122Derek pulled up to Victoria’s house and put the car in park. She glanced over at him, her expression hesitant yet determined.“Are we really doing this, Derek?” she asked, her voice tinged with a hint of vulnerability. “Are we really going after him?”Derek gave a firm nod. “Yes, Victoria. We have a deal.” He looked at her directly, hoping to assure her that he was just as committed.She bit her lip, searching his face. “I just need to hear it again. You’re with me on this, right? You’re not going to back out?”“Yes, Victoria.” He softened his tone, adding, “We’re in this together. No turning back.”Finally, she nodded, her resolve hardening. “Alright, then.” She pushed open the car door, stepping out onto the curb. “Have a nice evening, Derek. Thanks for the ride.”He nodded, watching her until she disappeared inside her house. With a sigh, he leaned back against the seat and rubbed his temples, exhausted from the afternoon. But just as he was about to drive off, his phone buzzed

124First stop was Edgar’s office. Clarabelle took a deep breath, steeling herself as she approached Edgar’s office. She knocked softly, the sound barely penetrating the tension of the day. After a moment, Edgar’s muffled voice called from within, “Come in.”Pushing the door open, she stepped inside to find Edgar, Ms. Abbott, and Jake huddled around a stack of papers. The air was thick with unease, their whispered conversations abruptly silenced as she entered.Edgar looked up, irritation flashing in his eyes. “Clarabelle,” he said, clearly surprised to see her. “What do you want?”Clarabelle squared her shoulders, trying to project confidence. “Mr. Falck has requested your presence in his office. Immediately.”Ms. Abbott’s brows shot up, her surprise evident. “Now? He expects all of us?”“Yes,” Clarabelle replied firmly, meeting each of their gazes. “All of you. He wants to speak with you… now.”A heavy silence hung in the air as the three exchanged uneasy glances. Edgar scoffed, a

126“Ah, there you are,” he said, his voice smooth but carrying an undercurrent of authority. “I was beginning to wonder if you’d decided to ignore my request.”The three of them stepped inside, their faces a mixture of defiance and resignation. “We’re here,” Ms. Abbott said, her tone clipped.“Good,” he replied, leaning back in his chair with a calculated calmness. “I was just about to discuss some crucial changes that will affect all of you.”The tension in the room intensified. Edgar, arms crossed defiantly, was the first to respond. “What changes? Are you planning to shake things up just because you can?” he asked, his tone laced with skepticism.Ms. Abbott shot him a warning look, but Edgar was undeterred. “We’ve already been through enough turmoil without your interference. We’re not interested in your power plays.”Allvar raised an eyebrow, his irritation apparent. “You didn’t attend the meeting earlier, which was mandatory. As the head of the board, I expect all of you to be p

128“All right, listen up!” Allvar’s voice cut through the room, his normally calm tone hardened with irritation. “I’ve warned you all repeatedly, but this is the last time. If anyone misses another meeting, there will be severe consequences. We’re not running a casual club here. This company’s future depends on every one of you taking your positions seriously.”The room fell silent, a thick tension settling over the group. They exchanged uneasy glances, anger simmering just beneath the surface.“Understood?” Allvar pressed, his gaze steely as he looked at each of them in turn, letting his stare linger.One by one, they nodded, though begrudgingly. Edgar, however, was not as willing. His expression was dark, and when he finally nodded, it was more of a reluctant jerk of his head. “Yeah, we get it,” he muttered, not even bothering to mask the disdain in his voice.“Good.” Allvar’s lip twitched with a slight smirk as he leaned back, clearly satisfied. “You’re dismissed. We’ll reconvene

130As soon as Edgar, Jake, and Ms. Abbott left his office, Allvar leaned back in his chair, a small smirk spreading across his face. Today had gone better than expected. Not only had he managed to put those three in their place, but he’d finally taken down Victoria Harper, their resident troublemaker. The satisfaction he felt was almost euphoric.“Well, well, Victoria,” he thought to himself, “You thought you could get away with leaking company secrets and playing your little games? Not anymore. You’ve been a thorn in my side for too long, and today, I finally got to see you walk out that door for good.”He chuckled under his breath, the sound low and dark in the empty office. “And calling you out in front of everyone, too... That was priceless. You thought you were untouchable, didn’t you?” He shook his head, still reveling in the memory. “What a good bitch you were, indeed. But now you’re out, and I can finally move on without worrying about your petty betrayals.”As for Edgar, Jak