THE WEIGHT OF POWER
(Eyes watching)
Shadow_vee
Damien Kuiver came down from his car and stepped into the Kuiver Group headquarters like the building itself belonged to his pulse.
Polished marble floors reflected his presence as he walked, tailored suit sitting perfectly on his broad frame every step was unhurried, deliberate. The air around him felt colder not because of the conditioning, but because of him.
Conversations died mid-sentence female employees straightened instinctively, breaths caught, eyes lingering just long enough to admire before snapping back to professionalism. Serious faces, flickers of flirtation hopeful glances,if only he could just pay attention to them.
He noticed none of it or rather he noticed, but didn't care.
By noon, he had a board meeting waiting but beefore that, interviews for a new PA.
His third personal assistant this month had resigned two days ago emotional exhaustion, she had said he hadn't bothered asking what she meant.
The first applicant entered.
Too eager.
Too loud.
She spoke rapidly, overdressed as if attending a gala instead of an interview. Damien listened for barely a minute before cutting her off.
"You're nervous," he said coolly. "And you talk too much,is this an appropriate dress for a interview?"
Her face fell.
"Thank you for coming. You may leave."
The second applicant smiled too often.
The third avoided eye contact.
The fourth tried to impress him with exaggerated confidence and unnecessary flattery.
Do they think charm replaces competence? he mused dryly.
Each interview ended the same way short, efficient, merciless.
By the fifth candidate, irritation crept in. He glanced briefly at his watch.
10:47 a.m.
Another woman entered, her outfit professional but forgettable. She answered his questions correctly too correctly. Like rehearsed lines.
"You memorized answers," he said flatly. She blinked. "I..."
"You're dismissed."
The door closed behind her.
At exactly 11:00 a.m., his manager leaned in quietly. "Sir, we're running out of time."
Damien leaned back in his chair, jaw tightening. "Send in the next one."
She entered with measured steps not rushed, not hesitant,calm. Her posture was straight, her expression composed not intimidated,not pretending.
Interesting.
She answered his questions thoughtfully, pausing when necessary, correcting herself once without embarrassment.
At least she thinks, he noted.
Still, something felt… off. Or rather, something felt distracting. She was attractive effortlessly but he dismissed the thought immediately.
No complications not here.
He closed the file and stood. "You'll hear from us."
She nodded, professional, and left without lingering.
Damien exhaled slowly and turned toward the glass wall overlooking the city.
Time was running out.
And patience even faster.
Damien walked into the boardroom two minutes late.Every eye turned instinctively to gaze at him,heads straightened,breaths caught. He didn't rush he didn't need to. Each step was measured, confident, unshakable like the building itself recognized his authority. By the time he reached the head of the table, all eyes had already registered him.
"You're late," his father said, calm but sharp.
Damien met his gaze evenly. "The meeting hadn't started without me."
A faint pause. No more words. His father gestured slightly, and the meeting began.
Damien might be the CEO, but scrutiny still followed him most of it coming from the man seated beside him. It irritated him more than any other thing because he knew his capabilities, his intellect. He could handle anything thrown his way but his father needed more than words he needed proof.
Reports came in:stocks, new projects on the horizon, internal restructuring, staff welfare,an possible expansion.
Then one of the older board members spoke, voice smooth. "A bold expansion some might call it… ambitious for a company under new leadership".
Damien leaned back slightly, fingers resting on the table. "Ambition is only dangerous when it lacks preparation," he said calmly. "Fortunately, this company has never suffered from poor groundwork."
A thin smile from the old man. "Confidence is admirable,experience however, is what sustains empires."
Damien's lips curved faintly. "And stagnation," he said,his voice calm again, "is what destroys them."
Silence.
His father glanced at him briefly, precise but it was enough a subtle nod, a quiet acknowledgment, and the conversation moved on.
Damien straightened in his chair, pulse steady staring at all of them with a natural look of dominance. The board could question him if they wished, but only one man in the room had the right and even that doubt would not last long he was going to prove to him that he could handle anything.
After the meeting the boardroom emptied one by one board members, assistants, and staff departing in orderly silence. Soon, only father and son remained.
His father's gaze held him. "When will you come home to visit?"
Damien didn't flinch. "I don't know yet."
"We need to talk."
"We don't have much to talk about."
"No. Something deeper."
Damien leaned back, eyes narrowing slightly. "Dad, I thought we were over that already."
"No. We are not."
A pause. Then his father softened, just enough to let it show. "Your mother misses you,your sisters too. They want to see you."
Damien remained silent.
"Your twin brother is returning soon," his father continued. "I want you all of you at home."
His father's voice was low, controlled, almost distant as if thinking back to the past. "For a home you grew up in I don't know what's chasing you?"
His father's eyes lingered, waiting.
Damien replied coolly, "You should know."