Ethan sat in the high-backed chair, his fingers steepled as he looked at the five survivors of the Halbert era. They had been sidelined, humiliated, and stripped of their authority, yet they had remained like unyielding pillars in a storm.

"I know what you went through. Coercion, bribes, threats to your families... Vincent tried every trick in the book to break you, and yet you're still here," Ethan said.

"We didn't do it for the paycheck, Ethan. We did it because we promised your father that we wouldn't let his dream become a weapon for men like Vincent," said Robert Vance.

Ethan leaned forward, resting his elbows on the mahogany table. "The restructuring starts now. I'm not just looking for employees; I'm looking for the architects of a new era. Tell me, where did Vincent hide you all? What are your current roles?" Ethan said.

"I was the Chief Financial Officer. Now, I'm just a senior accountant in the basement, restricted from seeing any real ledgers," said Sarah Miller.

"I ran Research and Development. They moved me to 'Quality Control' for legacy hardware. Basically, I've been checking screws for three years," said Marcus.

"I was General Counsel. They replaced me with a team of sharks and put me in charge of filing patents for office furniture," said Elena.

"Head of Operations. Now, I just manage the janitorial staff and building maintenance," said Robert.

"And I was the Chief Technology Officer. I've been stuck in a 'Consultant' role with no access to the main server rack," said Arthur.

Ethan closed his eyes for a moment. [Crul, analyze their performance data from the last decade. Cross-reference their original output with their current restricted files. Give me the verdict.]

[Analysis complete, Master. Despite their demotions, these five have completely blocked 42% of the illegal foreign data transfers by exploiting loopholes in the system. They are highly efficient, loyal to the core, and possess a combined IQ that exceeds the previous board by 150 points. Reassigning them to their original roles—with expanded authority—is the most logical step for total recovery.]

Ethan opened his eyes, a sharp glint of determination in them.

"The games are over. Sarah, you are reinstated as CFO with full access to every ghost account we just uncovered. Marcus, you take back R&D; I want our original software wiped of Halbert's backdoors. Elena, you are my new Chief Legal Officer; start the paperwork to seize every asset those traitors left behind," Ethan said.

"What about Operations and Technology?" asked Robert.

"Robert, you're back as COO. I need this building secured and every Halbert-hired guard replaced by my own men. Arthur, you are the CTO. You'll be working directly with my private systems architect to overhaul our global network," said Ethan.

"You're giving us the keys to the kingdom again... just like that?" asked Arthur.

"I'm giving you the keys because you're the only ones who didn't try to pick the lock while the owner was away. We're going to rebrand, restructure, and remind the world why Future Technologies was a name to be feared and respected," said Ethan.

The five of them looked at each other, the weight of years of oppression finally lifting. For the first time since his father's death, there was a sense of purpose in the room.

"We won't let you down, Ethan. We've been waiting for this day for a long time," said Elena.

"You may all be excused for now. I'll be leaving in a moment, but I expect a full status report on my desk by tomorrow morning," said Ethan.

The five of them stood up, nodding with newfound energy. As they filed out of the room, Ethan's gaze lingered for a second longer on Sarah Miller. She was a mature woman, undeniably beautiful, wearing loose-fitting professional attire that seemed designed to be modest. However, with his enhanced perception, Ethan noticed the subtle lines of a lace thong pressing against the fabric of her slacks—a provocative detail that suggested a hidden side to her corporate persona. Sensing his gaze, Sarah didn't turn back, but a faint, knowing smirk tugged at the corner of her lips before she disappeared into the hallway.

[Crul, it's time. I want you to modify every sensitive file in this company's database. Establish a new security perimeter—cameras, sensors, biometric locks—and draft a comprehensive task list for each department. I won't be here physically to micromanage them, so you will act as my proxy. Monitor their progress through the internal feeds and send out directives as needed,] said Ethan.

[Understood, Master. I will funnel all instructions through the primary Royal executive account. To them, it will appear as though you are personally overseeing every detail of the operation from a remote location. I will provide you with real-time updates on their performance and the company's recovery,] said Crul.

Ethan nodded, finally allowing himself to lean back and sink into his father's old leather chair, closing his eyes as he felt the ghost of a legacy finally being reclaimed.

In the small, private pantry on the executive floor, the five loyalists gathered around the coffee machine. The air, which had been suffocating for years, finally felt breathable.

"I still can't believe it. That bastard Vincent is actually gone," said Robert, pouring himself a cup of coffee with a hand that finally stopped shaking.

"Gone is an understatement. I heard from a contact in the department that he's already behind bars. Daniel tried to spin some story about an 'emergency family vacation' to keep the stock from plunging, but the truth is out now," said Marcus.

"It's funny, isn't it? The Congressman and the District Attorney made all the headlines, but Vincent was so small-time in the grand scheme of things that nobody even noticed him being dragged away. He's rotting in a cell while we're back in the penthouse," said Arthur with a mocking laugh.

They laughed—a cathartic, sharp sound of people who had survived a long war. As the laughter died down, Elena Castillo nudged Sarah Miller with her elbow, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Speaking of the penthouse... we all saw the way the boss was looking at you, Sarah. He didn't take his eyes off you for a second when we were leaving," said Elena.

"Oh, stop it. He was probably just making sure I didn't steal any stationary on my way out," said Sarah Miller, though she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her cheeks flushing slightly.

"Please. A man like that? Young, powerful, billionaire, and honestly? He's a total ten. If I were you, I'd make sure his 'private' reports are delivered in person. You know... make him a little happy. It's the least we could do for the man who saved our careers," said Marcus, prompting a round of suggestive chuckles from the men.

Sarah rolled her eyes, playing the part of the modest professional, but her mind was already racing. Ethan Blake was a massive, golden opportunity that had just dropped into her lap. He was everything a woman like her desired—dangerous, wealthy, and in total control. She sipped her coffee, already imagining the different ways she could ensure she remained his favorite executive.

"You should really take the new master access cards up to him, Sarah. He might need them to get into the private archives tonight," said Elena Castillo, her tone playful but her eyes hiding a flicker of envy. She had noticed Ethan's lingering gaze too, and it stung that he hadn't spared her a second look.

"Don't be ridiculous. I'm not that desperate," said Sarah Miller, though she smoothed her skirt instinctively. "If you'll excuse me, I have to finish some urgent documents for one of our legacy clients. I intend to prove my value to the boss through hard work, not through favors..."

The group shared a round of knowing laughs as they finished their coffee. They began to head back to their current, cramped offices to begin the process of moving back into the executive suites.

As they walked through the open-plan floors, the atmosphere had shifted entirely. The employees who had ignored them or mocked them under Vincent's reign were now scurrying out of their way. People stood up as they passed, offering forced smiles and eager nods of greeting, desperately trying to butter up the people they once stepped on.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Robert! Need help with those boxes?" asked a junior manager who had refused to even hold the elevator for him a week ago.

Robert didn't even slow down, leaving the man hanging in the hallway. The five of them moved like a new phalanx of power, their heads held high. They weren't just the survivors anymore; they were the new lords of Future Technologies, and the rest of the staff was already scrambling to save their own skins before the new administration's axe began to fall.

Author's Note: The last few chapters were heavily focused on lore, world-building, and plot development. Now, we're going to pivot back toward more erotic content. If you have any suggestions or if you'd prefer a faster pace to advance the main story, I'm completely open to your feedback. Either way, it won't be just about the spice; the plot will keep moving, though at a slightly slower pace, as we explore more of Ethan's daily life and him enjoying his new position of power.

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