The room hums with quiet tension as Hezri’s inner circle assembles—each woman a carefully sculpted instrument of his empire. The air carries the sterile scent of antiseptic undercut by expensive perfume, the whir of medical equipment a muted backdrop to the power py about to unfold.
Hezri stands by the floor-to-ceiling window, backlit by the city’s skyline, his silhouette a bde against the glow. His voice, when it comes, is velvet wrapped around steel.
A pause. Eyes flicker—Maya’s calcuting, Lena’s guarded, Sara’s attentive. Elise kneels at his side, her posture a perfect curve of submission, fingers ced over her thigh. The others note it. She’s already been broken in.
Hezri announced:
"Effective immediately, Elise Carter will serve as Chief Strategy Officer. Her mind is now an extension of my will. You will treat her authority as you would mine."
A ripple of reactions:
Maya’s manicured nails tighten around her tablet. She was supposed to be next in line.
Lena exhales through her nose, mentally adjusting the books. Another asset to account for.
Alicia smirks, running a hand through her hair. At least this one’s prettier than Lakyus.
Sophie adjusts her gsses, already drafting legal safeguards. Conditioning or not, bckmail dossiers are leverage.
Britney stiffens, jaw clenching. He picked her? After everything?
Elise rises, smooth as a knife unsheathed. The ghost of her old defiance lingers in the arch of her brow—but when she speaks, it’s with chilling serenity.
Elise:
"Our purpose is purity. Not just in wealth, but in hierarchy." Her gaze sweeps the room. "You’ll find obedience… liberating."
Hezri’s thumb grazes her chin, a silent reward. The message is clear:
This is what happens to ambition when it’s repurposed.
Li Vane (muttering to Renner)
"Brainwashed or not, she’s still a viper."
HEZRI (smiling)
"Precisely why she’s perfect."
The women disperse—some jealous, some wary, all acutely aware of the new power dynamic. As the door clicks shut, Elise sinks back to her knees, lips parting even before Hezri’s hand tangles in her hair.
The empire sharpens its tools.
A beat of silence. Eyes flicker—some calcuting, some resentful, all acutely aware of the shift in power.
Elise steps forward, her posture poised between elegance and submission. There’s no trace of the broken politician she once was—only the cold precision of a weapon reforged.
HEZRI (cont’d)
"Elise. Assess them."
A slow smile curls on her lips as she turns to face the others.
ELISE'S EVALUATION
1. Maya Reynolds (Marketing & Business Development Director)
Elise’s gaze lingers on her, amused.
"Maya. The empire’s polished face. You network with elites, but you still think like a banker. Bckstone taught you to chase numbers—not build dynasties."
She tilts her head. "You resent me for this promotion. Good. Use that hunger. Just remember—your ambition belongs to him now."
2. Lena Cho (Financial Controller)
A dismissive flick of Elise’s fingers.
"Lena. The silent ledger-keeper. You under money like a virtuoso, but you still flinch when Hezri looks at you too long."
A cold smirk. "You fear corruption charges more than you fear him. That’s a problem."
3. Alicia Voss (Sales Director)
Elise’s eyes rake over her with detached approval.
"Alicia. The velvet trap. You sell cars, but your real talent is selling illusions. Men leave your showroom thinking they got a deal, when really, they just got closer to us."
She leans in slightly. "But don’t confuse seduction with strategy."
4. Sara Croft (Operations Director)
A slow, assessing once-over.
"Sara. The divorced socialite turned fixer. You think your café is just a front, but you like pying hostess a little too much."
A sharp smile. "Loyalty isn’t serving tea to politicians. It’s burning their files when Hezri says to."
5. Sophie Cheung (Legal Director)
Elise’s voice drops, almost pyful.
"Sophie. The razor in the dark. You draft contracts like poetry, but you still hesitate when the w bends too far."
A pause. "You’ll learn. Or you’ll break."
6. Dr. Lakyus (Chief of Surgical Operations)
A clinical stare.
"Lakyus. The butcher in silk. You patch up wounds and pretend that makes you clean."
Her voice hardens. "But we both know what happens on your operating table when Hezri gives the order."
7. Renner (General Manager of Nursing)
A dismissive gnce.
"Renner. The quiet eraser. You think discretion is your virtue, but it’s just cowardice in a designer dress."
A cold ugh. "You’ll speak up when he tells you to."
8. Li Vane (Political Activist)
Elise’s eyes narrow.
"Li. The pretty revolutionary. You rally crowds like a puppet, but you still believe your own speeches."
A mocking tilt of the head. "One day, Hezri will ask you to burn those halls you love so much. And you’ll do it with a smile."
9. Britney Ivanov (Fitness Trainer)
A slow, predatory grin.
"Britney. The one who still thinks she has a choice."
She steps closer, voice a whisper. "You train his body, but you ache to be in my pce. Pathetic."
HEZRI (soft, commanding)
"Now. Respond."
A beat of silence. Then—
1. Maya Reynolds (Marketing & Business Development Director)
Maya’s polished facade cracks for just a second—her fingers twitch against her tablet. Then she exhales through her nose and lifts her chin.
"I don’t resent you, Elise. I respect efficiency. And if Hezri says you’re Second, then you’re Second."
A pause. A calcuted smile. "But dynasties aren’t built on assessments alone. Let’s see what you do with that authority."
2. Lena Cho (Financial Controller)
Lena’s expression doesn’t change, but her knuckles whiten around her Birkin strap.
"I don’t flinch at Hezri. I adjust. That’s why the money flows where it needs to."
Her voice drops, icy. "And if you ever imply again that I’m not fully committed, we’ll see who really fears what."
3. Alicia Voss (Sales Director)
Alicia barks out a ugh, tossing her hair.
"Oh, Elise. You say ‘seduction’ like it’s a weakness."
She steps forward, hips swaying just slightly. "Men leave my showroom thinking they won. Women leave knowing I did. Sounds like strategy to me."
4. Sara Croft (Operations Director)
Sara’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes.
"I burn what needs burning. But you’re right—I do enjoy the tea."
She tilts her head. "You should come by the café sometime. I’ll make you something… special."
5. Sophie Cheung (Legal Director)
Sophie adjusts her gsses, unfazed.
"The w doesn’t ‘bend.’ It’s rewritten. And I’m very good at revisions."
A thin smile. "But I appreciate the… motivation."
6. Dr. Lakyus (Chief of Surgical Operations)
Lakyus doesn’t blink.
"Clean is a retive term. My job is to keep things functioning. Yours is to justify the mess."
A slow smirk. "We both serve.
7. Renner (General Manager of Nursing)
Renner’s lips press into a tight line.
"Discretion isn’t cowardice. It’s survival."*
Her voice drops to a whisper. "And I’ve erased more than you’ll ever know."
8. Li Vane (Political Activist)
Li’s fists clench, but her voice is steady.
"I’ll burn every hall if Hezri asks. But don’t confuse belief with utility."
A sharp grin. "The crowds believe me. That’s what matters."
9. Britney Ivanov (Fitness Trainer)
Britney’s face flushes, but she steps forward, shoulders squared.
"I don’t ache for anything. I earn my pce."
Her voice shakes, just slightly. "And I’m not the one on my knees."
HEZRI (ughs softly, cpping once)
"Good. Very good."
He walks forward, running a hand through Elise’s hair possessively.
"Elise pushes. You push back. That’s how we sharpen each other."
Elise tilts her head, her gaze sweeping over each woman like a predator assessing prey. A slow, knowing smile curls on her lips.
ELISE'S COUNTER-RESPONSES
To Maya:
"A diplomatic answer. You’re still hedging, still pying the corporate game. But Hezri doesn’t need diplomats—he needs conquerors. Prove you can be more than just the ‘face’ of this empire."
To Lena:
"Ah, the icy financier shows her teeth. Good. But remember—loyalty isn’t just moving money. It’s bleeding for the cause. Let’s see if you can spill more than just ink."
To Alicia:
"Oh, Alicia. You mistake my meaning. Seduction is power—but only if you control it. Right now, you still think the game is yours. One day, Hezri will remind you who really holds the leash."
To Sara:
"Careful, Sara. That almost sounded like a threat. But you’re right—I should visit your café. Maybe I’ll audit the books while I’m there. See what else you’ve been… burning."
To Sophie:
"Rewriting the w? Now that’s the spirit. But don’t just revise the rules, Sophie—erase them. That’s how real power works."
To Lakyus:
"Spoken like a true surgeon. Cold, precise, and utterly detached. Just remember—scalpels can be turned against their wielders. Stay sharp."
To Renner:
"Survival is the bare minimum, Renner. Hezri doesn’t reward survivors. He rewards weapons. Decide which one you are."
To Li:
"Utility over belief? Smart girl. But don’t underestimate the power of faith. Even yours can be… redirected."
To Britney:
"Oh, Britney. Still so desperate to prove you belong. Kneeling isn’t weakness—it’s choice. And you? You’re still waiting for permission."
HEZRI (amused, stroking Elise’s cheek)
"Perfect."
His gaze sweeps over the room, lingering on each woman in turn.
HEZRI (leaning back, fingers steepled)
"Let me be clear. Skill can be taught. Loyalty can be earned. But beauty?" His gaze sweeps over them, slow, deliberate. "That is non-negotiable. Every one of you was chosen because you turn heads, because you make men weak, because you are—quite simply—exquisite."
A beat. Some of the women shift, some straighten, some flush—each reacting in their own way.
HEZRI (to Elise, amused)
"Now. Tell them."
Elise rises gracefully, her hips swaying as she circles the room like a panther assessing her pride.
ELISE'S ASSESSMENT: SEX APPEAL
1. Maya Reynolds (Marketing & Business Development Director)
Elise stops in front of her, tilting her head. "Maya. The corporate goddess. Legs for days, that razor-sharp bob, the way you command a room without even trying. You know exactly how to make a man feel like he’s the only one in it—until he realizes he never was." A smirk. "You could sell sand in a desert, darling. And they’d thank you for it."
2. Lena Cho (Financial Controller)
Elise traces a finger along Lena’s colrbone. "Lena. The ice queen. That porcein skin, those delicate wrists, the way you bite your lip when you’re concentrating. Men want to crack you open like a vault. And the best part? You let them think they can."
3. Alicia Voss (Sales Director)
Alicia meets her gaze, defiant. Elise ughs. "Alicia. The Ferrari herself. That body was built for sin, and you know it. The way you lean over a car hood, the way your skirt rides up just enough—you don’t sell cars. You sell fantasies."
4. Sara Croft (Operations Director)
Elise cups Sara’s chin. "Sara. The socialite with a bite. That honey-blonde hair, those doe eyes—you look so sweet, so harmless. Until they see the fire behind them. You’re the girl next door… if the girl next door knew how to ruin a man with a smile."
5. Sophie Cheung (Legal Director)
Elise adjusts Sophie’s gsses, her voice dropping. "Sophie. The forbidden fruit. That stern facade, those prim skirts—you’re every powerful man’s secret fantasy. The one who could destroy him with a word… if she ever bothered to notice him at all."
6. Dr. Lakyus (Chief of Surgical Operations)
Elise traces the line of Lakyus’ b coat. "Lakyus. The untouchable healer. That cold precision, those steady hands—men want to be your patient, just to feel your touch. They’d let you cut them open if it meant you’d look at them twice."
7. Renner (General Manager of Nursing)
Elise tugs pyfully at Renner’s ponytail. "Renner. The quiet storm. That crisp uniform, that no-nonsense stride—you’re the nurse every man dreams of in his fevered fantasies. Strict, clinical… until you’re not."
8. Li Vane (Political Activist)
Elise grips Li’s chin. "Li. The revolutionary seductress. That fiery passion, that righteous anger—men want to tame you. And the moment they try? You burn them alive."
9. Britney Ivanov (Fitness Trainer)
Elise eyes Britney’s toned frame. "Britney. The unattainable prize. That body, that strength—you’re the fantasy they can’t have. And nothing drives a man crazier than knowing he’ll never be worthy."
ELISE'S CRITIQUES
1. Maya Reynolds
"Stop relying on designer bels to do the work for you. That Prada dress? Gorgeous. But you wear it like armor instead of a second skin. Loosen up. Let them see you're not always in control."
2. Lena Cho
"Your 'ice queen' act is getting predictable. Men want to melt you, not chip away forever. Try smiling when you're calcuting. Let them think they're the exception."
3. Alicia Voss
"You're too obvious. That body is a weapon, not a battering ram. Stop posing against cars like a catalog model. Lean back. Make them come to you."
4. Sara Croft
"That sweet girl act works... for now. But innocence only gets you so far. Let the mask slip sometimes. A too-long touch. A whispered secret. Give them whipsh."
5. Sophie Cheung
"Stop hiding behind those gsses. You think they make you look serious? They make you look afraid. Take them off slowly sometime. Watch how they stare."
6. Dr. Lakyus
"You py the detached professional too well. A surgeon's hands should be steady—but they should also make people wonder how they'd feel elsewhere."
7. Renner
"That uniform is wasted on you. Stop standing so straight. A slouch against the doorway. A tired sigh. Let them see you're human."
8. Li Vane
"Anger is sexy. Uncontrolled anger is amateurish. Channel that fire. Make them think they're the only one who sees your softer side."
9. Britney Ivanov
"You try too hard. All those tight outfits and perfect curls? Desperation isn't attractive. Try showing up messy once. Sweaty. Real."
He steps forward, running a possessive hand down Elise's back.
"Elise doesn't criticize to insult you. She criticizes because she sees your potential."
A slow, dangerous smile.
Here are the internal monologues of each woman after receiving Elise's cutting critiques, each revealing their vulnerabilities, ambitions, and dark determination to perfect their allure:
Maya Reynolds
(Leaning against the elevator mirror, reapplying lipstick with shaky hands)
"Armor? Of course it's armor. They'd eat me alive otherwise. But...what if I let the straps slip? Just once? That investor st week - I saw how he looked when I 'accidentally' spilled wine on my blouse. Maybe Elise is right. Controlled vulnerability could be...powerful."
Lena Cho
(Staring at her reflection in a darkened office window)
"A smile during the wire transfers? Laugh at their stupid jokes while moving their dirty money? I spent years building this untouchable image...but untouchable means unapproachable. Maybe a thawed gcier is more dangerous than a frozen one. Men drown in melted ice."
Alicia Voss
(Running fingers along the hood of a Ferrari, rethinking her stance)
"Make them come to me... She's not wrong. Why chase commissions when I could have them begging to be overcharged? That senator st month practically drooled when I 'accidentally' dropped my keys. Less posing, more...inviting. Let them think it's their idea."
Sara Croft
(Twirling a lock of honey hair around her finger at the café bar)
"Innocence gets old fast in this world. But calcuted slips... Hezri's Russian contact st week - his pupils dited when I 'innocently' brushed against him while 'clumsily' serving tea. Maybe Elise sees what I've been afraid to admit: pying naive only works if they think they're corrupting you."
Sophie Cheung
(Removing her gsses slowly, watching the boardroom's reaction)
"These were always a shield. Without them...that junior partner actually stuttered today when I made direct eye contact. Elise wants me weaponizing my vision instead of hiding behind lenses. Fine. Let them drown in eye contact they can't escape."
Dr. Lakyus
(Sanitizing her hands with unnecessary force after surgery)
"Detached professionalism kept me alive in war zones. But now...that resident's reaction when I 'accidentally' grazed his hand during instrument passing... Elise is right. A surgeon's precision can be just as devastating outside the OR."
Renner
(Redoing her ponytail with deliberate sloppiness in the nurse's station)
"Twenty years of perfect posture and now I'm supposed to slouch? But...the anesthesiologist did linger when I sighed over charts yesterday. Maybe exhaustion can be seductive. Let them see the cracks - they'll try to fill them."
Li Vane
(Practicing smiles in a campaign office mirror)
"Channel the fire? They want softness? Fine. I'll give them molten gold instead of open fmes. That reporter would've printed anything yesterday if I'd 'let my guard down' just once. Controlled burns leave deeper scars anyway."
Britney Ivanov
(Stripping off her perfect workout gear in the locker room)
"Trying too hard? Fuck her. But...that new client did stare longer when I was drenched in sweat after deadlifts. Maybe perfect hair is less interesting than messy reality. Next training session with Hezri...no touch-ups. Let him see the raw product."
Each monologue ends with the woman's signature move - Maya's lipstick snap, Lena's ledger entry, Alicia's key turn in an ignition - now performed with new, dangerous awareness. The suite's security cameras capture it all, feeding to Hezri's tablet as he smiles at Elise: "They're learning."
