I stood at the window of my apartment, watching the morning light spread across Havenwood City. Today was the meeting at the No. 1 Grand Mansion—a gathering where Roman Volkov would officially select his partner for the herb company. Though everyone thought this meeting was about forming new business relationships, it was really about establishing who held true power in this city.
My phone buzzed with a message from Isabelle: "Remember what we discussed. You don't need to prove anything to anyone but yourself."
I smiled, recalling our conversation from the other night. Isabelle could have easily pulled strings to place me at the top of Havenwood's social hierarchy. She had the connections and resources to turn me into a prominent figure overnight. But she understood something crucial about me—I needed to forge my own path.
Another message arrived: "They'll underestimate you. Use it."
She was right. Being underestimated had become my greatest advantage.
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