The Omnipotent System

Grand Crown Hotel – Private Lounge

The soft hum of conversation filled the private lounge, a secluded area of the Grand Crown Hotel reserved for high-profile meetings. The lighting was warm but subtle, casting golden hues over the polished marble table and leather seats. A few men and women sat around, dressed in tailored suits and designer watches, engaged in quiet discussions over expensive whiskey and coffee.

At the center of the group sat Mr. Alistair.

Early forties. Sharp suit, silver watch, well-groomed. He had the kind of presence that made people sit up a little straighter when he spoke. His dark eyes scanned over a document as he leaned back, nodding to one of his associates.

The atmosphere shifted slightly when Adams and Jack walked in.

Their presence was impossible to ignore.

Adams moved like a king in his own domain—calm, composed, completely unbothered by the weight of the room. Jack, walking slightly behind, kept his hands in his pockets, his usual playful smirk replaced with something more neutral.

One of Alistair's men, a sharp-eyed businessman in a navy-blue suit, noticed them first. He leaned in, whispering something to Alistair, who lifted his gaze and studied the approaching pair with quiet interest.

Adams reached the table and stopped.

Jack, ever the impatient one, looked at Alistair and tilted his head. "This him?"

Alistair arched an eyebrow.

Adams ignored Jack and offered a slight nod. "Mr. Alistair, I assume."

Alistair set his drink down, his sharp gaze locking onto Adams'. "And you must be the man interested in our property."

Adams pulled out a chair and sat down smoothly, his suit barely creasing as he leaned back. Jack remained standing behind him, arms crossed.

Alistair glanced at his business partners, then gave Adams a small, polite smile. "I have to admit, I was a little surprised when I heard someone was interested in buying that building. It's prime real estate, but it's been sitting on the market for a while. Not many people willing to invest."

Adams met his gaze, unfazed. "That's because they lack vision."

A flicker of intrigue passed through Alistair's eyes.

One of the men sitting beside him chuckled, adjusting his tie. "Big words."

Adams didn't respond. He just reached into his inner pocket, pulled out a sleek black folder, and slid it across the table.

Alistair opened it. Inside was a detailed proposal.

Jack, standing behind Adams, watched as Alistair and his people skimmed through the documents. "Everything's in there," Jack said lazily. "The offer, the plans, the financials. No nonsense."

Alistair's expression remained unreadable as he flipped through the pages.

After a long pause, he closed the folder and leaned forward slightly, folding his hands together. "I'll be honest, Mr. Adams. This deal is unusual. People don't just walk in off the street and buy a high-rise in the middle of the city."

Adams gave a small, amused smile. "I'm not 'people.'"

The room went quiet for a second.

One of Alistair's associates, a woman in a fitted black suit, exhaled slowly. "What exactly do you plan to do with the building?"

Adams tapped a single finger against the table, his gaze steady. "Expand."

Alistair tilted his head. "Expand what?"

Adams leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table. His voice was calm, deliberate. "An empire."

Silence.

Then—

Alistair chuckled. A low, knowing sound.

"Well." He took a sip of his whiskey, setting the glass down with a quiet clink. "That's ambitious."

Jack grinned. "That's an understatement."

Alistair studied Adams for a long moment, then leaned back. "Your offer is strong. Very strong. But business isn't just about money. It's about trust. Relationships. I don't know you."

Adams didn't hesitate. "Then get to know me."

Alistair smirked. "That easy?"

Adams shrugged. "You'll learn soon enough that I always deliver."

One of the men at the table, an older gentleman with salt-and-pepper hair, exchanged a glance with Alistair before speaking. "You're offering full payment upfront. No financing, no investors. That's… rare."

Jack scoffed. "Rare for normal people."

Adams shot him a look, and Jack held up his hands in surrender.

Alistair drummed his fingers on the table. "And what guarantee do we have that you'll maintain the integrity of the location? This building has history. We don't just sell to anyone."

Adams' gaze darkened slightly.

"I'm not anyone."

The way he said it—calm, firm, absolute—sent a chill through the room.

Alistair exhaled slowly, studying Adams once more. Then, finally, he nodded.

"Alright," he said. "Let's talk numbers."

The conversation shifted into hard business.

Figures. Projections. Legalities.

Adams spoke with an effortless confidence, matching Alistair's pace with ease. Every counteroffer, every question, he had an answer. He wasn't just buying—he was owning the conversation.

Jack, for once, stayed quiet, watching with his usual lazy grin.

Alistair's team pushed back, questioning Adams' long-term goals, but he never wavered. His answers were sharp, to the point, and left no room for doubt.

By the time the discussion was wrapping up, the atmosphere had shifted.

Alistair leaned back, swirling the whiskey in his glass.

"You know," he mused, "I walked into this meeting expecting to shut you down."

Adams smirked. "And now?"

Alistair exhaled through his nose, setting his glass down. "Now, I'm considering signing."
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Jack grinned. "That's progress."

Alistair glanced at his team. A few exchanged looks, nodding slightly.

Finally, he turned back to Adams.

"One condition."

Adams raised an eyebrow.

Alistair leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "We finalize this over dinner. Tonight. You, me, my people. If I like what I hear, the deal's done."

Jack let out a low whistle. "Man likes his food."

Alistair smirked. "I like knowing who I'm doing business with."

Adams didn't hesitate.

"Fine," he said.

Alistair nodded, standing up. "Then let's eat."

As the meeting wrapped up, Adams stood, adjusting his cuffs once more.

Jack clapped his hands together. "Man, I love expensive food."

Adams shot him a look. "You're paying."

Jack froze. "Wait, what?"

Adams smirked and walked ahead, leaving Jack standing there, dumbfounded.

Alistair chuckled.

Something told him this wasn't going to be a normal business relationship.

And for some reason, that excited him.