The Art of the Kill

The Peak Media boardroom wasn’t just a meeting space. It was a battlefield. An uninterrupted view of the city skyline—a reminder that from up here, the world below was nothing more than a chessboard. The long, gleaming conference table in the center of the room seemed to stretch forever, its sheer length designed not just for meetings, but for negotiations that ended in bloodless executions.

Victor Blackwell sat at the head of the table, fingers steepled, eyes unreadable. His charcoal suit was tailored to perfection, sharp enough to cut through the delusions of the men across from him.

To his right, Sebastian Greer, the composed enforcer, leaned back slightly, his arms folded—watching, waiting. Across from him, Oliver Crane, Peak’s financial mastermind, looked almost bored, though the faint smirk on his face revealed his amusement.

And then there was Genevieve Vaughn.

She sat with perfect posture, her manicured fingers resting lightly on the table. Her deep green eyes flickered between the men across from her and the trap tightening around them.

She had played this part before. And every time, it felt worse.

Across the table, Ryan Foster and Caleb Kim, co-founders of Infinity Streaming, sat with eager smiles, completely unaware of what was about to happen. They thought they were here to discuss a partnership, a chance to integrate their streaming service into PMG’s ecosystem. They had no idea what was actually happening.

Victor leaned forward, his voice smooth, rehearsed—the same tone he had used when acquiring Social X.

"Gentlemen, Peak Media Group is always looking toward the future. And we see Infinity Streaming as the next great frontier. The opportunity to revolutionize the streaming landscape together is... undeniable."

Ryan’s chest puffed out slightly at the words. He was the more excitable of the two, the one who believed in the romanticism of startups and innovative partnerships.

"Exactly what we were thinking, Victor," Ryan said eagerly. "Infinity Streaming has been growing exponentially, and with PMG's reach, this could be the perfect alignment."

Victor smiled—the kind of smile that had sealed a hundred deals and buried just as many.

"Of course. And let me be very clear—we aren’t here to dismantle what you’ve built. Quite the opposite. Our goal is to keep everything intact, to ensure that Infinity Streaming continues to thrive under its existing leadership, just with the resources and infrastructure to take it global."

The same lie he had told the investors before he gutted Social X.

Caleb, the quieter and more analytical of the two, adjusted his glasses. "We appreciate that, Victor. We’ve poured everything into this company—our time, our money, our vision. We want to make sure that any deal protects our team and what we’ve built."

Victor didn’t blink.

"Absolutely."

A beat of silence.

Sebastian adjusted his tie, stone-faced. Ollie exhaled through his nose, barely suppressing a smirk. And Genny... Genny barely moved, but inside, something twisted in her gut.

Because she had heard this script before. When Victor took Social X, he promised them everything. He told them he would protect what made the company special. He told them that their jobs were safe.

Then he walked into that building, fired everyone, and rebuilt Social X into something lean, ruthless, and—most importantly—under his control.

Now, it was happening again.

Caleb glanced toward Genny, sensing the smallest crack in the perfect facade. "Genny, you've been quiet. What are your thoughts?"

She froze for half a second before slipping on her practiced smile. "I think Infinity Streaming is positioned for something big. This deal could be transformative."

The words came out effortlessly, but she hated how easily they did.

Ryan grinned. "Exactly! This is going to be huge."

Victor leaned back, satisfied. "Then I think we’re in agreement."

The two founders exchanged a glance of relief.  

Dead men never saw the knife coming.

Ollie, who had sat silently for most of the meeting, finally spoke—his voice calm, detached.

"We'll move forward with the paperwork. Expect a finalized agreement by the end of the week."

Ryan and Caleb stood, shaking hands with Victor, grinning like they had just won.

Genny watched them, knowing that in six months, neither of them would be sitting at this table.

They had just sold their company. They just didn’t realize it yet.

Genny stood abruptly.

Victor raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong?"

She hesitated. "Nothing. I just—need some air."

She left before anyone could say anything. She had played her part. Smiled on cue. Stayed

quiet when needed. But it was always the same script. The same slaughter. And she had just helped gut another company.  At Peak Media Group, you either played the game. Or you got played.

Victor watched her go, his expression unreadable.

Sebastian chuckled. "She still has a conscience."

Victor swirled his whiskey, watching the door. “Not for long.”