The golden afternoon sun kissed Luna's flawless skin, who was lying on a lounger covered with soft white pillows, strategically positioned next to the infinity pool that reflected the blue sky as if the whole world had turned into a mirror for her.
The white bikini with gold details, from the latest collection of a French brand, did more than highlight her perfect silhouette, it announced, shamelessly, that Luna Malroth was at her peak.
Holding a glass of pitaya juice with collagen (a gift from a brand desperately trying to sponsor Diamante Tycoon), she yawned like a cat bored with her own luxury.
"Ivy, talk to me... without using technical terms, please."
Beside her, standing under an enchanted parasol that regulated the temperature according to Luna's mood, Ivy projected an ethereal panel in pastel tones, with real-time graphs of the newly-officialized global corporation.
"Very well, Miss Luna," Ivy said in a soft voice. "Thanks to the support of Matthew Solarius, the paperwork for the founding of Diamante Tycoon Group was finalized early this morning at the imperial administrative core."
"Uh-huh... and the little robots?"
"The 20 specialized human-robots designated for the first phase are operational. The units were separated by specialty: finance, corporate architecture, IT, security, design, process engineering, accounting..."
"Ivy..." Luna moaned, yawning and turning to the side, her head resting on her arm. "Sun. Solar pajamas. Tanning body. Brain in power-saving mode. Translate: is everything moving along?"
"Yes." Ivy smiled. "The Stellar Crown Business Complex has officially begun construction. The five buildings are already undergoing internal work, receiving specific modules and supplies for each division."
"Hmm..." Luna replied lazily, wiggling her toes in the water. "And is it pretty? I want to see it aesthetically, not functionally."
"Luxurious and futuristic."
"Ah, so chic..." she murmured, tossing her hair back. "And the budget?"
Ivy projected a graph.
Even at rest, Luna glanced at it out of the corner of her eye.
"Currently, with the personal resources available from the three of you, you, Lumine, and Nikoly, the group has 31 billion dollars in cash, even after deducting the investments from the Gala auction."
"That doesn't even include the value of my Tycoon System rewards, right?"
"Exactly, Miss. Those are the company's 'official' funds. Your personal benefits remain under separate custody."
Luna smiled, almost childishly. "Perfect. Nothing like letting money work while the tan hits at the right angle."
Ivy chuckled. "It's important to note that with Miss Victória's financial blockade, the stock division remained unchanged."
"Hmm. She'll be fine... She has Kael now." Luna laughed mischievously, taking another sip of her juice. "A polar prince fixes any emotional trauma."
"Indeed. And even with the Lancaster cut, Victória's public image is recovering quickly thanks to the Gala's events and support on social media. In fact, there are hashtags like #FreeVictória and #KaelTakeMyThrone."
"The whole world craves royal soap opera." Luna commented, pulling her sunglasses down and staring at the AI. "What matters is... the empire is being built. I just have to decide if I want to participate more actively... or just maintain my throne of shadow and glitter."
"One thing at a time." Ivy said. "The sun is great today. And your vitamin D level has increased."
"Perfect. I'm getting pretty inside and out. Now... tell Nikoly to schedule the next creative meeting in about two days. If she's going to drag me to a report meeting, she'd better bring French macarons."
"Noted."
Luna stretched, took off her sunglasses, and gently dipped into the pool, the warm water caressing her skin as if treating her like royalty.
The world could burn outside. But her? She knew she was exactly where she needed to be.
The pool's crystal-clear water wrapped around Luna's body like liquid silk.
Sunlight reflected on the gentle waves around her, but... nothing changed.
She floated on her back to the center of the pool, extended her arms like a summer goddess, and yawned before whispering. "Is it done yet...?"
Paused. Observed her skin tone. And huffed.
With a light dive, she returned to the edge of the pool, resting her elbows on the marble and propping her chin on her hands like a frustrated child.
"Ivy," she said with boredom. "Answer me something... Why the hell can't I tan?"
The AI's translucent holography floated beside the pool, displaying real-time medical data on Luna.
"Your body is under the permanent effects of the Tycoon System's Body Optimizer. It regulates and maintains all physiological levels at peak perfection. This includes stable melanin, cellular protection against solar radiation, and a regeneration rate so high that, even if you got burned, your skin would self-regenerate in seconds."
Luna frowned. "So...?
"Your skin will remain perfect. And snow-white. Always."
"...Unacceptable." She buried her face in her arms. "How am I supposed to flaunt in a golden bikini if I still look like a porcelain doll? I wanted that vibe... rich and tanned in the Maldives, you know?"
"Would you like me to simulate a tan projection in your visual aura field?"
"No." Luna raised her gaze. "That's too desperate. I refuse."
Still huffing, she rose from the water, droplets falling in slow motion as if even the water loved dramatizing for her.
She sat on the edge of the pool, grabbed a towel, and began drying off distractedly.
"Okay. Give me a proper update now. How's the Africa case? That unfortunate foundation theft."
Ivy immediately switched the graphs and holograms.
Maps of the African continent floated in the air, with red dots blinking over affected areas.
"The Malroth Foundation lawyers continue gathering evidence. The frauds involved official documents, shell companies headquartered in local governments, and illegal use of sustainable projects as fronts. The case already spans 12 countries and..."
"Summary, Ivy. I'm having a solar PMS."
"The head of legal believes it could take years for there to be a real chance of accountability. Especially with interference from regional nobles and high-ranking politicians."
Luna crossed her legs elegantly at the pool's edge and snapped her fingers. "Then cancel it. Send a message to the foundation president saying there will be no more investment in that continent until they resolve this scandalous mess."
"Understood." Ivy blinked.
The AI began projecting the message, but before sending it, commented.
"Oh, and with the foundation's investments frozen, the emails have piled up to 10,342,190 requests for help, proposals, partnerships, open letters, symbolic protests, and donation campaigns."
Luna raised an eyebrow with boredom. "A pile of sophisticated beggars... Delightful."
"Shall I restart global investments?"
Luna looked at the clear sky for a moment. Her face serene, but her eyes sharp as blades.
"No," she answered with glacial calm. "Let's use human greed as leverage. If all these countries, NGOs, governments, and companies want the foundation's money... let them pressure Africa for me."
Ivy opened a graph with geopolitical projections, showing how freezing investments could cause chain reactions.
"Indirect global pressure tactic. Interesting."
Luna smiled sideways, like someone watching a city burn and thinking: "Spontaneous combustion or poetry?"
"It'll seem like a humanitarian decision... but it's pure influence play."
"Would you like to prioritize any continent in the meantime?"
"..." Luna was silent for a second. Then murmured. "Matthew would be happy if I invested in the Phoenix Empire..."
"Did you say something, Miss?"
"Yes. I said... it's time to use money wisely." She stretched her arms and yawned. "Release full investment in the Phoenix Empire. Choose projects that have social impact, generate media buzz, and are visually beautiful. Oh, and that could become international magazine features with my name involved. Important."
"Mission set."
The AI vanished into particles of light, leaving Luna alone, still glowing, like a modern goddess at the edge of her Olympic pool.
She sighed, thoughtful.
Hours later, as the sun gave way to the moon...
Luna stared at her reflection in the huge bathhouse mirror next to the pool.
Even after hours under the scorching sun, her skin remained impeccably white, translucent, almost ethereal, like lab-generated snow.
"Ugh..." she grumbled, wrapping the towel around her hair. "Looks like I was sculpted in Eden's Photoshop. A Nordic goddess against my will..."
With an irritated sigh, Luna rose from the lounger and walked back into the mansion's colossal interior. The marble reflected her image as her bare feet made almost no sound.
The mansion was silent, except for the occasional whispers of the environmental intelligence system.
Entering her office, Luna sat in her armchair and activated the holographic meeting with a simple gesture.
Three silhouettes began to form before her.
And in seconds:
Victória, even with her hair up and no makeup, looked like a born CEO with the face of someone who tamed a rebellious republic.
Lumine, with the air of a noble empress, sipped tea while observing intently.
Nikoly wore rectangular glasses and typed on two devices at once.
"Well..." Luna said, with a lazy, feline voice. "First official meeting of Diamante Tycoon Group. And let's start the right way: with surreal profits."
The friends looked at her curiously.
Luna snapped her fingers and a translucent hologram expanded above the table: a futuristic, elegant bottle floated spinning in the air, with a soft glow and golden seal.
"I present to you our first baby: UltraClean LUX™ Facial Mask."
"Globally patented formula. Third-generation purifying nanoparticle technology. Removes toxins, impurities, and even bad energies, according to influencers."
"Production cost?" Nikoly asked, adjusting her glasses.
"Forty-five cents per unit." Luna replied, with a smile that said "I'm going to take over the world with skincare."
Lumine almost choked on her tea. Victória widened her eyes. Nikoly was already doing mental math.
"Suggested retail price?" Lumine asked quietly.
Luna extended a finger and pointed to the number in the air: $120. Per unit.
All three screamed together. "WHAT?!"
"Yes." said Luna, stretching in her chair like someone bored with so much anticipated success. "And honestly, it's going to sell like unicorn holy water. We already tested it on 500 high-class consumers in the Phoenix Empire. Satisfaction: 99.9%."
"And that 0.1%?" Victória asked, suspicious.
"A girl said her skin became 'too perfect' and now she needs sunglasses to look at herself in the mirror." Luna shrugged.
Nikoly opened a graph. "If we sell 1 million units in the first quarter just in the Phoenix Empire, the return will be $120 million. Investing only $450,000."
"Profit over 26,000%..." Lumine whispered. "That almost seems illegal."
"Illegal is the world not having given us our first trillion yet." said Luna, laughing.
"Agreed." murmured Victória, already opening her holographic notebook. "And how will we start production?"
"I've already programmed everything." Luna replied. "I just want authorization to release $1 billion from the corporate account to start mass production and marketing campaigns. It will only be launched in the Phoenix Empire at this first stage. Then, globally."
"Approved." said all three at once.
"Perfect." Luna gestured and Ivy, now in her elegant holographic form with a financial director's dress, confirmed the fund release and activated the business robots to start manufacturing.
"The company headquarters should be ready in a month." Luna commented, already relaxing as if she had conquered the world. "Until then, you handle the campaigns? I need... to meditate under the sun and fail miserably again."
The girls laughed and said goodbye with farewells worthy of a queens-of-capital council.
As soon as the call ended, Ivy materialized again beside Luna, with a holographic screen projecting dozens of scheduled meetings.
"Miss, with the official registration of the group and the paperwork acceleration done by Matthew in the Phoenix Empire's government, the companies in which you hold shares via Tycoon System rewards have begun requesting your presence in executive meetings."
The AI paused dramatically, and the list scrolled.
"Your presence is... expected in at least 38 meetings."
Luna stared at the screen.
A silence.
She tilted her chin, eyes half-closed. Then spoke in a dry tone. "Ivy..."
"Yes?"
"The Tycoon System sold me a dream. An empire based on idleness. Why, in the name of the Holy Celestial Laziness, am I facing a marathon of packed schedules?"
"Because you are the CEO and co-founder of one of the most promising groups in the modern world."
Luna made a face. "That's no excuse. I want my premium inactivity package with snacks and facial massage included."
"I can schedule a few minutes between meetings for a break with ice cream, if you wish."
Luna huffed. "That'll have to do. And Ivy... prioritize meetings with handsome men. I need visual motivation."
"Affirmative."
The AI disappeared, and Luna threw herself back into the armchair, staring at the office ceiling as if expecting angels to fall from it and work in her place.
"Entrepreneurship is exhausting..." she murmured.