Chapter 255: At The Absolute Top
The EC Consortium Headquarters stood like the crown jewel of Dominion City.
It was not simply a company building anymore, and nobody in the world still described it with words as ordinary as headquarters. The structure itself had become something close to a landmark, something people visited just to stand outside and take pictures, something students mentioned in schools when speaking about human achievement after the Sovereign War.
The tower rose high into the sky with layers of reflective alloy glass stretching upward like silver rivers under the afternoon sun. Massive holographic displays moved around the outer walls showing company reports, world development projects, industrial achievements, environmental recovery programs, medical innovations, and the countless sectors that the EC Consortium had conquered during the past ten years.
Ten years.
An entire decade had passed.
And during those ten years, the company Jayden once started with little more than determination and a dream had grown into the greatest business force humanity had ever seen.
There was no country that did not have an EC branch.
No major industry where EC was absent.
No market where its influence could not be felt.
Technology. Engineering. Energy. Healthcare. Transportation. Artificial intelligence. Construction. Global logistics. Defense production. Satellite networks. Agriculture.
Infrastructure. Financial systems.
Mechanical development.
Everything...
The company had stretched its hands across the world and somehow managed to dominate all of it.
And the person standing at the center of that empire was Sabrina Jonah.
Her office occupied the uppermost executive floor of the headquarters.
The room itself was enormous, but unlike what many people imagined, it was not overly luxurious. Sabrina preferred order over extravagance. The office carried elegance, yes, but it was the elegance of someone who worked, someone who spent countless nights staring at reports and leading meetings until dawn.
Several floating screens hovered before her as she stood near the central table.
Numbers moved continuously.
Profit projections. Factory outputs. Mechanical deployment schedules. International trade agreements. Research developments. Space observation reports.
All of them moved beneath her calm gaze.
One of the directors standing nearby cleared his throat.
"CEO Sabrina, the quarterly production results from the Mechanical Division have arrived."
"Show them."
The screen shifted instantly.
A large chart appeared.
Mechanical Production Department. Northern Engineering Base. Central Manufacturing Zone. Southern Robotics Facility. International Assembly Centers.
The numbers were enormous.
Output had exceeded expectations again.
Industrial mechs. Civil construction units. Medical assistance machines. Infrastructure systems. Support drones. Transport modules.
Even specialized defense equipment.
Everything had increased.
Sabrina folded her arms quietly while studying it.
"How much growth?"
"Twelve point four percent over projections."
"And efficiency?"
"Ninety six percent."
She nodded slowly.
"Good. Continue expansion planning."
Another screen appeared.
Technology Department.Consumer electronics. Quantum communication systems. Global network maintenance. AI infrastructure. Medical processors. Orbital satellite synchronization.
Again...
The numbers were ridiculous.
Billions.
Then more billions.
Then even more.
At some point money itself had become difficult to understand.
The EC Consortium no longer chased profit.
Profit chased it.
One of the managers smiled.
"The global market share is still increasing."
Sabrina looked at him.
"Expected."
He laughed awkwardly.
Nobody argued. Because it was true, and expected. That was simply what happened now. Success had become normal.
Her phone suddenly vibrated lightly on the table.
Sabrina turned.
The moment she saw the caller name, her expression softened slightly.
"Jayden."
It was "Boss" on the contact, but she just had to call his name because that’s what sounded better.
The others noticed immediately.
"Continue the reports without me," she said quietly.
Everyone nodded and exited.
The office became silent.
Only then did Sabrina answer.
"Hello."
On the other side came Jayden’s familiar voice.
"How’s the empire doing?"
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"You call every few days and still ask that question."
"I like hearing the answer."
She walked slowly toward the glass wall overlooking Dominion City.
The city stretched endlessly below.
Cars moved.
Air lanes remained busy.
People filled the streets.
Life everywhere.
"The Mechanical Production Department exceeded targets again," she began slowly. "Northern facilities increased output after the infrastructure agreement with Icelandia."
Jayden listened quietly.
"The engineering bases are operating smoothly. Construction units for overseas deployment have already been completed."
"How many?"
"Eight thousand units."
There was silence.
Then Jayden laughed softly.
"I remember when making ten machines felt impossible."
"You nearly passed out from excitement."
"I still deny that story."
"You absolutely did."
Jayden sighed.
"Continue."
"The Technology Department is stable. Medical innovations are being distributed internationally now. Communication systems expanded again last month."
She turned from the window.
"The orbital observation program is also progressing."
That part caught his attention.
"Charlotte will be happy."
"She already demanded copies."
Jayden chuckled.
"Sounds like Charlotte."
"The energy sector crossed another milestone too. Revenue growth remains steady."
"How much?"
Sabrina looked toward the screen again.
"Combined reports?"
"Yes."
"Several hundred billion."
Silence.
Long silence.
Finally Jayden spoke.
"That number still sounds insane."
"It became normal."
"No."
He corrected immediately.
"It became possible because you carried it."
Sabrina froze slightly.
Her fingers slowly tightened around the phone.
Jayden continued speaking casually, completely unaware of what his words were doing.
"You handled everything when I couldn’t."
She lowered her eyes.
"You stayed when things were ugly."
Her breathing slowed.
"You protected the company while I handled everything else."
Silence. Real silence...
The kind that sat quietly between people.
Sabrina looked outside again.
Ten years...
Ten whole years.
Meetings. Late nights. Growth. Success.
Standing beside him. Watching him. Supporting him. Keeping everything moving.
And carrying feelings she never managed to say aloud.
Her voice became quieter.
"Jayden."
"Hmm?"
"There’s something I want to tell you."
His tone changed immediately.
"What happened?"
"Nothing bad."
"Company problem?"
"No."
"Business?"
"No."
"Then what?"
Sabrina remained quiet for several seconds.
The city reflected in her eyes.
"I want to say it face to face."
Now even he became silent.
Longer silence.
"You’re making me curious."
A tiny smile appeared.
"Maybe you should be."
"Sabrina..."
"Hmm?"
"It sounds serious."
"Maybe it is."
Another pause followed.
Then he sighed lightly.
"Alright."
Her eyes lifted.
"I’ll send transport."
"You don’t have to."
"I’m still sending it."
She smiled properly this time.
"Fine."
"Come to the island."
"Okay."
"And Sabrina?"
"Yes?"
He hesitated.
Only slightly.
"Everything’s alright, right?"
Her heart moved a little.
"Yes."
That answer came softly.
"Everything is alright."
The call ended, and silence returned again. The office suddenly felt bigger than before.
Sabrina slowly lowered the phone. Her reflection stared back at her from the glass.
She looked composed. Successful. Confident.
The CEO of the biggest company in human history.
Yet inside...
Her heart felt strangely nervous.
Meanwhile...
Far away at the Presidential Island.
Jayden stood alone outside near the ocean side pathway after ending the call.
The evening breeze moved gently around him while distant waves crashed below the cliffs.
His brows slowly furrowed.
Everything with the company was fine.
Mechanical production was stable.
Technology was progressing.
Profits were ridiculous.
Global trade remained excellent.
Nothing was wrong.
So why did she want to speak in person?
He placed the phone back into his pocket slowly.
"What would she want to tell me that would warrant us seeing face to face?"
He remained standing there.
Thinking.
Curious.
Even slightly bothered.
Because Sabrina was not someone who made mysterious requests.
She was direct.
Practical.
Professional.
If she wanted to say something privately...
Then it had to matter. And strangely enough...
For the first time in a while... Jayden found himself waiting.
