Antonio woke before dawn, the city’s lights still shimmering across the glass walls of his penthouse suite. He dressed in a crisp navy suit, eyes reflecting ambition more than sunlight. By 7:30 a.m., he was in Deluca Industries’ headquarters—moving through polished corridors where assistants greeted him with file summaries and nods, his name on every screen.

First up: a status meeting with the board. They gathered around a walnut table under recessed lighting, faces ...