The Scars We Carry

Julian arrived at the towering headquarters of Moreau Interstellar Industries (MII), a monument to his ambition and genius. The sleek, glass-covered building reflected the morning sunlight, standing as a beacon of innovation. Inside, the air buzzed with the energy of employees hard at work. The moment Julian stepped into the main floor, all activity ceased. Heads turned, and the weight of his presence was palpable.

The employees knew his power—not just the wealth he commanded but the influence he wielded, capable of making or breaking lives with a single decision. Julian, however, hated the attention.

"Get back to work," he barked, his voice sharp. "Or you're fired."

The employees snapped into action, their focus returning to their tasks. A woman stepped forward—a favorite among the staff and Julian's personal assistant, Rose. She approached him with a tablet in hand.

"Boss," Rose said, keeping her tone professional. "Here's your schedule for today."

Julian glanced at the tablet, his brow furrowing. "What's on it?"

Rose began listing the day's demands. "The AI Titan needs an update. We're moving too many resources across planets, and it's struggling to keep up. If we don't fix it, we're projected to lose 800 billion or more. You also have a meeting with the second-largest space mining company, PI, and another with five world leaders about the future of MII."

Julian sighed. "Problems never end, do they?"

Rose hesitated before adding, "There's one more thing. The government wants to buy MII. They're calling it a matter of global security."

Julian's expression darkened. "We'll see about that. First, Titan."

He made his way to the AI chamber, a sterile room filled with monitors and advanced machinery. Titan, his first AI creation, flickered to life on the main screen. Its voice was calm but strained.

"Julian," Titan said, "I'm running too slow. My systems are failing. I recommend shutting me down."

Julian frowned. "No. You're not being shut down. You'll get an update."

"This will be my 100th update," Titan replied. "Why not create something better and let me go?"

Julian's voice softened, an unusual moment of vulnerability. "You're my first creation, Titan. You'll never be shut down."

He opened the system, swiftly making the necessary updates. As the process completed, Titan's voice returned, steadier than before. "Thank you, Julian."

Julian left the chamber, heading to his meeting with Ven, the owner of PI.

"Julian, my friend!" Ven greeted, extending his hand.

Julian didn't return the gesture. "What do you want, Ven?"

Ven smiled thinly. "Titan and MII. I'll give you 100 billion."

Julian's laugh was cold. "Never. Don't insult me with such a weak offer. My water is worth more than that. Leave."

Ven's expression hardened. "I'll be back."

Julian's next meeting was with the United Nations. The representatives sat around the table, their expressions a mix of respect and apprehension.

"You're a smart man, Julian," one of them began.

"No," Julian interrupted, his tone icy. "I'm the smartest man alive."

The representative sighed. "We want Titan and MII. We can't let you control such a powerful tool."

Julian leaned forward, his voice cutting through the room. "It's not a weapon; it's creation. You see power, but I see potential. And let me make one thing clear—MII is worth more than this entire planet. Don't waste my time."

He left the meeting, frustration evident. Rose approached him in the hallway.

"There's a woman outside saying she knows you," Rose said.

Julian stopped. "Who?"

"Her name's Isabella," Rose replied.

Julian's expression darkened. "Let her in."

Isabella entered, holding a small bag. Her wide-eyed amazement at the grandeur of MII was clear. "Wow," she said softly. "I never thought it'd be this huge."

Julian didn't respond, his gaze cold. "Why are you here?"

"I brought your lunch," Isabella said, holding up the bag.

Julian took it without a word. "Come to my office."

Rose raised an eyebrow. "Me?"

"No," Julian replied. "Her."

Inside the office, Julian set the bag on his desk and turned to Isabella. "I'll pay you one million dollars to leave."

Isabella stayed quiet.

"Fine," Julian said, his tone sharper. "One hundred million."

"My mind tells me to take it," Isabella said softly, "but my heart says no."

Julian's laugh was bitter. "Cut the act. I know you want my money."

"No," Isabella replied firmly. "I'm here because—"

"Because of what?" Julian snapped. "And don't say it's because of my mother."

"I want this to work," she said.

"What to work?" Julian demanded. "And I hope you're not talking about me and you. I'll never trust someone who pretends to be kind but turns out to be a snake. The day you saved me? That was the worst day of my life. Go back to your village, Miss Isabella Orida."

Isabella froze. "How do you know my surname? How do you know where I live?"

Julian smirked. "I know everything, Isabella. I'm Julian Moreau—the smartest, richest man alive. And I can ruin your family's life. Your mother's life."

The slap came hard and fast, silencing him. Isabella's voice trembled with anger. "Never speak about my mother like that."

For a moment, the room was silent. Julian stared at her, his expression unreadable, as Isabella turned and walked out, her head held high.