Jack, pale as a sheet, erupted. "Archer, you're lying!"Archer raised a brow at him, "Am I?""You're only doing this because of some stupid vendetta!" Jack said. His accusation hung in the air, cutting through the hushed murmurs of the other members.Archer, cool and collected, stood his ground. "Jack, it's not true. I'm just looking out for the company." He paused, meeting the gaze of each person in the room. "Sure, a little part of me might crave the due point of flesh you owe me, but that doesn't mean I'll stoop to fabricating lies."The room held its collective breath as Archer pulled out a flash drive, its small form glinting in the lights. Holding it up for everyone to see, he declared, "In here, you'll find the evidence that Louvre and Jack were working side by side." A murmur of disbelief swept through the room, ruined by Jack's indignant retort, "You're bluffing, Archer! There's no way Louvre and I would team up for anything!"Archer maintained his composure, respondin
Madison stood still her gratitude shining in her eyes as she looked at Archer. "Thank you so much for everything, Archer. You've been a true friend to have in one's corner," she said, sincerity lacing her words.Archer nodded, nothing but understanding in his gaze. "Madison, it's been an honor working alongside you and with you. But It's time for you to move on."She smiled, appreciating his recognition."Are you sure about this?"Archer nodded, "Tomorrow, I'll be making the announcement, and I trust you to take care. Madison asked again, "Archer, you don't have to do this if you are not sure."Archer met her gaze. "Madison. It's time for me to step up, and you've prepared me well for this. Go and pursue whatever awaits you. I've got this."Madison sighed with relief, "Thank you, Archer. I couldn't have asked for a better partner. I'll miss this, but I know it's the right time."Archer walked over, a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Change is inevitable, Madison. Embrace it, and gr
Archer's mind raced, trying to process the information, he blinked twice to make sure he wasn't dreaming. "How did Ferguson find out?" he stammered, disbelief evident in his voice. "I've been cautious."Madison's bitter chuckle cut through the tension. "Allow me to rephrase, Ferguson didn't find out, he bought the heir himself. Brought him right into our meeting."Archer's eyes widened, the shock palpable. "Brought? But I've been discreet, covering my tracks...Wait a minute, brought?"He took a step back before he snarled, "What do you mean brought? Did he bring a total stranger to pose as the heir? How?"Madison's expression darkened. " Ferguson has ways, Archer. He's resourceful and he damn well brought a stranger to pose as the heir."Archer's eyes bulged through the sockets and the questions just kept pouring from his lips."What was the guy like?""Does he have a relation with me? Is he like a cousin?""How on earth did Ferguson plan this?""Calm down, Archer." Archer paced the
Archer didn't have time to read when Hailey walked straight to him, pushed Madison, and slapped him hard on his face.She smirked with satisfaction when she saw him wince and cradle his cheek.Archer stared at her, not flinching. Hailey met his gaze with her challenging ones. Her chest heading from anger.Originally, she had come once she heard the news of Archer putting Jack in jail but all thoughts of civility flew out the window once she saw Madison standing close to her.Hailey hated the woman with everything in her because Madison was everything she wanted to be."What the hell?" Madison yelled at her but Hailey shook her head and leveled Archer with a glare."What did you do?" she asked.Archer leaned back on the ball of his feet and nonchalantly shrugged as Hailey's frustration simmered beneath her calm exterior. The dismissive gesture seemed to be the spark that ignited her irritation. Eager to regain composure, she began pacing back and forth in the room,Stopping abruptly,
Hailey lifted her chin in defiance as she met Archer's eyes."I am sure you care, you just got better at hiding it because you are now playing devil's advocate.""I like that. Devil's advocate." Archer was amused.She gritted her teeth. Her words had the opposite effect of what she wanted."You are pissing me off," Hailey said."it's because you have no point. You are just here to throw a tantrum and I have no time to listen to your childish antics."Hailey stomped her feet like a child, her lips pouted like she wanted to cry. She wanted to make a point."That's what you are doing now? Behaving like a child?" Archer asked,"I don't know what you are talking about, " Hailey mumbled."I suggest you stop looking for the old version of me. It stopped existing when you betrayed and humiliated me. It would do you good if you adjust to me now."Archer warned."I will never accept this version of you." Hailey snapped.Madison studied her like she could see through her, her eyes shone when she r
Hailey stood In front of the massive building. Her nerves were bunched up as she tried to rethink her decision to come here.Something Archer said made her so mad that she got into a cab and came straight here. She needed answers.A part of her wanted it to be that Archer cared enough to go after people she had been with but the sensible part of her argued about that.Hailey wanted to eat her cake and have it. She had hurt Archer but she still wanted him and she had no idea why.She had expected him to beg him, grovel, and be miserable but that wasn't the case. He seemed like getting rid of her was the best thing that had ever happened to him.Hailey took a deep breath and entered the building, she saw the armed guards and a rush of air escaped her lips."I can do this," she whispered to herself.The gate opened and her eyes widened when she stepped into the prison compound, the sound of the gate closing made her flinch.All around, guards were situated everywhere with their guns and s
Archer grunted as his partner hit him on the cheek. He smiled at the other man, "nice,""You are not here," the man said.Archer nodded, he was indeed elsewhere. His mind was far away when another kick to the ribs had him seeing stars.The force of it sent him flying across the other side of the ring. He groaned as he got up and put himself in a fighting stance."Archer, keep your head in the game." Gabriel barked from the sides.Archer stretched his shoulders and circled the other person in the ring. He took up boxing after the day he had a breakdown.He realized it was better to put his energy to good use and brush up on his skills. Gabriel had been coaching him.He had been supporting all of his whims and for that, Archer was grateful. After his breakdown, Gabriel cornered him and told him he had a way of channeling his anger and making himself cool-headed.And it worked, he had learned a lot and the truth about killing Ferguson died down once he has punched the shit out of the bag
The minute he turned, Archer regretted it and blamed his curious nature on the sight in front of him.Archer closed his eyes and wished for the power to transport himself back to the haven of his room.Standing In front of him was Dean Collins, the number one asshole on the planet Earth and Archer's bane of existence. There was no memory of Dean where he was never the villain. The asshole loved bullying people and pushing them around to suit his needs.Archer gritted his teeth as memory upon memory slammed into him.Dean pushed his head into the toilet, harassing him while he worked. One in particular that broke him was when they knew Archer was working odd jobs.They cornered him after slaving away for one week straight, he had paid for most of the things he needed and had a little to feed himself.They had beaten him up so bad and collected his money, that he was hurt and starved at the same time. It was a good thing that the doctor at the time took pity on him and treated him as a