Hana arrived early. Earlier than usual.

She stood by the glass wall of the executive floor, watching dawn break over the skyline. Today was the day Helios would respond to Stage Two requirements—enhanced disclosures, risk assessments, ownership verification, and the dreaded "foreign influence" audit.

She tightened her grip on her tablet.

She'd handled aggressive investors.

She'd handled rival companies.

She'd even handled jealous politicians trying to interfere with TG Mobility.

But a U.S. national security committee?

This was a different battlefield.

She turned when she heard footsteps.

Timothy stepped out of his office, sleeves rolled up, eyes sharper than usual. He held a mug of coffee, but it was untouched.

"Hana," he greeted. "Status?"

"Washington sent the Stage Two packet at four in the morning. I've read it twice."

"And?"

She exhaled.

"They're pushing harder than expected. A full beneficial ownership audit. They want a breakdown of capital sources, board history, organizational ties, and—"

Timothy raised a brow. "And?"

"…and a list of any political or military affiliations connected to Helios's funders."

He smirked slightly. "They think I'm running a shadow state."

"Sir, it's not a joke," Hana said softly. "They're taking us very seriously."

"Good," Timothy replied. "It means they believe the acquisition might actually happen."

Hana tapped her tablet. "I've also spoken with Covington's CFIUS team. They can prepare a formal response, but they warned us—if we hesitate or redact too much, it signals that we're hiding something."

Timothy took a slow breath.

"Then we won't hesitate."

Conference Room — One Hour Later

The room filled with lawyers.

Four from Covington, connected via secure video.

Two from Kirkland, overseeing M&A structure.

Three internal TG legal advisors.

Files, charts, and draft responses covered the long table like a battlefield map.

Timothy sat at the head.

Hana sat to his right, stylus ready.

Covington's lead attorney, a gray-haired man with calm eyes, spoke first.

"Mr. Guerrero, we've reviewed CFIUS's Stage Two request. They're probing deeply because Helios is too new, and the acquisition is too large."

Timothy nodded. "Expected."

"But," the attorney continued, "this level of scrutiny means they suspect two things:

One, foreign control.

Two, national security implications."

Hana glanced at Timothy; he didn't react.

Another lawyer chimed in. "They may be worried Helios is a proxy for a foreign sovereign fund. Or a foreign industrial conglomerate. That's why they're requesting a full breakdown of the ultimate beneficial owners."

Timothy tapped the table lightly. "Then what do you need from me?"

"Absolute transparency," Covington's attorney said. "We need to lay out exactly where the capital originates. Every shell. Every fund. Every backer."

Hana flipped her tablet, displaying the Helios architecture she built.

"Helios's capital injections come from three primary highways," she said. "One from TG Holdings' Singapore branch. One from private investors in the UAE. And one from a green-energy fund in Malaysia."

A Kirkland lawyer frowned. "Malaysia might raise flags. Southeast Asian capital tied to nuclear acquisition—"

"It's legal," Hana stated firmly. "Fully documented."

"Legal isn't the problem," the lawyer countered. "Optics are."

The room fell quiet for a moment.

Then Timothy leaned forward.

"What if we over-disclose?"

All eyes turned to him.

"What do you mean?" Covington asked.

Timothy rested his hands on the table, voice steady.

"Every acquisition tries to hide something. Everyone plays defense, everyone holds back. That's why regulators assume guilt." He tapped Hana's tablet. "But if Helios goes the opposite direction—if we flood them with information, documents, and financial transparency—then they have nothing left to suspect except that we're serious."

Covington's lawyer nodded slowly. "An aggressive transparency strategy."

Hana added, "We can compile and submit everything within forty-eight hours. Complete with notarized disclosures."

Kirkland's M&A lead frowned. "But if we expose too much, don't we risk—"

Timothy cut him off.

"We risk losing nothing. We risk showing strength."

The lawyer hesitated, then slowly nodded.

"Unorthodox," the attorney admitted. "But effective."

Hana's Office — Afternoon

Stacks of documents surrounded her.

Digital files. Ownership charts. Capital ledgers. Source certifications.

Two paralegals worked behind her.

A third reviewed notarization requests on a separate screen.

Hana's fingers flew across the tablet.

Every movement precise.

Every entry cross-checked.

She didn't just want CFIUS satisfied.

She wanted them impressed.

Timothy entered quietly.

"How much longer?"

"Six hours," she answered without looking up. "I'm restructuring the appendix for legibility."

He watched her for a moment.

"You're doing a good job, Hana."

She stopped typing.

He almost never said that.

She turned slowly. "…Thank you, sir."

He nodded once and left.

Hana inhaled sharply.

Then kept working.

Washington D.C. — CFIUS War Room

Same time

Special Counsel Hart rubbed her temple as she scrolled through the latest wire from the Financial Intelligence Unit.

Helios Strategic Holdings:

— registered six days ago

— Delaware LLC

— capital reserves unusually high

— foreign-linked cash flows documented

— unexplained speed of mobilization

"This is too fast," she muttered.

Deputy Director Rutherford entered, carrying a folder. "Any updates on Guerrero?"

"No," Hart said. "He keeps everything offshore. No criminal flags. No political ties. No sanctions. It's like he doesn't exist."

"He exists," Rutherford corrected. "Just not the way we're used to."

Hart exhaled. "Helios could be a shell. Or something worse."

"Or," Rutherford said, "it's simply a private billionaire trying to buy a nuclear firm."

Hart scoffed. "Since when do private billionaires create shell companies to buy reactors?"

Rutherford stared at her.

"…Since now."

Hart swallowed, a hint of doubt creeping in.

"Well," she sighed, "the ball is in their court. If Helios fails Stage Two, we kill the acquisition."

"And if they pass?" Rutherford asked quietly.

Hart didn't answer.

TG Headquarters — Evening

The sun had dipped, leaving Manila painted in warm tones.

Inside the executive meeting room, the entire legal team gathered for the final review.

Hana slid the completed document packet to Timothy.

CFIUS Stage Two Submission

— 148 pages

— 43 annexes

— 1,100+ pages total supporting documents

"It's ready," Hana said softly.

Timothy flipped through the first pages.

"You've outdone yourself," he told her.

She allowed herself the smallest smile. "We need to be flawless, sir."

Timothy stood.

"Send it."

She tapped her tablet.

A digital confirmation blinked.

DOCUMENT SUBMITTED — U.S. CFIUS PORTAL

TIMESTAMP: 7:42 PM PHT

The room exhaled.

Timothy stretched his neck slightly, then grabbed his coat.

"Hana," he said. "Walk with me."

They stepped outside the office into the quiet hallway.

"What's next?" she asked.

Timothy looked ahead, expression calm.

"Now?"

A small smirk.

"We wait."

"For the approval?"

"No," he said. "For the fight."

Hana nodded slowly.

Because they both knew—

Stage Two wasn't the end.

It was the beginning.

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