Monday morning began with a crisis at the Dalton conglomerate.
Henry Dalton, chairman of the board, had called an emergency meeting after a scandal involving his son, Kristoff, exploded across the internet over the weekend.
By the time the stock exchange opened that morning, the controversy had already begun to affect the company’s share price.
But before the meeting, Henry had summoned his son to his office for a private discussion.
Or rather, a scolding.
The previous day, Henry had already given Kristoff a piece of his mind. His wife, Mary, had been even less restrained, continuously nagging him.
"I told you that woman was trouble!" Mary had berated him, her voice rising with every word.
"Look at the mess you’re in now! People are cursing you online, dragging your name through the mud, and making a laughingstock of the Dalton family. Do you have any idea how much damage this scandal could cause?"
Kristoff had listened without interrupting.
"Dad, Mom, someone is deliberately fanning the flames," he said when his mother finally paused for breath. His voice was calm, almost indifferent, as though they were discussing an ordinary business transaction rather than a scandal threatening his reputation.
"Of course, someone is!" Henry snapped. "Our competitors are always looking for an opportunity to strike. And you’ve practically handed them a weapon!"
He let out an irritated snort.
"Don’t worry, Dad. I have everything under control."
Standing before the floor-to-ceiling windows of the chairman’s office, Kristoff gazed down at the congested streets below. The morning sun glinted off the glass towers surrounding the Dalton headquarters, while streams of vehicles crawled through the intersection far beneath him.
His posture was straight, his shoulders relaxed, and his expression unreadable.
He looked nothing like a man whose personal life had become the subject of a nationwide scandal.
Henry studied his son from behind his desk.
Kristoff had always possessed an unusual composure under pressure. Even as a young man, he approached problems with the cold precision of a seasoned executive.
In the past few months alone, he had delivered results that had exceeded expectations, outperformed several of his cousins, and strengthened his position within the conglomerate.
The Dalton Real Estate company which was at the bottom of the performance chart had suddenly climbed to the top.
How could an internet scandal possibly bring down someone like him?
Still, Henry couldn’t completely dismiss his uneasiness.
What if the person behind the attacks was more formidable than they realized?
Worse, what if the mastermind was someone within the Dalton family?
External enemies were one thing. They could be identified, investigated, and countered with money, influence, or a well-calculated business move.
Family was different.
A stranger might attack from the outside, but a family member knew exactly where to strike.
Henry’s thoughts drifted to his nephews and the other Dalton executives who headed the conglomerate’s various subsidiaries. Kristoff’s recent success had inevitably attracted attention. Could one of them have grown jealous enough to sabotage him?
No.
Henry dismissed the thought almost immediately.
The Daltons had always stood together. His father had been fair when dividing the family’s business empire among his children, ensuring that each branch had its own company to manage.
There was never any reason for his nephews to turn against Kristoff.
At least, that was what he wanted to believe.
"Do you know that the stock price dropped by two points when the market opened this morning?" Henry asked.
"I know."
"And you’re still telling me not to worry?"
Kristoff finally turned from the window.
"By noon, everything will be fine."
Henry narrowed his eyes. "You’re making a promise you had better be able to keep."
"Whoever is behind this must be feeling rather pleased with himself right now." A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Kristoff’s lips.
"I’ll let him enjoy that feeling for a few more hours."
Henry stared at him.
"Do you know who it is?"
"I do."
The certainty in his son’s voice made Henry pause.
Before he could ask another question, a knock sounded at the door.
Gracie, Kristoff’s secretary, appeared in the doorway. Impeccably dressed and carrying a tablet against her chest, she maintained the professional composure expected of someone who worked directly for the company’s president.
"Chairman, President, the emergency meeting is about to begin. Everyone is waiting in the boardroom."
"Let’s go," Kristoff said.
He adjusted the cuff of his suit and strode toward the door.
Henry followed, his expression growing serious.
Whatever his son had planned, he hoped Kristoff understood the stakes. The Dalton conglomerate was not merely a business empire. It represented decades of work, sacrifice, and carefully cultivated influence.
And today, the entire board would be watching to see whether Kristoff could protect it.
The boardroom was already buzzing when the father and son approached.
The heavy double doors was ajar, allowing the heated voices inside to spill into the corridor.
"His personal affairs are now affecting the entire company! How irresponsible can he be?"
"What about the preselling of the East Gateway project? Do you think buyers will remain confident if this scandal continues?"
"Every minute this drags on, we’re losing money. Someone needs to take responsibility!"
The major shareholders were the loudest.
Their investments were at risk, and none of them seemed particularly interested in hearing explanations. They wanted results, and they wanted them immediately.
Kristoff stopped just outside the entrance.
A cold smile appeared on his face.
Apparently, the meeting had already begun without him.
He pushed the door open.
The moment Henry and Kristoff entered, the boardroom fell silent.
Around the long mahogany table sat the company’s directors and major shareholders, their expressions ranging from barely concealed irritation to outright hostility.
Some exchanged uneasy glances. Others looked directly at Kristoff, as though they were waiting for him to offer an apology.
He gave them none.
"You were speaking so loudly that I could hear you from the corridor," Kristoff remarked as he walked toward his seat.
"I hope you have something equally important to say now that I’m here."
Several people stiffened.
One of the shareholders cleared his throat.
"President Dalton, we’re concerned about the potential consequences of this scandal. What happens if the public decides to boycott our products and services?"
Kristoff pulled out his chair but did not sit down immediately.
His gaze settled on the speaker.
"Mr. Ascott, if you’re worried about your investment, you’re welcome to sell your shares."
John Ascott’s brows rose.
Kristoff continued, his tone as casual as if he were discussing the weather.
"I’ll buy them."
A collective gasp swept through the boardroom.
John Ascott was the third-largest shareholder in Dalton Realty. His holdings were substantial, and acquiring them would require an enormous amount of capital.
Did Kristoff actually have enough liquid assets to make such a purchase?
Or was he bluffing?
For a moment, the old man’s weathered face remained motionless. Then his expression twisted, deepening the lines around his mouth and eyes.
"Young man, do you have any idea what you’re saying?"