CHAPTER 99: THE BEGINNING OF IT ALL

The study at Bellemere was quiet, save for the faint tick of the grandfather clock against the far wall.

Afternoon light streamed through the tall windows, painting golden bars across the dark oak shelves filled with books and documents.

Liam sat behind the wide mahogany desk, his fingers drumming lightly against the polished surface as he studied the man in front of him.

Daniel Conley sat upright in the visitor’s chair, his posture immaculate, his expression steady but with the faintest trace of resolve, anticipation, and even nerves.

"Just to confirm," Liam said, his tone calm but edged with curiosity, "you’re accepting my offer?"

"Yes, Mr. Scott," Daniel replied without hesitation. His voice was clear and measured. "I want to work for you and build something extraordinary with my own hands."

Liam smiled when he heard this. He had half-expected Daniel to ask for more time, to request a period of consideration before abandoning the security of JP Morgan. Instead, the man had cut ties cleanly. That, in itself, was telling.

"Welcome to the family, Daniel," Liam said warmly, stretching out his hand across the desk.

Daniel’s composure softened, and a smile broke through. He leaned forward, clasping Liam’s hand firmly. "Thank you. I’ll serve you with all my heart and with my utmost loyalty."

There was no mistaking the sincerity in his voice. For a brief moment, Liam felt something unusual. Gratitude and relief. He knew that in a world where power and wealth drew sharks by the dozen, loyalty was the rarest currency of all.

Liam leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing slightly with thought. "So, what’s next? Do you plan to take some time off? Handle personal matters before diving in?"

Daniel shook his head. "No, everything on my end is already settled. I intend to begin immediately. Though, technically, I’ll be placed on garden leave. It won’t affect me."

Garden leave? Liam tilted his head slightly.

"Lucy, what does that mean," he asked her through the Gear Glass.

"Garden leave is when a departing employee is still on payroll but restricted from taking on competitors’ business or accessing sensitive information. They’re essentially sidelined, but compensated, to protect the firm."

"I see. That makes sense." Liam gave the slightest nod of acknowledgment, then returned his gaze to Daniel.

"Yes," Daniel said. "It’s a formality. But it means I’ll have the freedom to dedicate myself to you without obstruction."

"Good." Liam steepled his fingers, studying the man intently. "What’s your first move, then?"

Daniel’s expression firmed with professional certainty. "The Family Office. I’ll begin by creating the legal structure and framework. After that, I’ll start assembling staff — accountants, legal counsel, portfolio managers, estate managers, security consultants. I’ll build a proper skeleton before we flesh it out. Once the framework is ready, I’ll contact you directly to review everything."

Liam nodded slowly, satisfied. "Excellent. If you need resources, tools, or connections, you’ll have them. Don’t hesitate to ask."

"Understood," Daniel replied. He rose smoothly to his feet, bowing his head slightly before taking his leave.

As the door clicked shut, Liam leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. A smile spread across his face. Daniel was now officially on board. That alone eased a lot of weight for him. With Daniel managing things, Liam could focus on what truly mattered: building and adventure.

When the time is right, I’ll tell him about the aircraft. The Flying Palace will be under his coordination. Not yet, though as I don’t want to crush him under too much too quickly.

He also plans to tell Daniel about Lucy. Since Daniel is going to be working for him, he will have to trust him with some things and him having Lucy to assist him will make things easier for him. He also plans to give him a Gear Glass and to all his staffs too. But the staffs will get theirs when the device hits the market.

Liam’s smile deepened. Yes, things were falling into place.

His phone buzzed against the desk, jolting him from his thoughts. The caller ID showed a New York number. His brows furrowed faintly, but he answered smoothly.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Scott, good afternoon." The voice was warm, polished, with the practiced ease of a seasoned professional. "This is Jocelyn Fletcher, Managing Director of Private Banking at JP Morgan. I hope I’m not calling at a bad time?"

"Not at all," Liam said, his tone cordial. "Good afternoon, Ms. Fletcher."

"Thank you. I wanted to reach out personally regarding Daniel Conley. I understand he’s recently submitted his resignation. We greatly value the relationship you’ve built with him, and I want to assure you that JP Morgan remains fully committed to supporting you."

Liam leaned back, smiling to himself. Of course. They moved quickly.

"I appreciate the call," he replied evenly. "And I wish Daniel the best."

"Of course." Jocelyn’s voice didn’t waver. "In the meantime, we’d like to introduce you to a new senior banker. Someone with over two decades of experience managing ultra-high-net-worth clients. They’ll ensure continuity so you won’t even feel Daniel’s absence. You’ll also retain full access to our private banking platform, global credit facilities, and our estate and family office advisory group."

"I appreciate the offer," Liam said politely, "but I won’t be needing a replacement. Daniel has already been handling things for me, and I’ll continue with him directly."

There was the small pause on the line. Jocelyn recovered quickly. "I understand. But please allow me to emphasize—our team offers far more than just a single relationship manager. We can provide private placements, bespoke lending, access to global IPO allocations, and even introductions to strategic partners. We would hate for you to miss out on the advantages our platform can provide."

Liam’s smile sharpened. She wasn’t wrong. The perks she dangled were tempting. But he wasn’t naive. Each offer was a leash, a soft tether designed to keep him in orbit around their institution.

"Those are generous offers, Ms. Fletcher," he said. "but I’ll decline. My affairs are already covered. Daniel has been excellent, and I trust him completely."

"...Of course." Jocelyn’s tone softened, though beneath it Liam caught the slight disappointment in it. "May I at least keep you connected to our desk? Even if you’re working with Daniel independently, we’d be happy to extend invitations to our private conferences, exclusive client events, and global economic briefings. You don’t have to make any commitments — simply consider us an open resource."

"That’s thoughtful of you," Liam said, with a gracious and firm tone. "And I’ll keep it in mind. But for now, I’ll stay as I am."

Another pause, then Jocelyn exhaled quietly. "...Very well, Mr. Scott. We completely respect your decision. Please remember you can reach me directly at this number anytime. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, should you ever need anything at all."

"Thank you, Ms. Fletcher. I’ll keep that in mind."

"It’s our pleasure, Mr. Scott. We wish you continued success, and please don’t hesitate to call. Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

The line clicked off.

Liam set the phone down, staring at the polished surface of his desk and he chuckled softly.

"Nice try, Ms. Fletcher," he murmured to himself, with a smile. "But Daniel’s with me now."

He leaned back in his chair, the golden sunlight spilling across the desk. He had already settles everything on his end, now all he just needs to wait and watch the gear move accordingly.

This is beginning of it all.