The dimly lit dining room of Kieron’s luxury penthouse was a picture of serenity, the soft hum of the city below barely audible through the thick, reinforced windows. Kieron and Y/N sat at a lavishly set table, enjoying a quiet dinner. The tension between them and the sprawling metropolis of the Nation of New America was momentarily forgotten.

Suddenly, the front door clicked open. A high-ranking U.S. government official entered, his stern expression in stark contrast to the opulence around him. His presence, without warning or pleasantries, was an immediate signal that something serious was about to unfold.

Kieron leaned back in his chair, locking eyes with the official, a slight smirk curling at the corner of his mouth. Y/N sensed the shift in atmosphere and tensed.

Without even addressing Y/N, the official’s voice rang out coldly. “Kieron Draymar, you’ve gone against the terms of our agreement. The Nation of New America is on the brink of collapse because of your... choices.”

Kieron’s smirk remained, but his eyes darkened, the predator behind the charm starting to surface. “I’m simply leading in my own way. Your nation made its bed when it allowed me to rise.”

The official’s gaze flicked to Y/N, and then back to Kieron. “Leave us,” he said, his tone an unspoken command.

Y/N hesitated for a brief moment, eyes flickering between the two men, but then stood from the table. Their hand briefly brushed Kieron’s shoulder—a silent, fleeting reassurance—before they left the room, the heavy door closing behind them with a final, echoing thud.

Now alone, Kieron leaned forward, folding his hands together. His smile faded completely as he stared down the official.

“Let’s get one thing straight,” Kieron said, his voice low and dangerous. “I don’t answer to anyone. Not anymore.”