51Derek’s heart skipped a beat. If what Dean was saying was true, this could be the leverage he needed to take Allvar down once and for all. “Why are you telling me this? What’s in it for you?”Dean’s voice was casual, almost playful. “Let’s just say Allvar’s success doesn’t exactly align with my interests either. We both stand to gain if we can knock him down a peg.”Derek’s mind was spinning, weighing the risks and rewards. He didn’t trust Dean—he never had—but if this information was real…“Alright,” Derek said, his voice firm. “What do you want in exchange?”“Nothing much,” Dean replied, the smirk evident in his tone. “Just a little favor down the line. I’ll let you know when the time comes.”Derek’s stomach twisted. He didn’t like owing anyone, least of all Dean. But if this was his chance to regain control, he had no choice. “Fine. What’s the information?”There was a pause, and then Dean’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Check Allvar’s contract with Waterfall. Specifically, the c

53 They walked down the long marble hallway, crossing several guards who stood at attention as they passed. Allvar couldn’t help but notice the sheer luxury of everything around him. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their lights dancing on the pristine floors. Expensive art adorned the walls, each piece more extravagant than the last."Does everything in this house have to be so... over-the-top?" Allvar muttered, half to himself.Lorentz glanced at him, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Your father likes to keep things grand. It's part of the image, young master."Allvar rolled his eyes but stayed silent as they continued down the corridor, finally reaching a set of large double doors at the far end. Lorentz unlocked the doors with a swipe of a key card, and they stepped outside, the sun warming Allvar’s skin. A paved path stretched ahead, lined with carefully trimmed hedges, and at the end of it, the garage loomed.They passed a few more guards, all wearin

55“You don’t know a damn thing about me,” Allvar said, his voice low but steady, trying to keep his cool.The man in front of him, Mark, looked surprised for a second, but quickly his smirk returned. “Really?” Mark scoffed. “You’re just some spoiled rich kid, right? Got everything handed to you on a silver platter, and now you think driving a car like this makes you somebody? News flash, you’re nobody.”Allvar’s jaw clenched, his fingers tightening around the steering wheel. He knew this type of guy all too well—the ones who preyed on others' insecurities just to feel better about themselves. But Allvar wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction.Before Allvar could respond, one of Mark’s buddies stepped forward, looking uneasy. “Hey, Mark, maybe we should just let him go,” the guy muttered. “This isn’t worth it, man. He’s not worth the trouble.”Mark shot him an irritated glare. “Shut up, Travis. I’m not done here.”Allvar could feel the tension rising, but he stayed silent, eyes lo

57A week had passed, and Derek was beyond impatient. He sat in his office, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the wooden desk, the ticking of the clock the only sound filling the room. His jaw was clenched so tight it ached, his mind running wild with frustration. Ethan hadn’t found anything yet, and Derek’s patience had run thin.The office door swung open, and Ethan walked in, looking exhausted, dark circles under his eyes. Derek didn’t wait for a greeting.“Well?” Derek snapped, not bothering to hide his irritation. “It’s been a week. What the hell have you found?”Ethan sank into the chair opposite Derek, sighing deeply. “I’ve been through every piece of that contract, Derek. Every single page. There’s nothing on outside funding.”Derek’s eyes narrowed, his fists clenching on the desk. “What do you mean, nothing? Dean made it sound like there was something buried in there—something important.”Ethan shrugged, looking frustrated himself. “I don’t know what to tell you. I we

59As Allvar stepped into the sleek conference room that morning, he noticed the familiar lineup of cold faces across the table. Mr. Henley sat at the head, his expression unreadable but with a faint hint of skepticism in his eyes. His associates, equally stiff and formal, eyed Allvar as if waiting for another failure. "Mr. Falck," Mr. Henley greeted, the words coming out more like a formality than an actual welcome. "I trust you’ve had time to reconsider your last proposal?""I have," Allvar said, his voice steady. He took his seat opposite Mr. Henley, placing the updated contracts on the table. "And I believe you’ll find this version much more aligned with your expectations.""Let’s hope so," one of Mr. Henley’s colleagues muttered under his breath, earning a small nod of approval from the boss himself.Allvar glanced at him but chose to remain composed. He had anticipated this attitude, but he wasn’t here to engage in petty jabs. He was here to win.Mr. Henley leaned forward, flip