Skyscrapers and Starlight – The Dragon’s Daughter

By Lea von Löwenstein

Chapter 17: The Dragon’s Unveiling

Part 1: Fourteen Days of Fire

The past fortnight had transformed Manhattan’s business landscape into a pressure cooker of speculation and rumour. Every financial paper from Wall Street Journal to Bloomberg buzzed with theories about the postponed Drake-Harrison merger.

James Harrison’s public meltdown at the original gala had spawned countless headlines:

“HARRISON HEIR’S CHAMPAGNE SHOWER: MERGER MYSTERIES DEEPEN”

“DRAKE INDUSTRIES’ SURPRISE DELAY: STRATEGIC GENIUS OR CORPORATE CHAOS?”

Meanwhile, beneath the public theatre, Alexandra and Marcus had orchestrated their true masterpiece. Deep within Drake Tower’s secured levels, a revolutionary quantum technology exhibition took shape – hidden from prying eyes and specifically from Harrison Global’s desperate attempts at corporate espionage.

The Drake Industries PR machine had worked overtime, releasing carefully crafted breadcrumbs about “technological breakthroughs” and “paradigm-shifting innovations.” Each press release was timed perfectly to drive Harrison Global’s stock price into increasingly erratic swings.

In their penthouse suite, Alexandra reviewed the morning’s Financial Times over jasmine tea. “James has tried to breach security six times this week alone.”

“Seven,” Marcus corrected, adjusting his jade cufflinks. “He attempted to bribe Wei’s assistant last night.”

“Mmm.” Her smile was pure satisfaction. “And the expo setup?”

“Complete. The quantum processors are installed, and the demonstration will leave no doubt about who truly controls the future of global construction.”

Tonight’s gala would be more than a merger signing. It would be an execution, performed with silk ribbons and champagne flutes.

While Drake Tower hummed with secret preparations, the Harrison empire crumbled in slow motion. James Harrison’s desperate attempts to salvage his family’s legacy had become daily entertainment for Manhattan’s elite:

Day 3: Harrison Global’s emergency board meeting ended in chaos when James threw a Montblanc pen at his CFO for suggesting they explore “alternative partnerships.”

Day 5: Three major investors pulled out after James’s disastrous CNBC interview, where he’d claimed the merger delay was “just a technical glitch” while visibly sweating through his Brioni suit.

Day 8: The Harrison Group’s shares plummeted 15% following leaked photos of James being escorted out of Le Ciel after attempting to “negotiate” with the maître d’ about Alexandra’s ownership.

Day 10: His latest girlfriend publicly dumped him at Eleven Madison Park, citing his “unhealthy obsession” with Drake Industries and “that woman in the corner.”

Day 12: The Wall Street Journal published a devastating exposé about Harrison Global’s questionable trading practices, mysteriously sourced from “internal documents.”

Meanwhile, Alexandra and Marcus orchestrated their symphony of destruction from their penthouse suite, each Harrison crisis perfectly timed with another Drake Industries “innovation announcement.”

“The latest numbers?” Marcus asked, reviewing the morning briefs.

“Harrison Global has lost 40% of its market value,” Alexandra replied, sipping her jasmine tea. “James has sold three properties just to maintain appearances.”

“And the exhibition?”

Her smile was pure silk. “Ready to deliver the final blow.”

Part 2: Empire’s Dawn

The private dining room atop Drake Tower gleamed like polished jade as global construction’s true titans gathered around a table worth more than most suburban homes. The afternoon sun painted golden stripes across blueprints and contracts that would reshape the industry.

Alexandra sat between her father and husband, her Chanel suit a perfect match to the room’s deep green hues. Lord Rothschild studied the revolutionary construction technology schematics with keen interest.

“The integration with European sustainable building standards?” Chen Wei-Ming inquired, his jade cufflinks matching his daughter’s husband’s.

Marcus activated a holographic display of their groundbreaking construction system. “Complete. The quantum-enhanced structural analysis exceeds even Swiss engineering parameters.”

“Remarkable,” Lord Rothschild murmured. “And Harrison Global has no idea they’re signing away their future to acquire outdated construction methods?”

Alexandra’s smile was pure silk. “James is so focused on ‘winning’ the merger, he never questioned why we’d sell controlling interest in our revolutionary construction division.”

“Because we’re not selling anything,” Marcus added, pulling up the real contracts. “While Harrison Global thinks they’re acquiring our traditional construction technology…”

“We’re creating something unprecedented,” Chen Wei-Ming finished, pride evident in his voice. “The Chen-Drake-Rothschild Construction Alliance.”

Lord Rothschild traced his signature line on the contract, positioned next to Marcus’s and Chen Wei-Ming’s. “To the future of global construction. One that will make Harrison’s methods look positively medieval.”

“Speaking of medieval,” Alexandra checked her phone, “James just tried to access our prototype designs. Again.”

“Let him chase concrete shadows,” Marcus smiled. “In two days, he’ll learn what real innovation looks like. Better off… let Emma play a bit with his servers and give her access to our Quantum-Computing-Systems.”

Alexandra’s eyes sparkled with mischief at Marcus’s suggestion. “Emma? Your niece? Now that’s deliciously perfect.”

Lord Rothschild leaned forward, intrigued. “Ah yes, the prodigy. Fourteen, isn’t she?”

“Fifteen next month,” Marcus confirmed, pride evident in his voice. “And already understanding quantum computing better than most of our senior engineers.”

Chen Wei-Ming’s expression held careful consideration. “The same Emma who spotted the flaw in our initial structural analysis system?”

“The very same,” Alexandra smiled, reaching for her phone. “She’s been pestering me all week about ‘testing’ her new quantum algorithms.”

She typed a brief message: “Emma, sweetheart. Uncle Marcus says you can play with the quantum system. Harrison’s servers need a little… attention.”

The response was immediate, filled with teenage enthusiasm: “OMG FINALLY! Their security is like SO last century! Give me an hour? Pretty please? 🙏”

“Your niece,” Lord Rothschild noted to Marcus, “seems quite enthusiastic about corporate espionage.”

“Emma has a unique way of looking at systems,” Marcus replied, adjusting his jade cufflinks. “By the time she’s done, Harrison’s technical team will be too busy trying to keep their servers running to worry about our signing ceremony.”

Alexandra’s phone chimed again. Emma’s message made her laugh: “Access granted! Time to show these dinosaurs what Gen Z can do with quantum computing! “

“Speaking of Emma,” Alexandra mused, checking another message from the teenage prodigy. “She’s already mapped their entire network architecture.”

Marcus’s phone lit up with a series of excited texts from his niece: “Uncle M! Their firewall is like from the stone age! BTW, found some interesting emails about ’emergency investor meetings’ “

“The advantages of youth,” Lord Rothschild observed, swirling his tea. “They see patterns we might miss.”

Chen Wei-Ming studied the construction blueprints spread before them. “And the quantum-enhanced structural analysis system? It’s secure?”

“Completely,” Marcus assured. “Emma helped design the encryption herself. She’s quite proud of that.”

Another ping from Emma: “OMG! They’re still using standard encryption for their project files! Should I show them what quantum computing can do? Pretty please? “

Alexandra exchanged knowing looks with Marcus. “Your niece is rather… enthusiastic about system testing.”

“She gets that from her mother. My sister was always into programming, hacking and all that stuff,” Marcus smiled, then typed back: “Go ahead, sweetheart. Just remember – we want them distracted, not destroyed.”

“Yet,” Alexandra added softly, making Lord Rothschild chuckle.

Emma’s response was immediate: “Got it! Subtle chaos mode activated! PS: Their backup servers are so cute. Like watching a calculator try to solve quantum physics!”

Part 3: Futures Shadows

As the afternoon sun painted long shadows across Drake Tower’s executive floor, the strategic meeting shifted from Emma’s digital mischief to tomorrow’s main event.

“The exhibition setup is complete?” Chen Wei-Ming inquired, studying the holographic display of the revolutionary construction system.

Marcus nodded, adjusting his jade cufflinks. “The quantum-enhanced structural analysis demonstrations are ready. Emma helped calibrate the final simulations this morning between her… other activities.”

As if on cue, Alexandra’s phone lit up with another message from their teenage accomplice: “Aunt Alex! Their entire project database just got mysteriously reorganised by quantum algorithms. Oops? “

Lord Rothschild’s lips twitched. “I trust young Emma is enjoying her afternoon?”

“Immensely,” Marcus replied, showing them Emma’s latest text: “Uncle M, their engineers are having a total meltdown! Something about ‘impossible data patterns’ and ‘system anomalies.’ Should I send them a hint about quantum computing? “

Alexandra rose gracefully, moving to the floor-to-ceiling windows. “Tomorrow’s demonstration will change everything. While James is still struggling with basic structural analysis…”

“We’ll unveil construction technology that’s decades ahead,” Chen Wei-Ming finished, paternal pride evident in his voice.

“Speaking of James,” Lord Rothschild checked his Patek Philippe, “shall we discuss how to handle his inevitable… reaction?”

“His reaction,” Alexandra mused, watching Manhattan’s skyline shimmer in the February afternoon light, “will be rather spectacular, I imagine.”

Her phone buzzed again. Emma’s latest update made her smile: “Aunt Alex! Their entire project timeline just got quantum-scrambled. Now all their deadlines show as ‘sometime in the multiverse.’  Their IT team is having a proper meltdown!”

“The question remains,” Lord Rothschild interjected, “how to handle the actual moment of revelation.”

Marcus pulled up the final presentation sequence on the holographic display. “The demonstration begins with traditional construction methods, showing their limitations…”

“Then,” Chen Wei-Ming continued, “we reveal our quantum-enhanced structural analysis system. The contrast will be… devastating.”

“Especially,” Alexandra added, “when they realize their entire construction methodology is obsolete. Emma’s little adventure in their servers is just a preview of their technological inadequacy.”

Another ping from Emma: “Uncle M! They’re trying to run diagnostics with standard tools. It’s like watching someone try to catch quantum particles with a butterfly net!”

Lord Rothschild raised his teacup in subtle appreciation. “And the actual signing?”

“Wei has choreographed everything,” Alexandra confirmed. “The moment James realizes he’s not even included in the final contract…”

“That’s when we announce the Chen-Drake-Rothschild Alliance,” Marcus finished, his jade cufflinks catching the winter sun.