The capital of the Phoenix Empire woke under a gray sky, where dense clouds threatened rain at any moment.
The biting cold passed through the wide streets and tree-lined avenues like an ancient whisper — austere, imperial, the kind that matched perfectly with a woman like Lumine.
In her mansion, the heater was set to the perfect temperature, spreading an aura of coziness throughout the silent environment. The air exhaled lavender, and the golden light from the windows fogged by the steam from the bath created a scene of everyday royalty.
Lumine emerged from the bathroom, her hair strands still wet flowing like black silk down her back. She faced the perfectly folded women's suit on the chair, the usual for a workday... but she sighed lightly and looked away.
The mood called for something else.
With calm movements, she put on an ice-white coat with silver details, a high collar, fine leather gloves, and elegant boots. Even without any excessive accessories, there was something about her that made the world seem too small.
She was nobility made flesh.
In the closet mirror, her figure stood out like a living painting.
Tall, with impeccable posture, porcelain skin almost unreal, and ice-blue eyes — deep like frozen lakes. Her long black hair, straight as midnight velvet, fell like a refined cascade to her waist. She did not need makeup, only applied a dark wine lipstick with a light satin shine.
Enough to seal her divine aura.
"Perfect," she murmured to herself, satisfied.
She calmly descended the mansion stairs.
In the underground garage, dozens of cars were arranged like a luxury automotive gallery.
Without hesitation, she chose the Bugatti, a silent and deadly elegant machine.
The electronic gate opened without a sound.
As soon as she accelerated onto the main street, the gates closed behind her with timed precision.
The tinted windows hid the heiress, who followed her path through the wide avenues of the capital with imperial calm.
The trees beside the road swayed under the chilly breeze, while the sky remained gray, threatening a storm that seemed never to fall.
Inside the car, Lumine listened to a classical symphony remixed with electronic elements. The car dashboard projected notifications: updates from Diamante Tycoon, weather forecast, and meeting reminders.
She ignored everything for now.
"Let the games begin," she murmured.
Ahead, the five monumental buildings of the Tycoon headquarters already rose on the horizon like colossi of glass and titanium.
The Bugatti glided to the main entrance of the Diamante Tycoon complex like a tamed beast, its tires silencing over the black marble of the courtyard.
Without wasting time, Lumine stopped the car with elegance and, without even leaving her pose, took the vehicle key and lightly threw it to one of the uniformed security guards.
"Park carefully. It's my favorite," she said without looking back.
The guard caught the key mid-air with trained reflexes and responded with a nervous nod, feeling watched by a goddess in flesh and blood.
Lumine crossed the automatic doors of the main complex entrance, her firm steps echoing with elegance.
As she crossed the glass and steel lobby, ÆVA appeared as a translucent hologram beside her, with minimalist features and calm voice as always.
"Good morning, CEO Edelweiss. The mass production of the LUX facial mask officially started at 5:47 AM. The first batch is ready and within standards of excellence. All reports have been sent to your desk."
Lumine raised an eyebrow, satisfied.
"Finally," she said with a slight smile. "This product needs to perform. If it's not a success, not even Victória's marketing will save it."
The holographic AI followed her steps without losing tone. "The pre-sale also stabilized after the last cyberattacks were successfully contained."
"Perfect." Lumine murmured.
She continued through the main lobby to the Development and Innovation Building, one of the five titans composing the monumental Tycoon headquarters.
The environment was dynamic, modern, with translucent panels displaying floating data in the air, employees running from one side to the other with tablets, samples, reports — all impeccable, all in the perfect rhythm of an engineer's mind.
But upon seeing Lumine entering, a small disturbance happened in the synchronicity.
The women slowed down.
Some stopped completely, others discreetly stumbled on their own heels.
The presence of the Tycoon cofounder caused a type of tension mixing reverence, enchantment, and a touch of aesthetic insecurity, a porcelain goddess, with eyes like blades and a walk that seemed to defy gravity.
"Good morning, Mrs. Lumine," they said, one after the other.
"Good morning," she replied with a light, almost maternal smile.
Some held their tablets tightly, others looked away with flushed cheeks.
Lumine noticed.
With a playful sparkle in her eyes, she murmured quietly, "If they act like this with me… imagine when they see Luna in person. They'll need an ambulance at the door."
Crossing the glass corridor connecting the sectors, Lumine finally reached the presidential elevator.
The doors opened as if they knew whom they served.
She entered, typing her biometric authentication on the digital panel.
The elevator rose smoothly as Lumine crossed her arms, leaning against the mirrored wall. She observed her reflection: still perfect, even after hours awake.
She breathed deeply.
Finally, her first product was ready. The losses of the last month, sleepless nights, risk calculations, export reports, and the financial system's hell — all culminated in this moment.
The LUX facial mask was ready.
The presidential room door opened softly as Lumine crossed the threshold.
The space was spacious, with glass walls offering a panoramic view of the imperial capital. The artificial breeze from the air conditioning system made the curtains flutter delicately.
Lumine walked to her imposing black marble desk, sat in the ergonomic chair made to measure, and crossed her legs with elegance.
Touching the screen embedded in the desk top, she activated the intercom. "Call my assistant, please."
A few minutes later, the door opened with a soft mechanical sound and a young well-dressed woman entered, tablet in hand and serious expression.
"Good morning, Mrs. Edelweiss," she said with a respectful nod.
"Good morning. Product updates for LUX," Lumine requested without beating around the bush.
The assistant nodded and, with a tap on the tablet, activated the room's hologram. A series of charts, production lines, and world maps appeared in the air, floating above the desk.
"Since the project started exactly one and a half months ago, Tycoon approved an initial investment of five hundred million dollars for the production of the LUX facial mask."
Lumine watched attentively, fingers crossed under her chin.
"Yesterday, with the pre-sale system, we registered a total of 99.9 million units purchased so far."
"Ninety...?" Lumine repeated, blinking.
"Millions, ma'am," the assistant confirmed with a small restrained smile. "The production cost per unit is 0.45 dollars. The sale price is 120 dollars per unit."
Lumine blinked slowly, assimilating the information. Her blue eyes shone as if winter in person was smiling.
She leaned forward, took her personal tablet, and made a quick calculation with agile fingers. "99.9 million... times 120... is almost 12 billion gross dollars. Total production cost: 99.9 million times 0.45... gives... about 45 million in costs."
She stopped. The final result made her push the tablet aside, eyes wide in genuine surprise. Leaning back in the chair, she let out a small sigh followed by a muffled laugh.
"Twelve billion... minus forty-five million... That's more than 11.9 billion profit in pre-sale?" she murmured, almost incredulous.
The assistant only nodded, already aware of the magnitude of the achievement. "And that without even starting mass distribution..."
Lumine ran her hand through her hair, enchanted by the grandeur of her own creation. She murmured to herself, excited, eyes shining. "This product... this product is going to make history. Billions, billions, just with the launch."
She stood up from the chair, walked brief circles around the room, almost laughing, almost dancing but with the glacial self-control natural to her.
After a few seconds, she looked at the assistant and ordered with a predator's gleam in her eyes. "Tell the expansion department we will review the physical sales points. If all this was just online, imagine the impact in stores."
The assistant took quick notes.
Lumine turned to the window and murmured softly. "Lux... you will light up the entire world."
The excited smile still hovered on her lips when suddenly her expression became more serious — icy, analytical. The glow in the light blue eyes was now that of the hunter.
She turned to the assistant. "Show the data for Vérité Absolue™... the True Beauty product."
The assistant did not hesitate. With a few taps on the tablet, the holographic charts rearranged. The colors and logos of the competition appeared, as well as impressive numbers.
"According to our reports, Vérité Absolue™ has already sold approximately 500 million units worldwide," said the assistant, sliding the data to the side smoothly. "They started launching months before LUX, and maintain partnerships with influencers, pharmaceutical companies, and cosmetics networks on all continents."
Lumine narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms. "And the profit margin?"
The assistant gave another command on the hologram and the data adjusted to a more technical view.
"Very low," she said. "Their production cost ranges between 50 to 70 dollars per unit. The final sale price is around 90 to 100 dollars. That is, minimal margin, especially considering international logistics."
"So... they are in the red disguised as success," murmured Lumine, her gaze sharp as an obsidian blade.
"Exactly. Their strategy is volume and global presence, but the technology used in Vérité Absolue™ is about four years behind our current formula. Even with elegant packaging, it is basically a common mask with cheap perfume and collagen."
Lumine walked to the desk and touched the hologram, pushing the charts away as if dusting off a decaying empire. "This attempt to sabotage Tycoon... is desperation."
She turned, her night-like hair waving with her movement. "Where has LUX been sold so far?"
"Only in the Phoenix Empire, ma'am," the assistant answered promptly. "Via the official Tycoon website and through Amazon."
"Hm." Lumine put a finger on her chin. "How many people live in the Empire?"
The assistant fetched the data in seconds and replied, "According to updated data from the last imperial census, the Phoenix Empire's population exceeded 1 billion inhabitants."
Lumine was silent. Walked to the panoramic window.
Outside, the gray clouds still covered the capital's sky, but she didn't see clouds — she saw an entire population waiting.
"99.9 million units sold... means less than 10% of the Empire bought," she murmured. "We haven't even explored the entire internal market."
She spun on her heels and said firmly, "We will not launch LUX abroad. Not yet. I want to consolidate our imperial base first. I want one hundred million more sold just at home. I want to see all the capital's stores with LUX in their windows."
The assistant nodded, already opening a new spreadsheet to organize the restructuring of the distribution plan.
"And increase marketing here inside. Influencers, campaigns on urban billboards, holograms in shopping centers, region-targeted promotions. Show the Phoenix Empire they have the best product in the world — before the world finds out."
"Yes, ma'am," answered the assistant with a slight smile.
It was rare to see Lumine so... motivated.
Lumine then sat again, her face serene, but her eyes alight with the energy of someone about to swallow the competition alive.
"They think they are competing with Tycoon…" she whispered to herself. "But they haven't even understood that LUX is just the first step."
Lumine's gaze sharpened, a fierce light burning behind her calm exterior. The chessboard was set, and every move mattered.
She tapped her fingers lightly on the marble desk, contemplating the next steps. The Tycoon empire was not built on mere chance; it was a calculated symphony of power, influence, and innovation.
Her mind raced ahead, imagining the future campaigns, the alliances to forge, the obstacles to crush.
The world might be cold outside, but inside, her fire blazed brighter than ever.
"Prepare the teams for international expansion strategy meetings," she commanded quietly.
The assistant nodded swiftly, eyes reflecting the weight of the task.
"We must be ready to strike when the time is right. No surprises, no weaknesses," Lumine added, voice low but commanding.
She stood, smoothing the folds of her coat with deliberate grace.
"Notify the board: the era of the Tycoon dominance has just begun."
Outside the window, the gray clouds began to part slightly, allowing a sliver of pale sunlight to touch the city.
It was a new dawn.
And Lumine was ready to conquer it.
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