32The room fell silent as Eleanor’s words sank in. A few board members exchanged glances, some raising their eyebrows in surprise, while others kept their expressions carefully neutral. Allvar could sense the tension in the air, but he stood tall, determined not to let it show.One of the older board members, a man with silver hair and a sharp gaze, was the first to speak. "Mr. Falck," he said, his tone even but edged with skepticism, "you’ve been with us for—what? A few days? And now you’re heading our most critical project?"Allvar cleared his throat, meeting the man's eyes. "Yes, sir. I understand this might seem sudden, but I assure you I’m up for the challenge.""Challenge?" A woman with a sharp voice interjected from the other side of the table. She leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. "This isn’t just any project, Mr. Falck. It’s the cornerstone of our future growth. We need more than assurances. We need results."Eleanor stepped in, her voice calm but firm. "You’ll get results

34A few days later, Allvar arranged a meeting with the team from his department to discuss the upcoming project. As he approached the glass-walled meeting room, he could already feel the disdainful stares boring into him through the transparent panels. Dressed in a simple gray T-shirt, dark jeans, and a pair of plain sneakers, he knew his outfit would draw attention—especially from people who judged worth by appearances.When he walked in, the whispering started immediately. No one even bothered to stand up to greet him as their superior. Allvar’s jaw tightened. He could hear the snickers, the faint muttering of sarcastic comments under their breath.“Is that our boss?” a man near the end of the table mumbled to his colleague, barely containing his laughter. “I thought they were letting in the janitor.”Another woman, sitting close to the front, smirked. “Who knew casual Friday applied to every day for him?”Allvar clenched his fists, his patience thinning as the group continued to

36Allvar took a deep breath as he sat down, preparing to address the board again. The room was still buzzing with a mix of anticipation and lingering tension from the previous exchange. He scanned the faces before him, feeling the weight of their expectations. "Thank you all for your patience," Allvar began, keeping his tone steady. "Let’s move on to the next agenda item—the international expansion plan."The woman who had been chewing gum leaned back in her chair, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Oh, I can’t wait to hear more of your bold ideas, Mr. Falck," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm."Right?" chimed in one of her supporters, a tall man with a casual smirk. "I bet it’s going to be just as thrilling as the gum debate."Allvar felt his jaw clench but forced himself to remain composed. "Our primary focus will be on Southeast Asia, where we have identified significant opportunities for growth.""Is that before or after you tell us how to get rid of chewing gum in me

38As he reached the living room, Allvar paused outside the door, his heart pounding in his chest. He took a deep breath, bracing himself for whatever news or lecture was coming this time.“Come in, son!” his father’s booming voice called from inside, filled with warmth. "I’m glad you’re here."Allvar pushed open the door, forcing a smile as he stepped into the room. “Dad, you wanted to see me?”His father sat comfortably on the plush couch, a knowing smile already playing on his lips. “Yes, I did. There are a few things we need to talk about. Specifically, your future—”Allvar cut him off with a sarcastic tone, crossing his arms. “Oh, great. More surprises? Should I brace myself for another bombshell? Or is this the part where you reveal I have a long-lost brother who’s next in line for the company?”His father chuckled softly, motioning for him to take a seat. “Nothing that dramatic this time, I promise. Sit down, son. It’s not that kind of talk.”“All right,” Allvar replied, ploppi

40The days following Allvar's promotion were far from smooth. Resentment simmered beneath the surface, and the tension among his colleagues became palpable. Every time Allvar entered a room, conversations would abruptly stop, and hostile eyes followed his every move.One morning in the break room, the whispers behind him were louder than usual as he poured himself a cup of coffee. He didn’t need to turn around to know they were talking about him."Can you believe this?" Jake, one of the more senior employees, muttered to Edgar, his voice low but full of disdain. "Ms. Westwood must’ve completely lost it. There’s no way this kid deserves Marcus's position."Edgar leaned in closer, sneering. "The guy has no clue what he's doing. You think he can handle Marcus's clients? Please. He’ll crack in no time." He shot a look at Allvar, who stood rigidly by the coffee machine.Allvar tightened his grip on the cup. The temptation to turn around and say something was strong, but he forced himself