Chapter 3 Legacy on the brink

Adrian Sinclair penthouse, a vast and meticulously designed space high above the city, was usually filled with soft background noise most especially from his favorite orchestra, But this particular morning was different

As he opens his eyes to a new morning with a frown on his face he ruffles his hair and with a sigh picked up his phone

And then he saw it.

His screen was flooded with notifications. Missed calls. Messages. News alerts.

He unlocked the device, his sharp eyes scanning the headlines:

"Media Mogul Adrian Sinclair Accused of Sexual Assault!"

"Young Actress Amelia Carter Speaks Out Against Billionaire Entertainment CEO"

"Sinclair Empire in Crisis-Investors Pulling Out?"

His jaw clenched.ll

Then, before he could even process the damage, a call came through.

Ethan.

He let out a slow breath before answering. "Why exactly is my name all over the news."

"Uhm yeah... about that," Ethan's tone was lighter than the situation warranted, but Adrian could hear the underlying tension. "Not an absolute way to start your morning, huh?"

Adrian stood, already walking toward his bathroom. "I'll be at the office in thirty minutes. You'd better have answers by then."

He ended the call before Ethan could respond.

Whatever the hell was going on, he was going to handle it.

The Sinclair Media headquarters was a towering masterpiece of glass and steel, a beacon of power in the entertainment industry. As Adrian strode into the building, dressed in a crisp dark suit, his usual aura of authority preceded him.

But today, something was different.

The usual whispers and lingering gazes from employees weren't tinged with admiration or fear-they were laced with something else. Something sharper.

Disbelief. Speculation. Judgment.

Adrian ignored it, keeping his pace steady, and with his unreadable expression he walked further, the stares became heavier. Conversations hushed the moment he passed.

Adrian walked towards the elevator where he saw Ethan waiting for him, arms crossed, wearing his usual smirk which was subtle.

"Rough morning?" Ethan asked as they stepped inside.

"Funny how you could tell." Adrian blurted out in sarcasm. "What the hell is going on" He asked with a brief sigh.

Ethan rubbed the back of his neck. "Let's just say Amelia Carter didn't waste time making you public enemy number one."

"who the hell Amelia Carter?, I don't even know her." Adrian's eyes darkened.

"she sure as hell knows you." Ethan said

The elevator doors stopped at the executive floor as they both walked towards the sleek corridor.

Before Adrian could respond, Ethan added, "and also the board is waiting for you in the conference room. They do not look exactly thrilled."

Adrian scoffed. "Of course they're not."

Ethan clapped a hand on his shoulder as they walked toward the boardroom. "Hey, look on the bright side. At least they didn't call in the lawyers. Yet."

Adrian shot him a look, but Ethan only grinned.

With a deep breath, Adrian pushed open the conference room doors.

The boardroom was filled with a heavy tension the moment Adrian stepped inside.

The company's most powerful executives sat around the long glass table, their expressions ranging from concern to outright hostility. Sitting at the far end of the table was Adrian's father Richard Sinclair, his eyes pinned on his son.

Adrian closed the door behind him and moved to the front of the room. He didn't bother sitting.

"Let's hear it," he said, his voice steady.

One of the board members, Charles Whitmore, cleared his throat. "Adrian, I think you know why we called this meeting."

Adrian leaned against the table, arms crossed. "Enlighten me."

A different board member, Judith Palmer, frowned. "You've been accused of sexual assault by a young actress. The media is running wild with it, and investors are already pulling out."

Richard Sinclair finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. "This is not just about you, Adrian. It's about the company."

Adrian met his father's gaze. "You think I did it?"

Richard held his gaze for a moment before answering, "wgat I think doesn't matter. What matters right now what the world thinks."

Richard Sinclair, his father, leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his sharp gaze cutting through the silence. "You're bleeding credibility, Adrian," he said, his voice even, but heavy with authority. "The media's eating you alive. The investors-our investors-are already looking at alternative ventures most especially our rival, If you don't act fast, this company won't be yours much longer."

Adrian clenched his jaw. He wasn't a man easily shaken, but even he knew how dangerous this was. Sinclair Global wasn't just another entertainment empire; it was a dynasty built over decades, and the wrong move could send it crumbling.

Ethan, sitting beside him, shifted in his chair and let out a casual scoff. "So what? We make a few calls, throw money at the problem, and in a week, they'll move on to the next scandal. This industry has the attention span of a goldfish."

"That's where you're wrong," Richard countered. "This isn't just any scandal. You've been accused of the worst crime imaginable. Whether or not it's true doesn't matter right now-what matters is perception. And perception is costing us millions."

Adrian sighed, tilting his head back slightly. He had spent years cultivating his power, maintaining control over every aspect of his life. And now, because of one woman's lie, it was all unraveling.

"So what do you suggest?" Adrian finally asked, looking at his father.

Richard inclined forward, his brow furrowed. "We need to be in control of the narrative. Investors want stability, something to reassures them that you're still the man they trusted to lead this empire." He said as he tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "I have a proposition."

Adrian braced himself. He knew his father well enough to expect something drastic.

Richard's lips curled into a calculating smirk. "You need to shift the focus. The scandal is dominating headlines, and as long as you're playing defense, you're losing. We go on the offensive. A new business deal-something bold, something aggressive that makes the investors sit up and take notice. A merger, a major acquisition-hell, even a high-profile partnership. We make Sinclair Global bigger than the scandal."

Adrian considered it. It wasn't a terrible idea. If they landed a deal that made waves in the industry, something that commanded more attention than the accusations, he could start rewriting the narrative. But he also knew it wouldn't be easy.

"That's risky," Adrian said slowly. "Companies don't want to be associated with a PR disaster."

"Then make them need to be," Richard said. "Find something too lucrative for them to pass up. If you want to keep this company in your hands, you need to remind everyone why they trusted you in the first place."

Ethan grinned. "I like it. Something big enough to drown out the noise. Kill the story before it kills us."

Adrian let out a brief sigh. He knew this was a risk but what other choice do they have.

"Alright then, find me the perfect deal." He said.

Richard nodded approvingly. "Now you are talking."

The meeting came to an end, as Ethan trailed closely to Adrian stepping out of the board room.

"What a meeting huh," Ethan remarked, slipping his hands into his pockets.

Adrian shot him a look. "It was a warning," he corrected. "If we don't act fast, they'll start looking for ways to force me out."

Ethan shrugged. "Then we move first. You want me to start making calls? See what kind of deals we can push through?"

"Do that," Adrian said, his mind already shifting to the next problem. "But there's something else I need from you first."

Ethan raised a brow. "Oh?"

"Amelia Carter." Adrian's voice was measured, but there was a new edge to it. "Find out everything you can about her. Where she's from, what she wants, and-most importantly-why the hell she's willing to ruin me over a lie."

Ethan's smirk widened. "Digging into the enemy, huh? Now we're talking."

Adrian didn't respond. Rather he walked towards his office, thinking of various possibilities to him there was nothing like coincidence, but there was something more to Amelia Carter and he was going to find exactly what that is.