Under the morning sun, Hudson Industries' soaring glass facade gleamed like a testament to aspiration. More than just a headquarters, it was a legacy that Michael Hudson had been born into, molded by, and ultimately brutally precisely commanded. It was tucked away in the center of the city.
Michael stood by the window of the penthouse office, his keen eyes sweeping the skyline of the city. Wearing an obsidian-black Armani suit, he appeared to be the powerful, calm, and untouchable billionaire CEO that he was. Yet beneath the layers of silk, steel, and status was a man grappling with something no business deal could fix.
He was getting married today.
As though letting go of even a small amount of emotion would cause the armor he had worn for years to break, he exhaled slowly, almost cautiously. Stock reports, board approvals, mergers, and a thousand other things demanded his attention, but today they were all irrelevant. Not with Heather Parker, the woman he had loved since their college days, just hours away from becoming his wife.
Michael never thought of himself as romantic. Others made foolish love decisions, but he weighed risk and reward and built his life on efficiency, control, and reason. Heather, however, had altered that. The only unpredictability he had ever allowed into his life was her.
His cell rang. His assistant texted him.
"At eleven, the car will be ready. There is a complete lockdown on the cathedral. The press won't approach it."
It would be, of course. Michael Hudson avoided chaos in both his business and personal life.
Still, like the slight tremor before an earthquake, a silent doubt hung in his chest. He dismissed it as nerves. Wasn't he getting married to the woman he loved?
His best friend and best man, Henry Whitlock, entered behind him with two steaming coffee cups as the door creaked open.
I assumed you would require this. As he handed one over, Henry spoke. "It's a big day. Are you anxious?
Michael accepted the cup and smiled slightly. "Should I be?"
Henry laughed. You're going to entrust your future, wealth, and reputation to someone else. Yes, it would be normal to feel a little nervous.
However, Michael Hudson did not fit the definition of normal. Michael was bred for legacy, having been raised by a mother who prepared him for high society and a father who viewed emotions as liabilities. The Hudson name served as the foundation for everything he constructed, including hostile acquisitions and restless nights.
If there was no one to pass it on to, however, none of that mattered.
In a low voice, almost to himself, Michael remarked, "Marriage isn't just about legacy. It all comes down to picking a companion to walk with you. Through it all."
Henry's eyebrows went up. "Did you suddenly become sentimental about me?"
The corner of Michael's mouth quirked as he grinned. "Avoid growing accustomed to it."
Michael experienced hope, something he hadn't felt in years, as the city was illuminated by the golden morning light. He would finally have a future he wouldn't have to face alone today, something that even billions of dollars couldn't purchase.
He had no idea that everything would collapse in a matter of hours.