95 Nancy Draconi
Do you know what occurred to when I was in the shower this evening?
It was the phrase, I was born early.
You know what I'm talking about. When soone asks if you're ready and you say, you're born ready.
Maybe it is my shower thoughts speaking but we're never actually born ready. It's not possible. Or maybe it is. But I know that if I had actually been born as Nico Voss and not transmigrated, I could have said I was born ready and it wouldn't have been a lie.
After all, I was born ready to take over my father's empire.
I'd had my first battle with the first step sister, Jenny, and it had been easy, relatively speaking. One thought provoking question and she was gone.
Just like that.
This ti, it definitely won't be that easy. Which was why I had spent so much ti preparing for this.
I don't know if this was heaven trying to give a chance to seal off a step sister from the family fortune or the universe trying to crush at this juncture but it was an opportunity all the sa.
And now, it was ti for to activate one of my weapons. A weapon I'd been cultivating since Pine Press, when Noah had pointed her out to .
Mrs. Nancy Draconi.
The sa woman who had ties to old New York banking money. Money that may co in handy later on. Or better yet, if I can't use it, Jasmine can't either.
I watched through the window, enjoying the view as my driver pulled up to the Pine Press Country Club.
While the Crownsborough branch was impressive, the Manhattan branch was much more… bigger? It certainly was grander.
It had those tall marble columns framing the entrance and the mont my car rolled to a stop, the valet opened my door with a bow that was as mass produced as a pair of slippers.
I stepped out and looked around the place. It definitely was impressive but I had to say that I was already used to the kind of luxury that was on display.
I mingled among the crowd, greeting those I knew and making new connections. I had a whole list of nas to morize now but there was only one na on my mind.
The sa woman who was respected in both the financial and social circles of this city. Her family's legacy was intertwined with the rise of Wall Street itself.
I'd begun cultivating a relationship with her back in Queensborough, knowing she could be a key player when I eventually made my move in New York. And here I am.
Eventually, I was inford and led through the lounge, into a private dining room where Nancy was waiting.
She sat at the round table, her posture impeccable and her hair pulled into a chignon. You know, one of those hairstyles where they wrap their hair at the back of their neck.
Dangling on her ears were erald earrings that I'm sure was more expensive than the food I'd been served.
"Nico." She greeted with a smile. "You've arrived."
"Mrs. Draconi." I said, inclining my head as I took the seat opposite her. "Thank you for the invitation."
"Call Nancy." She insisted, waving away my words. "After all, we're not strangers anymore."
I smiled. "Nancy it is, then."
A server appeared, pouring a vintage red into our glasses. We each took a sip before the conversation continued.
"I have to say, you're making waves, Nico." She said in amusent. "Sunset Inn, Walk Shop and now, Imperium Holdings. And here you are, dining with a woman whose family fortune was built long before tech was even a word."
"I believe it's because I value tradition as much as innovation." I replied with a fitting smile. "And because I know you, Nancy, understand the balance between the two."
She tilted her head, appraising . "Flattery suits you but let's not waste ti. I suspect you're here because of Apex."
"And you'd be correct." I admitted, leaning back in my chair. "I'm sure you've heard of the challenge that the chairman has issued. Only one sister will sit at the top."
"And what is it to you?" She asked with eyes that told she already knows the answer. "Who are you here to fight for?"
I gave her a smile, not denying it. "I personally believe that Jenny Voss has the vision to lead but she's being dealt an unfair hand as her sister, Jasmine's hold on the board complicates things."
Nancy leaned back in her chair, swirling her wine. A mont later, she spoke.
"You have to understand that Apex isn't just a mutual fund giant. It's one of the cornerstones of the New York financial market." She said, holding my gaze.
"And this is where you've gotten things wrong." Shetook a sip of her wine. "Jasmine's strength doesn't co from her boardroom tactics. No. It cos from the alliances she's built outside of it."
"Old money." I guessed.
"Precisely." Nancy smirked. "Families like mine. Banking dynasties, legacy investors, those who've been part of Apex's rise for decades. Jasmine knows how to keep them loyal. Jenny, on the other hand, doesn't. And that's her weakness."
"Unless we change that." I said pointedly. "Are you saying these families are untouchable or is there room to sway them?"
Nancy smiled in amusent. "Everyone can be swayed, Nico. It's a matter of knowing what they want. For so, it's power. For others, profit. And for a rare few, it's the preservation of a legacy."
"And Jasmine?" I asked. "How's she keeping them on her side?"
Her expression turned thoughtful. "She's clever, I'll give her that."
"She's aligning herself with the right people, painting herself as the heir who will ensure Apex's dominance in the modern era. But her alliances are brittle. They're based on necessity, not loyalty. The person they're loyal to is her mother, not her and she knows it."
"I see." I said, leaning forward. "Then we need to create opportunities where Jenny becos the obvious choice, not just to the board but to those families."
Nancy's smile returned. "You have the right instincts, Nico. And you have . With both, you're guaranteed to win."
I grinned at her.
She tilted her head as if she could hear sothing I couldn't. "Let start by introducing you to soone."
As if on cue, the door opened and a familiar blue screen blinked into view in front of .
[Stamp holder detected.]
It's about damn ti!
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