Sterne: Origins (Claimed by Sterne, #1)

Every empire begins with a man who refuses to break. Julian Sterne has nothing but a brilliant idea, a failing bank account, and a workshop held together by hope. For three years he claws his way through collapsing markets, unreliable suppliers, and the constant threat of ruin. But survival in the world of manufacturing and high-stakes tech means more than skill - it demands discipline, leverage, and the ability to navigate people as volatile as the deals he chases. Across boardrooms, factories, and late-night negotiations in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, Julian meets the figures who will shape-and test-him: Lorene, whose unwavering structure sharpens him into someone capable of leading. Wu Fat, a factory owner who teaches him the realities of power in China's manufacturing world. Vivian, whose dangerous temptations threaten everything he has built. Elena, whose insight-and interest-could become the key to true expansion. Together, they draw him into a world where deals are personal, loyalty has a cost, and integrity is often the last currency left. As orders surge beyond his capacity and one wrong choice could destroy everything, Julian must confront the truth: he is no longer fighting to survive. He is learning to dominate the very system that once threatened to crush him. Origins is a sharp, addictive blend of entrepreneurial struggle, psychological depth, and intimate human connection-a prequel novel about ambition, identity, and the price of becoming the man capable of building an empire. Origins will appeal to readers drawn to high-stakes business drama, complex power-dynamic relationships, international settings, and slow-burn character transformation where ambition, desire, and morality collide.