CHAPTER 185: MOVING FURTHER.

After a whirlwind of activity in New York, where every day had been a blend of luxurious shopping, interior consultations, and long walks under the city lights, Annie and Bella finally returned to the Philadelphia suite. Lukas had made sure that Roy personally brought them back in the Mercedes, not willing to compromise on their comfort or safety. He had called them the night before, his voice soft with concern, asking if they were doing fine and whether they missed him. Of course, they did.

It was a calm afternoon when the suite door swung open. The familiar scent of white orchids and fresh linen welcomed the girls home. Annie stepped in first, her cheeks slightly flushed from the road, hand instinctively resting on her baby bump. Bella followed, dragging along the carefully packed bags full of catalogs, sample fabric swatches, and some exquisite souvenirs. The suite hadn’t changed, but somehow it felt even more spacious now, more serene.

"It smells the same," Bella murmured with a smile, then quickly added, "but it’s so quiet without him."

Annie chuckled, placing a hand on Bella’s shoulder. "It always is when Lukas isn’t around."

For the next two days, Lukas tried to divide his time as best as he could. Between classes at Princeton and strategy meetings at the new Facebook office, his days were crammed full. Yet, every night without fail, he would return to the suite. He never let the stress of his work creep into their personal space. To Annie, he was still the same warm, caring Lukas who would kiss her forehead and ask if she ate well. To Bella, he was still her protective older brother figure, always ready with thoughtful questions about her day.

Annie, feeling rested and glowing with maternal peace, would usually retreat early into the bedroom after dinner. Bella and Lukas would then remain in the living room, sipping decaf coffee or herbal tea, chatting softly. Their conversations ranged from the mundane to the philosophical, always laced with laughter and warmth.

"You should’ve seen Annie in New York," Bella whispered one evening, snuggling into the corner of the couch. "She walked around like she owned Fifth Avenue."

Lukas chuckled, eyes glowing with affection. "That’s my girl."

Bella looked at him for a long moment. "You know, she’s really happy. Even when you’re not there, she talks about you like you never left."

His throat tightened slightly, and he looked away, staring at the twinkling city lights outside. "That means the world to me."

By the third morning, Lukas knew he had to return to his full routine. The Facebook office had reached a critical stage, and Yaho had asked for his presence to finalize some key development strategies. Despite how much he loved having Annie and Bella near, he made the hard decision to send them back to New York for a few days. He wanted them away from the chaos and noise of his schedule. He wanted Annie to rest more and for Bella to enjoy some youthful freedom.

That morning, he kissed Annie softly before she got in the car. "Take care of yourself. And take care of our little one."

Annie nodded, her eyes glossy. "We’ll be fine. You take care of your business."

Lukas hugged Bella tightly next. "You’re in charge until I call you back. Protect her."

Bella grinned, eyes sparkling. "You don’t have to ask."

As the car drove away, Lukas stood there on the marble pavement of the suite driveway, hands in his pockets, watching them disappear into the city’s morning rush. He felt the weight of love and responsibility settle on his shoulders once more—a burden he carried with pride.

Then, without wasting a moment, he turned back and walked toward the car waiting to take him to the office. The game was back on.

After a long day of classes in Princeton, Lukas exited the grand lecture hall, sunlight spilling through the tall windows onto the cobbled path outside. His phone buzzed in his pocket just as he stepped out into the mild autumn breeze. It was a message from Lana: "I’ve thought it through. I’ll take the offer. Meet?"

A smile crept across his face. Lana accepting the CFO position was no small matter. She had always been a composed, analytical figure—the type who rarely committed without exhaustive deliberation. Her joining was a power move, not just for Lukas, but for the entire Facebook restructuring project.

He quickly replied and walked over to the quiet corner of the campus cafe, where she was already waiting, dressed professionally, eyes scanning through something on her tablet. As he approached, Lana looked up and gave a small nod.

"You’re sure?" Lukas asked, taking the seat across from her.

Lana sipped her coffee. "I’m sure. You were right. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I believe I can handle the financial scaffolding. Especially with the expansion you’re eyeing."

"Then let’s not waste time," Lukas said, already pulling out his phone to call Yaho.

A few hours later, they walked into the bustling Princeton office. The energy had shifted noticeably over the past few days—new equipment arriving, engineers settling in, and meetings running back-to-back.

Yaho was already in her office, running numbers on a massive screen. When she saw Lukas and Lana enter, she stood up, her demeanor cool yet formal. "So, she accepted?"

Lukas smiled. "She did. Lana, meet your battlefield."

Yaho extended her hand, which Lana shook with an equal measure of respect and quiet resolve. "Welcome aboard. I hope you’re ready. This place... is not quiet."

Within minutes, the news of Lana’s arrival began to circulate, setting off a ripple within the staff. Old employees like Ashmika and Anya had built their lanes over the months. Ashmika, the seasoned systems architect, felt slighted already by Yaho’s appointment. Anya remained neutral but observant. Lana’s entry would tip the balance—and not in Ashmika’s favor.

Yaho, however, seemed prepared. With Lana under her wing now, her faction within the corporate hierarchy had grown considerably stronger. The office politics, once subtle, began to surface in sharper edges—whispers in the hallways, guarded glances during boardroom meetings.

As Lukas observed from his corner suite, he understood the storm was brewing. But he also knew this was necessary. Facebook’s future couldn’t be built on fragile foundations. It needed strong, conflicting minds to forge it into something enduring.

And with Lana and Yaho united, he was closer than ever to building his empire.

Lukas sat in the towering Princeton office, high above the bustling streets, watching the summer sunlight spill over the rooftops of the city he had grown to love. It had been weeks of turmoil, internal competition, and quiet tension. The once-harmonious team was now splintered, and Lukas could feel the undercurrents even in the way the employees passed each other in the hallway—polite smiles, but silence.

He had always known growth would invite politics. But not like this.

After his evening class ended, Lukas returned to the office and summoned Yaho, Lana, Ashmika, and Anya into the boardroom. It was time.

"We can’t build Facebook on unstable ground," Lukas began, standing at the head of the long glass table, sleeves rolled up and tired circles under his eyes. "I brought each of you here because I saw something valuable in you. But if we spend more time fighting each other than building the future, we’re done before we even start."

Ashmika shifted in her seat, clearly uncomfortable. Yaho, as calm and poised as ever, gave a small nod, while Lana sat upright beside her, expression unreadable. Anya looked between the factions, remaining neutral as always.

Lukas turned to Ashmika and Anya. "You were part of the crew who built the early drafts of Facebook. You handled the chaos. You managed my schedule when no one else could. And I owe you for that." He paused. "So I’m giving you your own division."

Ashmika blinked. "Division?"

"The old office. You and Anya will lead the ’Legacy Team’ there. You’ll be in charge of maintaining our original systems, managing transitions, and supporting our back-end data centers. Your work is critical."

There was a silence.

"But there’s one condition," Lukas said, his voice firm. "You report to Yaho. She’s the COO. She’s the one streamlining us toward scale. That’s not negotiable."

Ashmika opened her mouth to protest, but Lukas raised a hand.

"Ash, this isn’t about favorites. It’s about structure. I can’t have friction in my core team. If we let this grow, it’ll break us."

He looked to Lana. "Lana will work directly under Yaho as CFO. She’ll handle finances, deals, and anything funding-related. She and Yaho are aligned on vision. I need synergy at the top."

Ashmika bit her lip, visibly trying to control her temper. Anya placed a hand on her arm, silently urging calm.

Yaho, with a graceful smile, finally spoke. "We respect your past contributions, Ashmika. But to move forward, we must evolve. I’ll make sure you get the support your team needs."

Lukas ended the meeting on a clear note. "The Legacy Team starts operating from tomorrow. We’ll renovate the old building and bring in new support staff. You’ll have autonomy, but you’re part of something bigger. Facebook is evolving. So must we."

As the women filed out of the room, tension still hung in the air, but beneath it was a fragile sense of direction.

For the first time in weeks, Lukas felt something return to his chest—clarity. He wasn’t just building a company. He was building a kingdom. And in kingdoms, lines must be drawn, but hands must also be extended.

That night, he stayed back alone in the office, watching the lights of Princeton flicker as he thought about his next step. The politics were far from over, but this—this was a start.

Lukas sat by the window of the Princeton office lounge, sunlight draping the hardwood floors in a quiet golden hue. He had just wrapped up a long meeting with Yaho about the Tokyo hiring initiative when his phone buzzed. It was a message from Henry.

Henry: "Spoke to the MLB executives. They’re open to a sponsorship deal with Facebook. The minimum ticket to enter is $10 million. But there’s a catch—they want you to play. It doesn’t matter which team. As long as you’re on the field, it boosts PR."

Lukas leaned back slowly, the weight of the message sinking in. Play again? After everything he had put behind him? He stared out at the row of sycamores flanking the edge of the campus, memories flooding in—the sweat, the pain, the glory. Baseball had once defined him, but that Chapter was supposed to be closed.

Still, $10 million could give Facebook an unshakable launchpad.

He stood and began pacing, mind turning over scenarios and compromises. If it were temporary... perhaps he could handle it. But would his body? His time? He had meetings, classes, and a growing empire to run. And now, internal office politics to manage.

Moments later, he replied:

Lukas: "Can we negotiate terms? One season only. I pick the team. Minimum playtime. If they agree, we move forward. Otherwise, it’s a no-go."

He slid the phone into his pocket, letting out a slow exhale. As he walked back toward the war room, he knew one thing for certain—he’d have to make a choice between the field he conquered and the world he was building. And this time, there would be no coach to substitute him out.

The game wasn’t over. It was just changing shape.