Chapter 29: May Signing Unveiling

I tapped the screen and officially signed the digital co-ownership agreement. The second the document cleared, a bright system notification flashed in my field of vision:

[ Investment Complete: 50% Equity Stake Secured ]

[ Target Linked: Tiana ]

[ Status: Transformation / Glow-Up in Progress ]

[ System Cashback: $35,000,000 — LOCKED ]

[ Unlock Condition: Complete Tiana’s Organizational & Lifestyle Glow-Up (Establish proper workforce delegation, reduce personal operational strain, and scale company structure) ]

I looked down at the notification, then over at Tiana. The system made total sense. The cashback was tied directly to her personal transformation, just like it had been with May and Chloe.

By dumping $1,000,000 of real capital into the company, we weren’t just expanding factories—we were indirectly investing in her. Looking at her closely now, the fatigue showed. Dark circles sat under her eyes, her shoulders were tense, and her desk was piled high with operational files she had been managing entirely on her own. She was running herself into the ground because the business lacked the high-level employees and managerial infrastructure to relieve her workload.

With our cash injection, she could finally hire executive staff, delegate daily stress, and actually step back to breathe and take care of herself. Once her lifestyle shifted and the company structure stabilized, that massive $35M system vault would unlock completely.

I leaned against the desk, giving her a reassuring smile.

"Tiana," I said softly, catching her attention. "First order of business with our new capital: hire top-tier managers and double your core team by next week. You’ve been carrying this whole structure on your back for too long. It’s time you start delegating so you can actually enjoy running an empire."

Tiana blinked, letting out a long, heavy sigh of relief as if a mountain had just been lifted off her chest.

"You have no idea how long I’ve needed to hear that," she said, a genuine, relaxed smile finally breaking through her exhaustion. "Thank you. Truly."

We talked briefly for another ten minutes, wrapping up the immediate action plan before shaking hands. May, Chloe, and I stepped out of the office and walked back out to the car under the afternoon sun.

---

The media frenzy had reached a fever pitch over the next few days. Every major sports network, headline, and social media feed was running the exact same question on loop: Who scored the signature of the fastest woman alive?

The big corporate giants were still running wild with theories, completely unaware that we had already built our own table. I wasn’t about to let some third-party press outlet leak the story. I wanted to orchestrate the entire reveal myself, on our terms, and turn it into an absolute masterclass in brand launching.

We spent the next several days working around the clock to organize an exclusive, high-impact public signing event. We booked a top-tier venue in the heart of the city, invited every top-tier sports journalist, network camera crew, and industry insider, and set up a massive backdrop featuring May’s sleek, unbranded aesthetic alongside Tiana’s modern brand logo.

Behind the scenes, the shift was already taking effect. With the $1M capital baseline deployed, Tiana had already begun onboarding key operational managers to handle the heavy lifting, taking the crushing strain off her shoulders. She looked noticeably brighter, rested, and ready to step into the spotlight alongside us.

On the day of the reveal, the press room was packed wall-to-wall with flashing cameras and eager reporters shouting questions.

I walked out first, taking the center microphone, flanked by May looking like absolute royalty, Chloe holding the finalized legal folders, and Tiana representing the independent house that was about to shake the industry.

The room fell dead silent as I leaned into the mic.

"For the past week, everyone’s been asking which corporate giant bought May," I said, my voice echoing clearly through the hall. "The answer is simple: none of them. May doesn’t sell her name—she builds her own."

I gestured to the main screen behind us as the high-definition teaser video lit up the room, officially unveiling May’s signature independent line and our partnership with Tiana’s brand. The flashing cameras instantly went wild, capturing the birth of a new sports empire.

The cameras flashed in a continuous, blinding wall of light as the name dropped on the massive LED screens behind us: ZENITH.

The reporters and industry insiders sat in absolute stunned silence for a split second before the room erupted into chaos. Nobody saw it coming. The corporate executives in the audience looked like they had just seen a ghost—they had shown up expecting May to announce a standard endorsement deal with a billion-dollar titan, only to watch us reveal a brand-new, independent powerhouse built around her.

May handled the floor like a total veteran. She stepped up to the podium holding her official World Record plaque, the gold medal gleaming around her neck. Within seconds, paparazzi rushed the stage barrier, shouting questions over one another and thrusting microphones forward. May just smiled calmly, her posture radiating pure confidence as she began answering their questions, completely owning the spotlight.

While May kept the entire media circus glued to her every word, I stepped off to the side of the stage where Tiana was standing, watching the sea of reporters with wide, disbelieving eyes. The color had returned to her face, and the exhaustion that used to weigh her down was completely gone, replaced by a sharp, focused energy.

"I still can’t believe this is happening," Tiana said softly, turning to me with a deep, genuine smile. "Two weeks ago, Zenith was fighting just to get noticed by local distributors. Now every sports network in the world is broadcasting our logo live. I can’t thank you enough for taking a chance on us and bringing this level of capital and vision to the table."

"You built the foundation, Tiana," I replied smoothly, looking out over the crowded hall. "We just brought the spark. Now that we’ve got top executives handling your supply chain and operations, you get to focus on building Zenith into a legendary house."

She nodded, taking a deep breath as she watched May proudly hold up the World Record plaque for a wave of flashing cameras. "We’re going to build something incredible together."

Chloe smiled warm, bright, and completely relieved. Before answering, she stepped in close and planted a soft, lingering kiss on my cheek.

"I just wanted to say thank you," she whispered, pulling back slightly with her hands resting on my jacket. "Watching May up on that stage today... seeing what you’re doing for her and Tiana... it really means a lot to me. You’re actually changing people’s lives and giving them the power to control their own destiny. It’s amazing."

I gave her a small, knowing smile. "Just doing what needs to be done. Speaking of which—what about your legal paper and that final GPA? The portal should be updated by now, shouldn’t it?"

Her eyes lit up with a mix of nervous excitement and pure confidence. "Right! Let me check right now."

She pulled out her phone, opened the university student portal, and typed in her credentials while I leaned in over her shoulder. The loading icon spun for two tense seconds before the official semester breakdown flashed onto the screen:

ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPT — FINAL SEMESTER

Property & Corporate Law: A (4.0)

Legal Frameworks & Litigation: A (4.0)

Advanced Jurisprudence: A (4.0)

CUMULATIVE GPA: 4.00 / 4.00 — Highest Honors (Dean’s List)

"I DID IT!" Chloe squealed softly, showing me the screen with a massive grin. "Straight A’s! A perfect 4.0!"

Right on cue, a glowing, translucent system prompt lit up across my vision, finalizing the academic glow-up loop:

[ Quest Complete: Academic Transformation — Chloe ]

[ Final GPA Locked: 4.00 / 4.00 ]

[ Reward Unlocked: $500,000 Direct Cash Transfer ]

[ Account Balance Updated: $3,323,000 Liquid ]

"You crushed it, counselor," I said, pulling her into a quick embrace as the cash settled into my account. "Your uncle is going to have to find someone else to threaten."

"Oh, I can’t wait to see the look on his face at the graduation ceremony," she laughed, tucking her phone away.

I managed to steer May away from the sea of flashing cameras and shouting journalists, guiding her back to our private holding area. When I told her the news about Chloe locking in a perfect 4.0 GPA—and how we were riding high on another massive victory—May’s face lit up with that explosive, energetic smile of hers.

She threw her arm around Chloe’s shoulder, pulling her into a half-hug. "I knew you were going to destroy those exams! We’re literally unstoppable right now!"

"We definitely deserve a night off," I said, a dark smirk playing on my lips as I pulled out my phone. "And it just so happens an invitation to an exclusive celebrity after-party just landed in my inbox. Let’s go have some fun."