Tim took Lorena's advice seriously and did not meddle with anything that Black Mask was up to. That did not mean he turned a blind eye to whatever the crime lord was doing. He was just very careful not to get caught doing anything that would go against him.

After all, he was at his mercy and couldn't afford to take any risks.

By then Drake Corporate was finally out of debt due to Black Mask taking care of the finances and controlling the shares in the background. But that meant he had full control over the company and could use it in any way he pleased.

The new partners who had recently started investing in Drake Corporate were also frontmen posted cleverly by the crime lord himself to act as business associates while they were working under him.

So to the world, it seemed the bankrupt company was finally getting stable due to some lucky investors willing to give it a chance. And that was exactly when Roman intended to play his trump card by bringing Tim right into the heart of his father's company.

He was looking at everything from a broader perspective, one that an average Gothamite wouldn't notice.

Reestablishing Drake Corporate and making Tim the CEO in place of his father gave Roman a lot of opportunities for his own not-so-legal business.

The black money he earned year-round could easily be converted to white through investments made into Drake Corporate. In return, it would generate even more revenue and provide him with another stronghold in the corporate world.

And if Drake Corporate rose to its former glory, he would be directly controlling Gotham's economy rather than just controlling the underworld dealings. It could give Wayne Enterprises quite a competition if only he played his cards right.

It was a long game but a highly beneficial one for Roman Sionis who would not even be held accountable for anything that happened in Drake Corporate's name because officially, he had nothing to do with it.

And yet he had everything to do with it, the only difference was that no one other than Tim knew the reason behind it.

With a CEO as young as Timothy Drake, it would create quite a hype in the press and people would be even more intrigued about Drake Corporate. They might get new investors and a new clean image despite all the darkness brewing underneath.

They might gain the sympathy of the masses, pitying the poor kid for having to look after his father's company. That could give Black Mask a full reign to do whatever he wished under cover of Drake Corporate.

Tim, even if he was made the CEO of his company, would still not have the power to oppose him and if anything happened that could expose the illegal business running behind Drake Corp's cover, Tim would have to take the fall for it.

If something went wrong, people would eventually blame the inexperienced CEO for unforeseen losses and controversial decisions. No one would see the puppeteer controlling his strings.

No fingers would be pointed at Black Mask.

It was a long game indeed and Black Mask had only to gain from every move he played.

Or at least that's the way it would be if everything went according to his plans.

Unfortunately, an unexpected rise from the dead was destined to bring Black Mask's empire and all his plans crashing down on him very soon.

***

The sterile scent of the hospital greeted Tim as he entered the quiet room where his father lay motionless. Machines hummed softly, monitoring the steady rhythm of Jack Drake's vital signs. The room was filled with an unsettling stillness that penetrated through his bones, making him realize the weight of mortality.

Tim approached the bedside, his gaze fixed on the figure lying there, vulnerable and unresponsive. His father, Jack Drake, once one of the most influential men in Gotham had been motionless for years by then. There was a time when everything was in his reach yet as he lay still in front of him, he was detached from life itself.

"Morning, Dad," Tim approached him cautiously, greeting him but receiving no answer like it had been ever since Jack lapsed into a comatose state. "It's me, Tim. I hope you can hear me. I have a lot to tell you."

Tim's voice, a whisper amidst the hushed atmosphere, held a mix of relief and yearning. He pulled up a chair and sat beside Jack, studying the lines etched on his father's face.

The coma had stolen Jack's voice, but Tim spoke nonetheless as if the words could bridge the gap between them.

"I have to attend my first board meeting tomorrow. They have made me the CEO of Drake Corporate. You always said I would inherit the company after you and had to look after it if you couldn't. That's what I'm doing now... I'm doing my duty. Just like you said," as Tim spoke, he reached for his father's hand, feeling the warmth of his fingers against the coolness of Jack's skin.

"Things aren't easy for me but I won't back down," even in that one-sided conversation, Tim's words held a promise, "I've just started getting everything back. I've got the company back and I'll make sure it never faces closure again. Do you know, that Drake Corporate is no longer in debt? We managed to pay it all off, Dad, we did... We had to sell Drake Manor but I'll get it back to you one day, I promise. I'll make sure Drake Corporate flourishes so well that I'll be able to buy our home again. You can hear me, right? It's good news, isn't it?"

His voice was cracking with the weight of those words. He had hoped Jack would miraculously wake up on learning that his company was coming out of bankruptcy. And he gave it a try but it shattered that hope, just like he feared it would.

"I need you now more than ever because there is so much that I have yet to learn and it would have been so much better if you could guide me. I feel like I can't trust anyone else and that's why I just come here and talk to you so much, you know. I'm sorry if I bother you. I... I just don't know where else I should go."

Tim's gaze lingered on his father's face, searching for any sign of recognition, a flicker of response.

But there was nothing. Just like every single time he came to visit, no sign could hint at Jack's recovery.

There was no sign that he had heard anything that came out of Tim's mouth either. No sign at all.

A gentle sigh escaped the boy's lips as he stood up to leave. He cast one last glance at his father, the weight of responsibility ever persistent on his young shoulders.

"I've got to go now," he breathed, remorse lacing his tone, "I'll come back again soon. I hope I'll be able to see you awake then. I really hope... Please, get well soon."

With a heavy heart, Tim exited the room, leaving behind the silent hope that one day, the man who had built the very foundations of Drake Corporate would open his eyes to witness the legacy being shaped by his son.

He hoped that day would come soon and his father would understand everything Tim was doing in his power to bring his company back to its former glory.

He was following Jack's words after all. He was surviving in that dog-eat-dog world by doing all he could to protect the company and his family's reputation.

He was trying to be the perfect son his parents always wanted him to be even if they couldn't see him right then.

Tim had put everything on the line for his father and his company. He hoped and prayed that all his efforts wouldn't go in vain.

***