Chapter 1
Marcus Gray leaned back in his leather chair, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the mahogany desk. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a golden halo around the silver streaks in his hair. The sixty-five-year-old tycoon surveyed his three sons—Edwin, Theo, and Luke—standing before him, aged thirty-five, thirty, and thirty-two respectively.
“Boys,” Marcus said, his voice deep and commanding, “I’m getting old. It’s time to think about succession.”
Edwin adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and stood stiffly; Theo had his hands tucked into the pockets of his tailored trousers, a smirk playing on his lips; Luke, meanwhile, leaned against the wall, looking thoroughly disinterested.
“I’ve decided to give each of you $100,000,” Marcus said, pulling three checks from his desk drawer. “You have one month to use this money to bring me something that will be worthmorein the future. Whoever does it best becomes the next CEO of Gray Enterprises.”
Edwin’s eyes gleamed behind his lenses. “Father, you mean… an investment?”
“I mean thefuture,” Marcus replied with a cryptic smile. “Remember, business isn’t just about numbers.”
A month later, the brothers stood before their father once more. Marcus’ gaze swept from eldest to youngest. “Well, boys. Show me what you’ve brought.”
Edwin stepped forward, carefully extracting a stack of papers from his briefcase. “Father, I chose the safest investment strategy—lending.” He proudly unfolded the documents. “I loaned the money to twelve of the most promising friends and business associates. These are their promissory notes, with a 15% annual interest rate.”
Marcus took the stack, raising an eyebrow. “Let’s see… Paul Richard borrowed twenty grand for restaurant expansion, Sarah Wu took fifteen for an art gallery… Interesting.” He looked up at his eldest. “You think these will be worth more in the future?”
“Absolutely!” Edwin declared. “This isn’t just interest-bearing debt—it’snetworking. When they succeed, I’ll be their first investor!”
Marcus gave a noncommittal nod before turning to Theo. “And you?”
Theo snapped his fingers. Two assistants wheeled in a small safe. He punched in the code, the door swung open, and inside gleamed—
“Gold, Father,” Theo said smugly. “All $100,000 converted to bullion. The most stable asset in history—inflation-proof, universally valued.”
Marcus picked up a bar, weighing it in his palm. “Solid…literalwealth. But gold prices fluctuate, don’t they?”
“Short-term noise,” Theo scoffed. “Long-term? Always up. I’ve already secured a Swiss vault.”
Marcus’ lips twitched. Finally, he turned to Luke, still slouched against the wall. “And my youngest? What did you bring?”
Luke straightened slowly, then reached behind his back—and pulled out something black—
“Agun?!” Edwin yelped, his glasses slipping.
Theo paled, stumbling back into the safe. “Luke, have you lost your damn mind?”
Luke grinned, leveling the weapon at his brothers. “Hand over your ‘investments.’”
“Father!” Edwin’s voice shook. “Stop him!”
But Marcus remained eerily calm, simply folding his hands on the desk. “Let him continue.”
Luke wiggled the barrel. “Edwin—the IOUs. Theo—the gold. Now.”
Edwin shakily surrendered the papers. Theo, scowling, slammed the safe shut and shoved it toward Luke.
Luke caught it one-handed, then suddenly burst out laughing—before turning the gun onhimselfand pulling the trigger—
A stream of water shot into his face.
