Support was one thing. If MKK fell into a losing position, withdrawal was always an option, one every group involved reserved the right to choose. But Millie’s certainty suggested she had already crossed that line. With Myron present, it was clear they shared the same resolve. The Elliott Group, after all, had already made its choice.

“I’ve uncovered the truth surrounding my father’s death,” Millie said, extending another file across the table.

Brandon accepted it at once, without question.

She watched him closely. There was no attempt to veil the matter, no strategic hesitation. Millie was certain of one thing: whatever lay within those pages would not leave Brandon’s hands. Some trusts didn’t require reinforcement. This was one of them.

“The situation has shifted,” she said softly. “I’ve already spoken with Archie. The pressure point has moved.”

She proceeded to lay everything bare. SKR had long relied on backing from outside forces, and that support had always been a thorn, present, restrictive, unavoidable. MKK, on the other hand, was no fledgling enterprise. It had endured for decades, weathered storms, and carved out its own weight in the industry. Certain battles, she explained, didn’t even require their involvement.

If the Elliott Group and the Perez family aligned, they could still pull this off. Both families commanded global reach, their influence spanning continents. Neither had ever operated from the margins. Yet alliances of that scale demanded time, and time was a liability. The longer the process stretched, the more variables crept in: unforeseen shifts, sudden reversals, risks she couldn’t afford to overlook. And any domestic maneuver would inevitably draw the Watson Group into the fold. That was why Brandon was indispensable. Another force on their side wouldn’t merely stabilize the situation, it would accelerate it.

As Brandon turned to the final page, Millie lowered her eyes, her lashes casting faint shadows against her cheeks. She and Myron had discussed this conversation at length. They had debated who should speak, who would carry the weight of the request. In the end, Millie had chosen to do it herself. She trusted Myron completely, yet some battles she had to fight alone. This was her matter to raise.

“I know corporate decisions are never simple,” she began. “There are interests, balances, consequences—”

She didn’t get to finish. Brandon closed the file and set it aside.

“There’s nothing to weigh,” he said evenly. Then, turning his attention to Myron, he asked, “What do you need from me?”

Millie pressed her lips together, watching him.

“MKK’s success aligns with Watson Group’s interests,” Myron said.

Brandon turned his attention to Myron as the latter detailed the operational specifics. When he finished, Brandon spoke again. “Profit distribution.” He paused briefly. “I want Eldoria and the surrounding region.”

Myron met his gaze without flinching. “Agreed,” he replied.

The message was unmistakable. This was not charity, nor a favor. It was a partnership, one forged between equals.

Only then did Brandon turn back to Millie.

“Don’t overthink this,” he said quietly. “Millie, I once made you a promise.”

Years ago, he had sworn he would stand by her on this matter, no matter the cost.

“I’m merely honoring that promise,” he continued.

.

.

.