty pairs of eyes stared back at me with expressions ranging from skepticism to hostility. My palms were sweating, but I kept them flat against the polished surface.

What the hell am I doing here? my inner voice screamed. These people can smell fear like sharks sense blood.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Gideon announced, his French accent thicker than usual, "as you all know, Mr. Blake Sterling is now officially taking control of Kairo operations as per his father's wishes."

I nodded, scanning the faces around me. A reminder of the power concentrated in this room.

"Thank you, Gideon," I said, my voice steadier than I expected. "I know this transition may seem sudden, but I'm committed to continuing the excellent work you've all been doing."

A blonde woman with piercing green eyes snorted almost imperceptibly. Liora Hale, head of PR. Next to her sat Mateo Fischer, CFO, and across from them was Alison Chen, Marketing Director, who hadn't stopped tapping her pen since I walked in.

"I hope we can work together to maintain Kairo's position as an industry leader," I continued, taking my seat.

"That might be difficult considering our Eastern European division is imploding as we speak," Liora said bluntly. "Budapest missed their targets by thirty-seven percent, and we've got serious compliance issues in Romania."

The room fell silent. Everyone turned to look at me. My heart hammered against my ribs. Shit, why didn't anyone brief me on this?

"I'm aware of the situation," I lied, my mind racing. "I'll be reviewing those operations personally this week and implementing necessary changes."

Liora raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow. "With all due respect, Mr. Sterling, we've been 'reviewing' the situation for months. What we need is decisive action before the EU regulators get involved."

"And you'll have it," I said firmly, meeting her gaze while my insides churned. "I want a complete briefing on my desk by end of day."

For the next two hours, I sat through presentations that made my head spin. Terms like "multi-tier equity distribution" flew around the room while I nodded as if I understood. I have no fucking clue what half these people are talking about.

When we finally adjourned, I felt like I'd run a marathon.

"Not bad for your first executive meeting," Elias said, clapping me on the shoulder as we exited.

"I had no idea what half those people were talking about," I admitted once we were alone in the elevator. "I'm completely lost here."

"You'll learn. Your father didn't understand everything when he started either."

"Somehow I doubt that," I said.

As the elevator doors opened, I noticed Gideon and Liora huddled in intense conversation. They broke apart quickly when they saw us, Liora's smile not reaching her eyes as she waved goodbye.

"Is there something I should know about those two?" I asked Elias quietly.

"They've worked closely for years," he replied. "Gideon relies heavily on Liora for crisis management."

I made a mental note to keep an eye on that relationship. Great, day one and I already have potential enemies.

---

"This is where my father lives?" I asked, staring up at the massive limestone mansion. "Holy shit, this isn't a house, it's a castle."

"One of his residences," Gideon corrected. "A gift from the Saudi royal family after your father helped them restructure their sovereign wealth fund."

"Jesus Christ," I muttered as the enormous gates swung open. Sophia would have a fit if she saw this place , I thought, then wondered why her opinion mattered so much.

"The guest list for last year's Christmas party included three presidents and seven prime ministers," Gideon continued. "You'll need to familiarize yourself with the gift protocols. Nothing can be accepted without legal clearance first."

"I need legal approval to accept gifts?" I asked incredulously. "What am I, five years old?"

"When the Emir of Qatar wants to give you a fleet of custom Bentleys, yes," Gideon replied. "Everything has strings attached in this world."

I shook my head. "So I can't even pick out a tie without holding a committee meeting first?"

"Now you're getting it," Gideon said with a tight smile.

The interior was overwhelming—imported marble, chandeliers that looked like they belonged in Versailles, and museum-quality artwork. Twenty-five bedrooms, Gideon informed me casually.

"Your father's wine collection," he said, handing me a leather-bound inventory book thicker than most novels. "And here's the house floor plan and art insurance documentation."

I flipped through the pages, feeling disconnected from reality. Sophia would hate this place , I thought again. She'd call it a waste that could be better spent on charity. The certainty of this thought unsettled me.

"Now, let's look at your wardrobe," Gideon continued. "Image is everything in this circle."

"Actually, I was thinking about getting a normal apartment in the city," I said. "This place feels like a museum, not a home."

Gideon stopped abruptly. "Absolutely not. You represent Kairo now. Every aspect of your life is under scrutiny."

"It's just a place to sleep," I argued.

"There's no such thing as 'just' anything in your position," he replied. "Everything sends a message."

I found myself in a walk-in closet surrounded by rows of custom suits I'd never seen before.

"These were tailored based on measurements from your clothes," Gideon explained.

A silver-haired man named Heinrich insisted on helping me try on a dark navy Brioni.

"Arms out, please, sir," Heinrich instructed, as if I were a child.

I complied, feeling ridiculous. If Sophia could see me now, being dressed like a Ken doll. She'd probably take a picture and tease me mercilessly. The image was so vivid I could almost hear her laughter.

---

Later, standing on the rooftop terrace with champagne, I tried to process everything.

"How are you holding up?" Elias asked, joining me.

"Honestly? I feel like I've stepped into someone else's life," I admitted. "None of this feels real."

"In a way, you have. Your father built this empire over decades. Now it's yours."

"What do you think about all this?" I gestured at the opulence. "The excess, the rules, the politics."

"Power is like any tool. It depends on how you use it. Don't let it change who you are."

"How philosophical," Gideon interrupted, appearing with fresh champagne. "But the financial world is a battlefield. Either you dominate or you're dominated."

"Is that how my father saw it?" I asked.

"Your father understood the game better than anyone," Gideon replied. "He knew when to be ruthless and when to be generous."