Ethan felt warmth spread through him at her gesture, but he kept his expression neutral. He stood at the head of the table, tension thick in the air, as he laid out his proposal for a vote.The others were silent, their faces showing skepticism and deep thought. He could tell that not everyone was comfortable with the idea of him being the leader, but he had expected that. It would take more than just words to win them over.Finally, Denera broke the silence, her voice sharp. “You want us to vote just to make you the leader? What makes you think you’re the best choice, Ethan? We all bring something to the table.”Ethan met her gaze steadily. “I’m not saying you don’t, Denera. But this isn’t about what we bring individually. It’s about survival. We need someone who can make the tough calls. That’s me.”“Survival, huh?” Rhys leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with a smirk. “Sounds like you’re just grabbing at power. What makes you different from the rest of us?”Gerald frowned

Jason sat in his fully furnished office, facing his computer screen. The blue glow from his computer screen cast shadows across his face. His leather chair squeaked as he leaned back, his fingers tapping the desk rhythmically as he muttered to himself. The room was messy with papers, files, and half-empty coffee cups all over the place. It had been a long night, and his obsession was taking over. He was fixated on one thing—finding out everything about Laurel.He pulled up her Facebook profile on the screen, scanning thoroughly through her pictures, posts, and comments. "Laurel," he whispered, clicking on a photo of her smiling at some fancy event. She was pretty, no doubt, with those big green eyes and a smile that could light up a room. But there was something about her that seemed off.She was too perfect, too composed—this was an organized profile made to fool people. He scrolled further, digging into her old posts."Who were you before all this?" he muttered, clicking on a photo

Kenji reclined in the comfy leather chair, his fingers tapping restlessly on the armrest as he scrutinized the old man across from him. The atmosphere was thick with tension, almost suffocating as they locked eyes. The old man's proposition lingered between them like an unpleasant odor, and Kenji had no intention of making this easy.“So, let me get this straight,” Kenji started, his voice laced with sarcasm. “You want me to say that Ethan had nothing to do with human trafficking? That all the photos, the evidence, the gossip—everything—is just one big misunderstanding? And for this little favor, you’re offering me five million bucks?” He laughed derisively, shaking his head. “You must think I’m either desperate or completely clueless.”The old man’s face remained impassive. He was a veteran in these kinds of negotiations, but Kenji noticed the slight narrowing of his eyes and the barely perceptible tightening of his jaw. Kenji was getting under his skin, and that gave him a bit of sa

Denera was sipping a cold beer in a quiet area of the bar. With a look of anger on her face, she stared at her phone. She had previously requested a meeting with Jason via message, but he had not responded. In an effort to detach herself from the constant worry about him, she took a sizable sip. Her brain continued to float back to Jason, and the more she paused, the more unsettled she became. The stall was faintly lit, projecting a delicate gleam over her as she tasted her beverage. A figure suddenly walked up to her and entered the booth across from her. The newcomer leaned in and whispered something to Denera, attracting her attention. “Ethan is throwing the party at his house with the press. Did you not know?Denera’s eyes widened in shock. She nearly choked on her beer, her mind racing. “What?!” she exclaimed, louder than she intended. The noise from the bar seemed to swallow her words, but her panic was clearShe quickly pulled out her phone, her fingers flying over the screen a

Ethan stood in the grand foyer of his home, greeting guests as they arrived. His smile was polite, his handshake firm, but his mind was elsewhere. The elegant surroundings of the house, filled with chatter and laughter, couldn’t distract him from the growing worry he felt. He glanced at the door every few minutes, waiting.Finally, Sandra arrived. She stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room quickly. Ethan noticed the tension in her shoulders and the way she held her bag close, as if ready to run at any moment. He immediately excused himself from the group he was talking to and walked over to her.“Sandra,” he said warmly, his voice low so only she could hear, “I’m glad you’re here. Come with me.”Sandra nodded, her face pale but determined. Ethan placed a hand on the small of her back, guiding her through the crowd. They moved swiftly, avoiding the eyes of curious guests, until they reached a narrow hallway at the back of the house. Ethan opened a door that led outside, into a secl