"My apologies, gentlemen," Mr. Armstrong began, his voice laced with concern. "I'm deeply sorry to hear about the collapse of the building. My heart goes out to those who were injured and their families. I'm grateful that no lives were lost, and I can only imagine the trauma and distress this incident has caused."He paused, collecting his thoughts before continuing. "I want to assure you that this matter will be thoroughly investigated and we'll get to the bottom of what happened. We will all work closely with the authorities to determine the cause of the collapse and ensure that those responsible are held accountable."Mr. Armstrong's expression turned resolute. "I can promise you that we will do everything in our power to support the victims and their families. We will provide compensation and any necessary assistance to help them through this difficult time. The Armstrong empire has always been built on a foundation of integrity and responsibility, and we will not falter in our co
Armand broke the tension, his voice steady and calm. "The company had been allocating sufficient funds to purchase building materials from UBL, but the person in charge of procurement had opted for Greens LTD instead. As some of you may know, Greens LTD is notorious for selling substandard materials. This reckless decision led to the building's collapse."The reporters' eyes widened, their faces a mix of shock and disbelief. One of them asked, "Who was in charge of purchasing building materials?"Armand's gaze locked onto Aaron. "My cousin, Aaron, was responsible."The reporter's eyes narrowed. "Are you accusing, Mr. Aaron of being the main person behind the collapse?"Armand's expression was grim. "Yes, I am. His actions, or lack thereof, led to this tragedy."The room erupted into chaos. The reporter bombarded Armand with questions, their voices raised in curiosity. The directors' faces turned pale, their eyes darting between Armand and Aaron. Mr. Peter took a step back, his eyes wi
Armand woke up to the warm rays of sunlight peeking through the windows of his room. He stretched his arms and let out a contented sigh.As he sat up in bed, he couldn't help but think about the events of the previous day. The memory brought a smile to his face, and he felt a surge of pride and confidence.Armand swung his legs over the side of the bed and planted his feet firmly on the ground. He felt grounded and stable, like he could tackle anything that came his way.He got out of bed and began to get ready for the day, feeling a spring in his step and a renewed sense of purpose. As he looked in the mirror, he caught his own eye and grinned.Armand entered the bathroom and began his morning routine. After a quick shower and a shave, Armand exited the bathroom. He walked into his wardrobe, scanning his collection of suits and dresses. His eyes landed on a burgundy-colored suit, one he had never worn before. It was a bold choice, but something about it called to him. He decided to t
As Armand walked into the building, the noisy atmosphere suddenly died down. The staff, who had been chatting and laughing, fell silent, their eyes fixed on him. "Good morning, Mr. Armstrong," someone said, breaking the silence. The greeting was echoed by others, their voices filled with reverence.Armand smiled graciously, acknowledging the greetings with a nod. "Good morning," he replied, his voice calm and confident.As he made his way to his office, the staff parted to let him through, their faces filled with admiration and respect. The silence continued, punctuated only by the sound of footsteps and the occasional whisper. Armand's presence commanded attention, and the staff seemed to be holding their breath, waiting to see what he would do next.As Armand approached his office door, he suddenly felt the tattoo on his hand tingle. He paused, his hand reaching out to touch the door handle, but hesitating. Just then, Vanessa rushed up to him, her eyes wide."Mr. Armstrong! Mr. Ar
Armand's eyes squinted slightly as he gazed at Carla. "Date?" he repeated, his tone laced with disbelief. "Or are you asking me what date it is today?"His expression was a mix of puzzlement and amusement, his lips curling into a slight smirk. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Carla's face, as if waiting for her to clarify her intentions.Carla's face flushed, her eyes dropping to her lap as she fidgeted with her hands. "Uh, no... I mean... a date, as in... going out... together..." she stammered, her voice trailing off.Armand's smirk grew wider, his eyes sparkling with mirth. Carla is such an amazing actress, he thought to himself."Ah, I see," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Well, that's a surprise."Carla's face suddenly lit up with a bright laugh, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Oh, Armand, you're so silly!" she exclaimed, her voice playful.She leaned forward, her hands on her knees, her gaze locked onto his. "Why are you so surprised? We're stil
Armand continued to gaze at Mr. Peter, his eyes scrutinizing the man's features. He noticed the tightness around Peter's eyes, the slight furrowing of his brow, and the pursing of his lips. These subtle cues told Armand that, despite Peter's formal greeting, he was not a fan of his.Despite Peter's attempts to appear neutral, Armand's keen observation skills picked up on the subtle tells that revealed his true feelings.Mr. Peter greeted Armand again, his voice firm but polite. "Good morning, Mr. Armstrong."Armand raised an eyebrow, his tone slightly sarcastic. "I heard you the first time, Peter. There is no need to repeat yourself."Mr. Peter's expression remained calm, but Armand could tell it was a facade. The tension in his eyes and the tightness in his smile betrayed his true emotions.Armand leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Peter's face. "I noticed you were nowhere to be found when Aaron was being arrested yesterday. Quite convenient, don't you think?"Mr. Peter
Armand's eyes narrowed slightly as he asked, "What exactly are you referring to? What happened yesterday that you don't agree with?"The first man stepped forward again, his voice firm. "We don't agree with the way Aaron was treated. He was arrested and taken away like a criminal. We think it was unfair."Armand's expression turned intrigued, "Unfair?" he repeated, his tone encouraging them to elaborate.The first man hesitated, glancing at his colleagues before continuing. "Yes, sir. Aaron was a good boss and a good person. We don't think he deserved to be treated like that."Armand's eyes locked onto the man, his gaze intense. "Tell me more," he said, his voice low and even. "What do you think really happened?"The men exchanged nervous glances before the first man spoke up. "To be honest, sir, we don't really know what happened. He always treated us with kindness and respect."The second man nodded in agreement. "Yes, sir. I remember one time I made a mistake on a project, and Aaro
Vanessa's eyes scanned Armand's office, taking in the tidy space. Everything was in order, from the organized files on his desk to the neatly arranged bookshelves.She turned her attention back to Armand, who was standing by his desk, watching her. "Sir, what exactly do you need my help with?" she asked, curiosity getting the better of her.Armand paused, his eyes locked on Vanessa's, "I don't actually need your help with anything in my office, Vanessa."He stopped speaking, leaving Vanessa puzzled and wondering what he really wanted. The silence stretched out for a few moments until Armand spoke again."What I need your help with, Vanessa, is catching the thieves."Vanessa's eyes widened, her mind racing with questions. "The thieves, sir? What do you mean?"Armand's expression turned grim. "I mean the ones who have been stealing from the company."Vanessa's eyes widened in alarm, her face pale and her body tense. She took a step back, her hands trembling slightly. "T-thieves, sir? Oh
"Vincent Askellan?" Armand yelled.They were sitting inside Armand's car in the parking lot at D'premium branch.Aaron had arrived at work earlier than normal and he had called Vanessa and Armand to fill them in as usual."I can't believe it! Vanessa exclaimed."It all makes sense now." Armand mused. His eyes widened, pupils dilating as the pieces of the puzzle finally clicked into place. His brows furrowed, and a slow, subtle grin tugged at the corners of his lips. It was the expression of revelation, a mix of surprise and understanding, etched across his face like the first light of dawn breaking through the darkness."You know what? Things just got better." Armand said after a while."Everything ends today." Vanessa said."Everything ends today." Armand repeated in a lower tone."Here," Vanessa said, handing over the bag which contained the remaining two wristwatches to Aaron. "Take it to them and let them lead you to Vincent, text us the address immediately you can, okay?"
"Aaron, that suggestion of yours in the meeting was brilliant," Alan commended when they got to where Aaron, Kelly and Sam were standing.Sam concurred by nodding appreciatively and Winner chimed in with praises for Aaron.Alan then said, "Well, I must say, our suggestions were good too. Mr Black just needs to think outside of the box to see it," a hint of mischief in his eyes.Ben was able to stifle his laugh when he heard that statement, Kelly on the other hand couldn't help the smirk that formed on her face. Curiosity flickered in Alan's gaze as he turned to Kelly. "Got something to add?" he inquired. Kelly, however, simply brushed off the question, choosing to ignore him.Sensing a hint of tension, Ben interjected with a diplomatic suggestion. "How about we all put our creative minds together over lunch? We can continue brainstorming in a more relaxed setting.""Great idea." Kelly said, walking away with the others behind her.…When they entered the cafeteria, Kelly opte
Aaron strolled into the company. He was just about to enter his work area when he was stopped by Mr Black."Good morning Sir." Aaron said. However, he got no response."I completed Janet's task yesterday. You can go and confirm if you'd like. Also, I know the incident yesterday must have painted me in a bad light, but I want to assure you, that is not who I am. It was an accident, I am not clumsy and what happened yesterday will never repeat itself again."Mr Black just kept on staring at him, so he asked "Can I go now?" He didn't feel comfortable under the manager's intense scrutinizing gaze."Aaron, what are you really doing here?" Mr Black finally asked."I beg your pardon?" Aaron replied."I said, what are you really doing here?" The manager asked again.Aaron's palms grew clammy as his manager's piercing gaze bore into him. The air seemed to thicken as he fumbled for words, anxiety tightening his throat. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, betraying the composed facade
Aaron was tired. He never knew packaging wristwatches could be that stressful.Aaron's eyes, which had been vibrant and full of life just that morning, now held the heavy burden of exhaustion. Deep, dark circles etched beneath them, telling a tale of his need to sleep and his restlessness. Shoulders slouched, as if carrying the weight of the world, Aaron moved with a sluggish rhythm, each step echoing the struggle against the invisible forces pulling him down.He was thirsty and decided to get water. And coffee as well, to help him stay awake for the remaining one hour before his closing time for the day.He had gotten his drinks and was on his way back when the least thing he was expecting happened.His mind was consumed by the need to finish his packaging before closing hours, he rounded a corner only to collide with a lady adorned with vibrant red hair who had been walking too fast. The collision unfolded in an unfortunate symphony of mishap. The contents in Aaron's hands,
Aaron and Gloz walked silently behind the officer. Aaron was calm because he knew who the visitor was. On the other hand, Gloz felt confused. Who would want to visit him here? It could not be his siblings, could it? He asked internally, but quickly dismissed that thought. He didn't want to get his hopes high.Just as they arrived at the door of the visitor's room, the officer who was leading them, Officer Daniels gestured for Aaron and Gloz to go in. The heavy metallic clang of the cell door echoed behind them as they entered the small room. Gloz's eyes darted nervously, taking in the cold atmosphere."Alright, Gloz, you've got 15 minutes with your visitor. Make it count," Officer Daniels said, his tone gruff but not unkind. He shot a stern glance at Gloz, who stood by, a silent spectator to the scene.Aaron nodded with gratitude in his eyes. Gloz shifted uncomfortably, aware of the limited time allowed for this interaction with his yet to be seen visitor."Remember, Gloz, Keep it
"But how do we connect it to him?" Mrs. Armstrong asked."I don't know yet, but we'll figure it out." Armand answered."What about the press?" Vanessa inquired."The press?" Armand asked."Yes," she began tentatively, "how do you plan to deal with the press?"Armand looked up, his gaze meeting Vanessa's concerned eyes. Taking a deep breath, he leaned forward and clasped his hands together. "Vanessa, I've been careful about who knows the truth. As of now, only my mother, the attending doctors, the police and I are aware that my father has been shot.""You've notified the police?" Vanessa asked."Yes, I did that not long after we got here." Armand answered.Vanessa nodded, still anxious. "But what if someone from the hospital talks? These situations have a way of leaking, Armand."Armand's voice grew more confident. "I've spoken with the doctors and the hospital staff. They're bound by strict confidentiality. They won't disclose anything to anybody, especially not to the press.
Mrs. Armstrong stepped gracefully into the living room dressed in a floor length navy blue evening dress with delicate lace embroidery exuded a refined charm. The off-shoulder neckline added a touch of sophistication, while the subtle train trailed behind her, leaving a trail of whispered admiration in her wake. Completing the ensemble, she wore a pair of diamond drop earrings that caught the light with every step, enhancing her regal appearance.Beside her stood Mr. Armstrong. He wore a tailored black tuxedo that fit him like a glove. A white dress shirt with a black bowtie provided a striking contrast, while his patent leather shoes gleamed beneath the dance floor's shimmering lights. The glint of his cufflinks matched the twinkle in his eyes.Armand chose a modern yet timeless look, donning a charcoal gray three piece suit that showcased elegance. The suit jacket, slightly tailored, complemented his build, while the crisp white dress shirt underneath emphasized his attention to d
Armand raised his head and followed Vanessa's gaze to the gate of the beach house. A swarm of reporters had gathered, each one armed with cameras and microphones, jostling for position to capture the unfolding scene. They were like a pack of hungry wolves waiting for their prey.Vanessa turned to Armand, her expression a mix of frustration and exasperation. "Can you believe this? We can't even get a moment of peace here!"Armand sighed and tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "I see them. We'll have to deal with it somehow."Vanessa urged Armand to just drive in and ignore the reporters, but he shook his head. "If I do that, they might press themselves into the car, and someone could get hurt."A determined look crossed Armand's face as he made up his mind. "I'll grant them an interview. That might satisfy their curiosity and get them to back off."As they approached the gate, Armand rolled down the window, and a cacophony of questions and camera clicks greeted them. He plas
"I'm fine." King replied, grinning widely.He stood in front of the car, his body swaying slightly from side to side as if caught in an invisible breeze. His shoulders twitched with energy. His legs shifted back and forth, as if his excitement couldn't be contained within his frame. King's facial expressions danced between euphoria and bewilderment, his eyebrows arching up and down rapidly. "Are you sure about that?" Armand asked, looking skeptical."One hundred percent,"King answered."What's with the outfit?" Vanessa inquired, looking at King from his head to his toe.King was dressed in a meticulously tailored suit that exuded an air of sophistication. It was a deep shade of charcoal gray. His shoes were obviously crafted from one of the finest leather, and was a testament to his attention to detail."I went to the company where I had gone for an interview last week." King said."What did they say? Did you get the job?" Armand asked."I did!" King exclaimed."Congra