Adam sat at the small round table in his sparsely furnished apartment, the air buzzing with a strange mixture of nervous energy and cautious excitement.

  Across from him sat David Kim, his newly appointed CEO, looking focused and ready for business. Beside Kim sat Monica, the intelligent, dark-haired woman whose presence sparked a confusing flicker of familiarity in Adam’s mind.

  And around the table were the other three individuals Kim had brought: Lee, the friendly young lawyer; Raven, the quiet, observant man; and Lisa, the confident woman with expertise in finance and contacts. This was it. The core team of Fire Corporation, assembled right here in his humble temporary headquarters.

  Adam’s mind was still trying to process everything. The successful land purchase, the incredible feat of copying and pasting an entire refinery (even if it wasn't operational yet), the chilling reminder of John Walker's deadline, and now, this first official meeting with the people who were supposed to help him build his empire. He watched Kim intently, waiting for him to elaborate on the 'urgent matters' he’d mentioned on the phone.

  But Kim, ever the professional even in these unconventional circumstances, held up a hand before diving into problems. "Before we discuss the challenges ahead," Kim said, his voice commanding attention, "I think it’s important we all properly understand who’s who and what roles we'll be playing, at least initially. We need to be on the same page from day one."

  He gestured to himself first. "As you all know, I'm David Kim. I'll be serving as the CEO of Fire Corporation. My job is to oversee all operations, manage the financial strategy for now, build the team, and basically turn Adam’s vision and resources into a functional, profitable, and hopefully powerful company. I report directly to our founder."

  Kim then gently placed a hand on Adam’s shoulder, drawing everyone’s attention to the young man at the head of the table (even though it was just a small round table). "And this," Kim continued, his tone serious and respectful, "is Adam. He is the founder of Fire Corporation. He is the one with the vision, the one who secured the essential resource – our crude oil reserve – and the one providing the financial backing to make this all possible." Kim paused, looking around at the faces of Monica, Lee, Raven, and Lisa.

  "His vision guides us. Our goal is ambitious, yes, maybe even crazy. We aim to build an empire from scratch. A company that will not only survive but thrive, innovate, and eventually stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the biggest corporations in Fieland, especially," – Kim’s eyes hardened slightly, a shared understanding passing between him and Adam – "our esteemed competitor, Green Refinery."

  A quiet but determined energy filled the small room. Everyone around the table nodded slowly, their expressions serious. They understood the challenge. They understood the ambition. They understood the risks. Kim had clearly briefed them well.

  Kim then turned his attention to Monica, who sat composedly beside him. "This," Kim announced, gesturing towards her, "is Monica. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Monica before, and her skills are exceptional. She’s a brilliant planner, incredibly organized, and excels at building efficient systems. Monica will be taking on the role of Chief Operating Officer, or COO. She’ll be responsible for structuring our company, setting up our operational processes, managing logistics, HR framework, and essentially ensuring that Fire Corporation runs like a well-oiled machine, even as we grow rapidly." Kim gave Monica a confident smile.

  "When things get complicated, when our structure needs fixing or improving, Monica is the one who will find the solution."

  As Kim spoke about Monica’s role, Adam found himself studying her again. That persistent feeling of knowing her from somewhere tugged at his memory. He replayed Kim’s words: “excellent planner… structuring our company… fixing weaknesses…”

  A vague memory surfaced, something from his future knowledge, perhaps? He recalled hearing or reading about a massively successful tech and logistics company that had risen seemingly out of nowhere years later, challenging established giants. A company known for its innovative structure and flawless operations. A company founded and led by… a woman named Monica? Could this be her? The future business titan, right here, agreeing to be COO of his fledgling, secret oil company? The thought sent another jolt of excitement through Adam, mixed with a healthy dose of disbelief.

  If this was the same Monica, then having her on board from the very beginning was an unbelievable stroke of luck, a massive advantage he hadn't even planned for. He quickly pushed the speculation aside. Whether she was that Monica or not, she was here now, part of his team, and Kim clearly trusted her skills implicitly. That was what mattered. He met her calm, intelligent gaze with a small, appreciative nod.

  Kim then walked over to where Raven sat silently, his posture relaxed but alert. Kim placed a hand gently on the back of Raven's chair, a gesture of respect. Turning back to Adam and the others, Kim said, "And this is Raven." Again, just the single name.

  "Raven comes highly recommended, with a unique skill set. He will be handling our initial human resources needs – finding the right people, vetting them carefully – and also assisting with financial management and security protocols." Kim’s voice held a note of complete confidence.

  "His background is… extensive. I have seen his capabilities firsthand in difficult situations, and I trust his judgment and discretion completely. Adam, you can absolutely rely on Raven to handle sensitive matters quietly and effectively."

  Adam studied Raven again. The man remained impassive, offering only another slight, almost imperceptible nod in acknowledgment. No smile, no frown, just calm observation. He radiated an aura of quiet competence, maybe even danger. Adam didn't know Raven's full background, but Kim's complete trust was evident.

  'Okay,' Adam thought, 'Not expressive, but Kim trusts him. Maybe he's ex-military? Or intelligence? Definitely seems reliable for sensitive tasks.' Having someone like Raven handling security and vetting new hires felt crucial, especially given their need for secrecy. Adam gave Raven a respectful nod in return.

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  The meeting continued, with Kim moving next towards Lisa, the confident woman with the golden-blonde hair. He placed a friendly hand on her shoulder, and she smiled warmly up at him, then turned her bright, intelligent eyes towards Adam.

  "You've already met Lisa," Kim said, his tone warm and appreciative. "Lisa is a powerhouse. She'll be overseeing our market strategy, managing financial planning alongside Raven initially, and crucially, conducting risk assessment for Fire Corporation." Kim grinned.

  "Her ability to identify potential problems before they happen and find ways to minimize risks is second to none. She will be absolutely vital in shaping our business strategy and ensuring we don't stumble into financial traps as we navigate this tricky market."

  Lisa gave Adam a friendly wave and a confident smile. "Looking forward to the challenge, Adam," she said, her voice clear and optimistic. "And as I mentioned, I have a fairly wide network of contacts. When the time is right, I might be able to open some interesting doors for us – suppliers, distributors, maybe even find some allies in unexpected places."

  Adam smiled back genuinely, feeling a wave of relief and gratitude. A financial strategist with risk management skills and contacts? That was exactly what they needed. "Welcome officially, Lisa. I can already tell you're going to be indispensable," Adam replied warmly. He trusted his instincts, and they told him Lisa was not only smart and capable but also genuinely enthusiastic about the venture. Having her dedicated to managing risks felt like adding armor to their fledgling company.

  Finally, Kim stepped aside and gestured towards Lee, the young, blond-haired lawyer who had been waiting patiently. Lee stepped forward again, a slightly eager, excited look on his face.

  "And this is Lee," Kim announced, his tone holding a note of mentorship. "Lee is our corporate lawyer. Now, admittedly," Kim conceded with a smile, "he's still relatively young, maybe hasn't made a huge name for himself yet. But I've seen his work, I've seen his potential. He's sharp, dedicated, and thinks outside the box. Mark my words, Adam," Kim declared confidently,

  "Lee here is going to become one of the best corporate lawyers in this city, maybe even the country. Getting him on board now is a major coup for us."

  Adam gave Lee another welcoming nod and a warm smile. He liked Lee’s energy, his apparent eagerness. Having fresh ideas and youthful dedication on the legal side felt like a good balance. "Happy to have you leading our legal front, Lee," Adam said sincerely.

  Lee grinned back, stepping forward to shake Adam’s hand again. "Likewise, Adam! Thank you for the opportunity. Honestly, the scale of what you're proposing… it's incredibly exciting! I'm looking forward to tackling the legal challenges and helping build Fire Corporation from the ground up," Lee said enthusiastically. His firm handshake conveyed a genuine commitment and excitement for the task ahead.

  With the introductions complete, a palpable sense of unity seemed to fill the small apartment. Kim, the experienced CEO steering the ship. Monica, the brilliant planner ensuring smooth operations.

  Raven, the quiet guardian handling security and personnel. Lisa, the savvy strategist managing finances and risks. Lee, the eager lawyer navigating the legal complexities. And Adam, the founder, the visionary with the secret resource and the ultimate financial backing. It felt… like a real team. A powerful core.

  Each person brought unique skills, complementing the others. Adam looked around the table at each of them – their diverse personalities, their focused expressions.

  His heart swelled with a renewed sense of hope and determination. Building an empire suddenly felt less like a solitary, impossible dream and more like a challenging, achievable goal. With a team like this, maybe, just maybe, they could actually pull it off.

  After the introductions concluded and everyone settled back into their seats, Mr. Kim slowly walked back to his own chair. He sat down, but instead of immediately launching into the 'urgent matters' he'd mentioned, he remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed steadily on Adam. There was a different kind of weight in his look now, something serious, something that felt premeditated.

  Adam noticed the shift in the atmosphere immediately. The initial excitement of the team introductions faded slightly, replaced by a sense of anticipation.

  "Mr. Kim?" Adam prompted gently, raising an eyebrow in silent inquiry. "Is there something else? You mentioned urgent matters, but you seem… hesitant."

  Mr. Kim took a deep breath, then looked deliberately around the table, meeting the eyes of Monica, Raven, Lisa, and Lee one by one, as if ensuring they were all present and accounted for, all part of what he was about to say. When his gaze finally returned to Adam, his tone was quiet, but serious and deliberate.

  "Adam," Kim stated calmly, "before we dive into the operational challenges, the team… we've discussed something amongst ourselves. We've made a decision." He paused, letting the words hang in the air.

  The others around the table shifted slightly in their seats, their eyes also fixed on Kim, then flickering towards Adam. A current of shared understanding seemed to pass between them, excluding Adam for a moment. Adam’s heart began to beat a little faster. A decision? About what? Without him?

  Adam frowned slightly, a knot of unease forming in his stomach. "A decision?" he repeated, his voice filled with confusion and a sudden hint of concern. "A decision about what, Kim? You haven't discussed any major decisions with me yet." He tried to keep his tone neutral, but the surprise, and maybe a touch of suspicion, was hard to hide.

  Kim exhaled slowly, choosing his words with care. "It's about our compensation, Adam," he said quietly. "Specifically, the salaries." He paused again, letting the topic land. "We've decided… we don't want the high salaries you offered."

  The statement hit Adam like a physical shock. He blinked, stunned into silence for a second. Don't want the salaries? He had offered Kim two million dollars a year! He had planned to offer Monica, Lee, Lisa, and even Raven similarly generous packages to secure their loyalty and expertise! Why would they turn that down? It made no sense. Confused and completely blindsided, Adam pushed his chair back abruptly, the legs scraping loudly on the floor as he surged to his feet.

  "What?!" he exclaimed, unable to keep the surprise and confusion out of his voice. "What do you mean you don't want the salaries? I don't understand!" His eyes darted around the table, searching the faces of the others – Monica’s calm expression, Raven’s impassive one, Lisa’s thoughtful look, Lee’s slightly nervous one. Were they all in agreement? What was going on?

  Before Kim could explain further, Monica sighed softly, a sound that held a hint of gentle exasperation mixed with resolve. She looked directly at Adam, her gaze steady and clear.

  "Kim, just get to the point, you're confusing him," Monica said calmly, cutting through the tension. She then turned her full attention to Adam, her voice firm but not unkind. "Adam," she explained simply, directly. "What Kim means is this: we discussed it after he recruited us and told us about the initial offer he accepted. We all agree.

  Instead of taking large, fixed salaries right now – money that the company needs for operations, for equipment, for growth – we would prefer to take minimal salaries, just enough to cover basic living expenses." She paused, letting that sink in, then delivered the crucial part. "In exchange, we want company shares. Equity. Ownership."

  Her words were simple, direct, and utterly unexpected. Company shares. They didn't just want to be well-paid employees; they wanted to be partners. They wanted a stake in the future success – or failure – of Fire Corporation.

  They were willing to bet on the company, on Adam's vision (and his mysterious resources), sacrificing immediate financial security for the potential of a much larger payoff down the road if they succeeded.

  A heavy silence fell over the room again, thicker this time. Adam stared at Monica, then looked around at the others, seeing nods of confirmation from Lisa and Lee, even a slight, almost imperceptible tilt of the head from Raven. They were all serious. They had discussed this, agreed on it together.

  'Company shares…' Adam thought silently, his mind reeling. He slowly sank back into his chair, the abrupt anger replaced by stunned contemplation. He placed a hand over his mouth, trying to process the weight of their offer, the implications.

  This wasn't just a financial decision; it was a profound statement of belief. It meant they weren't just here for the paycheck, however large. They were willing to tie their own fortunes directly to the success of Fire Corporation.

  They were investing their time, their expertise, and their futures in his dream. It was a level of commitment, of trust, that went far beyond a typical employer-employee relationship, especially for a company that didn't even technically exist beyond paperwork and a non-operational refinery yet.

  The room remained silent, all eyes on Adam. He could feel their collective gaze, the weight of their expectation, the hope underlying their bold proposal. His approval, his acceptance of their offer, felt like it would solidify their bond, truly forge them into a unified team ready to face the impossible challenges ahead. But it also meant giving up a piece of his ownership, sharing control, tying himself even more closely to their fates. He needed to think, carefully.