Building a New Power
The club is alive with murmured conversations, the clinking of glasses, and occasional laughter. I grip the cool glass in my hand, scanning the room. Powerful men and women sit around the private booth—people who influence the world from the shadows. Tonight, I'm here to claim my place among them.
A sharp voice cuts through the smoke-filled air.
"Celeste, you've been making waves lately," says Remy Femd, a man with influence across three continents. He leans forward, studying me like a predator sizing up its prey.
I give him a slow, confident smile. "That's what happens when you stop asking for permission and start taking what's yours."
The group murmurs in response—some amused, others curious. This is a test. Every word is a move in a game of power. One wrong step, and I'll be crushed.
Across from me, Diana Alex swirls her wine, watching. "And what exactly is yours, Celeste?"
"Power," I say, leaning back. "And I plan to build it with the right people."
Some remain skeptical. I am still an outsider—a name whispered, but not yet respected. That's fine. Trust isn't given. It's taken.
Jovi, a brute with more scars than I can count, speaks up. "You talk big for someone new. What makes you think you deserve a seat at this table?"
I meet his stare, unflinching. "Because I've already started taking down those who doubted me."
Silence.
Then, a chuckle from Remy. "That, I'd like to see."
I don't need their approval, but I do need their support. And I know exactly how to get it.
"You all have the same question—can Celeste deliver? Let's stop talking and find out. There's an arms shipment arriving tomorrow. A buyer is willing to pay double. The problem? The current owner doesn't know he's about to lose it."
The air grows tense.
Diana tilts her head. "You want to hijack the shipment? Bold. Reckless. Dangerous. I like it."
Jovi grunts. "And stupid. There are easier ways to make a statement."
"Easier doesn't earn me a seat at this table," I counter. "I want more than scraps. I want the whole feast."
Remy watches me, intrigued. "If you pull this off, you'll have my attention."
A challenge. The only kind that matters in this world.
I rise from my seat. "Then watch closely, gentlemen. Because the game just changed."
---
The night air is cool as I step outside, my heart pounding—not with fear, but excitement. The thrill of the game, the risk, the danger—I live for this.
I slide into my car. My driver, Lani, catches my eye in the rearview mirror. "That went well."
"It's not over yet," I murmur, staring at the city lights. "Not until they know my name."
---
The docks are quiet, but the tension is thick. My team is in position. The shipment—high-grade weapons—sits in a warehouse with light security. They don't expect trouble. A mistake I won't make.
"Five guards. Two at the front, three patrolling," Lani whispers through my earpiece.
I smirk. "Let's make this quick."
Moving through the shadows, we strike fast. Silent. Deadly. The guards never stand a chance.
Minutes later, the warehouse is ours.
I step over an unconscious body, looking at the crates. "Open them."
The lids lift, revealing sleek weapons glinting under the dim light. A fortune is now in my hands.
"Load them up."
As my team moves, slow clapping echoes through the warehouse.
I spin, gun in hand.
Standing in the doorway is a man I didn't expect. Nelly Oriet.
"You always did have a way of making things interesting," he says, stepping forward with a grin.
My pulse spikes, but I keep my face calm. "You have a bad habit of showing up uninvited."
"And you have a habit of stealing from the wrong people," he replies. "That shipment belonged to someone important."
"Now it belongs to me."
Nelly chuckles. "They'll come for you, Celeste."
"Let them."
A pause. Then he tilts his head. "I could warn them. Or I could help you."
I narrow my eyes. "And what do you want in return?"
"A seat at your table."
A twist I didn't see coming.
Nelly is dangerous. Unpredictable. But valuable. A devil I might need on my side.
I decide in a heartbeat. "Fine. But betray me, and I'll bury you myself."
His grin is all sharp edges. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
As the last crate is loaded, I step outside, inhaling the crisp air. My heart races with the thrill of victory. Tonight, I didn't just steal weapons—I took my first real step toward power.
And this city? It's about to learn my name.
---
Back at the club, I slide into my seat across from Remy, Diana, and Jovi. I place my phone on the table, showing a photo of the shipment, now under my control.
Remy whistles. "Well, well. You might just be as dangerous as they say."
Diana smirks. "I think I like you, Celeste."
Jovi says nothing and just watches me with an unreadable expression.
Remy leans forward. "Welcome to the table."
A slow smile spreads across my lips.
I came to build power. And tonight, I claimed my first piece of the empire.
But this is only the beginning.