91Emily's fingers slipped from Michael's, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I'm moving forward, meet me there, I'm continuing my search for the perfect clothes, haha!" she chirped, her voice echoing in the quiet office. With a heart filled with an indescribable mix of emotions, Michael exited the office. The cold, sterile environment was suddenly replaced by the vibrant colors and bustling noise of a high-end fashion store. Soon, he found Emily, arms full of garments, eyes gleaming with anticipation."Michael!" she exclaimed, dropping the clothes and dragging him towards a shelf adorned with a variety of exquisite purses and handbags. "Look at this!" she said, pointing at a particular purse that seemed to stand out from the rest.The purse was a Regalia from LuxeVogue. It was a splash of vibrant colors against the stark white shelf. The purse was crafted with precision, the leather smooth and unblemished. Gold accents adorned the bag, glinting under the store lights. It was a sophi

93Michael, still wearing his signature grin, looked at Samantha and Ryan with a twinkle in his eyes. "Never underestimate the quiet ones," he remarked, his voice calm but filled with a sense of victory.Emily couldn't hide her pride, a wide smile spreading across her face. She knew her brother was capable of surprising people, but this exceeded all expectations.The woman behind the counter regained her composure, a newfound respect evident in her features. "I apologize for my earlier judgment," she said sincerely, her tone now filled with respect.Michael nodded graciously, the satisfaction evident in his demeanor. "No worries. It happens. But thank you for helping me with the purchase."Samantha and Ryan remained silent, their disbelief still written all over their faces. The shop's atmosphere was thick with tension. Samantha's tear-streaked face contrasted sharply with the defiant glare from Michael. Ryan, standing beside Samantha, was a picture of arrogance, his jaw set in a har

95The evening was falling when the phone rang. On the other end was Douglas Edward's right-hand man. “Michael, it's time to decide on your position within your father's metallurgy company. your father would like to know what role you want to take in the company. He's ready to arrange everything. What'll it be?"Michael paused, contemplating his options. He knew he wanted to be in a position where he could gather information and uncover any suspicious activities within the company. He wanted to understand the ins and outs of the business, to see if there was anything shady going on. He knew the perfect way to do it. After a few moments of deep thought, he responded, "Tell my father that I would like to start as a simple worker. I want to blend in with the employees, extract information, and discover anything shady going on inside the company." He continued, "I want to glean information from the workers like me and uncover any suspicious dealings. After that, we can reassess my posit

"You better watch your mouth. I won't tolerate being blamed for something I didn't do."Struggling to catch his breath, Michael attempted to reason with Darren. "Put me down, Darren. I'm not blaming you. Just let go."Toby immediately stepped in, trying to diffuse the situation. "Darren, calm down! Let him go!"With a growl, Darren released his grip on Michael and stepped back, a mixture of frustration and anger still evident in his eyes. "This isn't over, if it happens again i'm going to beat the shit out of you," he muttered before storming away, leaving Michael shaken and bewildered.Toby helped Michael regain his footing and brushed off his coat. "Ignore him, mate. Darren's always been a loose cannon. Just focus on recovering and getting back on track."Michael nodded, grateful for Toby's support. "Thanks, Toby. I appreciate it."As they made their way back to the work table, Toby reassured Michael, "Don't let Darren get to you. We'll handle him if he tries anything again. Just ta

Darren, however, remained unperturbed, savoring his meal and drink. He took another bite of his food, followed by a sip of his beer, projecting an air of complete relaxation. Dismissing Michael, he mocked, "Ooh Toby, the knight ready to help his princess Michael, lol, that's fun." His companions joined in with laughter, further fueling the tension in the room.As Darren's companions joined in the laughter, their mockery towards Michael and Toby intensified. Selena, a close friend of Darren's, chimed in, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "Oh, Toby, aren't you just so brave defending your little buddy? How noble of you!"The rest of the group erupted into laughter once again. Mark, a longtime acquaintance of Darren, added fuel to the fire, "Yeah, Toby, maybe you should protect Michael with a shield and a sword next time. I bet that would make him feel safe!"Laughter filled the room, but Michael felt his face growing hot with embarrassment and anger. He looked directly at Darren and his