Location: Private Suite, Five-Star Hotel, Dubai
Xavier Levi sat in the dimly lit room, his trembling hands wrapped around a glass of whiskey. Across from him, AK, the top private agent, watched him with unreadable eyes.
"I need your help," Xavier said finally. His voice was weak, drained of the confidence that once made him a giant in the shipping industry.
AK leaned back in his chair. "Tell me everything."
Xavier exhaled, as if trying to push out the weight of his mistakes.
The Stranger's Demand
"Two years ago, a man came to my office. He wasn't a businessman, not a government official—just a stranger. No name. No background. He told me to ship a container for him."
AK raised an eyebrow. "And?"
"I refused," Xavier said firmly. "My business doesn't work like that. Orders come through logistics companies, not random men walking into my office."
AK nodded. It was a reasonable move for a businessman like Xavier.
"But the next day… I got the news. Two of my ships were hijacked. Another was seized for drug trafficking."
Xavier's fingers gripped the glass tighter. "Then, that same man came back. He told me everything could be fixed—if I just signed the shipping documents."
AK's expression didn't change. "And you signed?"
Xavier nodded. "I had no choice."
Three hours later, everything was 'fixed.'
The hijacked ships were released.
The ship accused of drug trafficking was cleared.
PSC announced that the 'powder' found onboard wasn't drugs.
"For a moment, I felt relieved," Xavier admitted. "If they had confirmed it was drugs, my company would have been ruined. My legacy—destroyed."
AK folded his arms. "But that wasn't the end of it, was it?"
Xavier shook his head. "That was just the beginning."
The Silent Takeover
Over the next few months, mysterious containers kept moving through his fleet. At first, Xavier ignored them—too scared to ask questions.
But then, something felt off.
"I checked my company's shipping records… and one of my ships wasn't in my name anymore."
AK frowned. "What?"
"Not just one," Xavier whispered. "Four of my ships. Gone."
He had immediately contacted the flag state registry to demand an explanation.
The officer on the other end had checked the system, then hesitated before speaking.
"Sir, your ships are no longer under Levi Shipping."
Xavier's voice had gone dry. "Who owns them now?"
"A company called SSC Shipping."
Xavier's stomach had twisted. He had never heard of them.
Trying to keep calm, he had asked, "Who is the owner?"
The officer had hesitated before answering.
"A man named Royse."
Xavier's blood had turned ice cold.
He didn't know who Royse was… but he knew one thing.
His company was being stolen from under him.