129Jake was practically seething now, his frustration etched deeply into his face. “And what are we left with, huh? He’s not going to forget this, Edgar. Do you think he’s just going to let it slide? He’ll enforce those consequences, and we’re the ones who’ll have to face them!”“Oh, so your solution is just to sit quietly in the corner and say, ‘Yes, sir. Whatever you say, sir’?” Edgar sneered. “Come on, Jake, have some spine!”Jake clenched his jaw, the vein in his forehead visibly pulsing. “This isn’t about having a spine, Edgar! This is about common sense! We’re in no position to take him on—not now. If we keep butting heads, he’s going to break us. You’re letting your ego blind you!”Ms. Abbott stepped between them, her face set with a mixture of exhaustion and resolve. “Enough, both of you,” she said, her voice calm but firm. “We can’t afford to be at each other’s throats like this. Fighting among ourselves isn’t going to get us anywhere. We’re all in this together, remember?”
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
131After his conversation with his father, Allvar was practically glowing with pride. As soon as Allvar reached his room, he quickly peeled off his clothes, stepping into the shower with a sense of accomplishment radiating through him.He let the warm water wash over him The day had been filled with tension, but he’d managed to prove himself, not just to his team but to his father. Nothing could dampen his spirits now.Just as he was rinsing the soap off, his phone began to ring, vibrating loudly against the sink. He glanced at it through the fogged glass, a brief surge of irritation flashing across his face as the sound echoed through the bathroom.“Now, of all times?” he muttered, scrubbing a hand over his face.The phone stopped, only to start ringing again a moment later. Whoever it was clearly wasn’t giving up. Shaking his head, he finished his shower as quickly as possible and, stepping out, wrapped a towel around his waist. He reached for his phone, noticing three missed cal
132The next morning, Allvar woke up feeling surprisingly relaxed, but with a nagging headache throbbing at his temples. He lay there for a moment, contemplating the day ahead, then sighed, feeling an unusual resistance to the idea of going into the office.Deciding a day off wouldn’t hurt, he reached for his phone and dialed his secretary, Clarabelle. She picked up on the second ring.“Good morning, Mr. Falck,” she greeted him in her usual crisp tone.“Morning, Clarabelle. Listen, I’m not coming in today. Got a bit of a headache and could use the rest. Can you and Jacob handle everything?”“Of course, sir. Please don’t worry. Just focus on getting better,” she replied, her voice softening with concern. “Take care, and let us know if you need anything.”“Thanks, Clarabelle. I’ll see you both tomorrow.”Hanging up, Allvar couldn’t help but think about Seraphina. He pulled up her number and, without overthinking it, hit dial.A cheerful voice picked up almost immediately. “Allvar! I did
133Marcus’s eyes narrowed, cutting Allvar off mid-sentence. “Don’t give me that sanctimonious garbage, Falck! Don’t stand there pretending you were doing anyone a favor.” His gaze hardened, his voice shaking with bitterness. “You did it for yourself. Because I was a threat. Because you wanted to take my place.”Allvar shook his head, his jaw tightening. “That’s not true, Marcus. You’re twisting things in your head.”“Oh, am I?” Marcus laughed bitterly. “Because from where I’m standing, it sure looks like I’m right.”Allvar kept his voice steady, especially for Seraphina’s sake, his tone low but unwavering. “You pushed too far. You know that.”“Don’t you dare patronize me!” Marcus barked, the anger in his voice sharp and cutting. He took a step closer, his eyes blazing with accusation. “You ruined me. And you stand here, acting like you’re the hero?”“Hero?” Allvar raised an eyebrow. “If standing my ground makes me the hero in your eyes, maybe you should take a look at yourself.”“Oh,
134“Marcus, you’ve got issues with me? Fine. But don’t you dare drag her into this.”Marcus laughed, loud and bitter. “Defensive, aren’t we? Afraid she’ll see you for what you really are?”Seraphina stepped in front of Allvar, facing Marcus with a calm strength. “You’re wrong. I’ve seen Allvar, all of him, and I know the man he is. Nothing you say will change that.”Marcus hesitated, a flicker of doubt crossing his face before he masked it with a sneer. “Good luck, sweetheart. You’ll need it.” “All of this, because you got fired,” Allvar said, his tone cutting. “Your own actions finally caught up with you, and now you want to drag Seraphina into your mess just to soothe your bruised pride.”Marcus sneered, stepping closer, his fists tight. “Look at you, defending her now. What, is she your latest conquest, Falck? Just another name on your list? Another wallet to open when you’re in need?”Allvar’s eyes narrowed, his tone turning steely. “Watch your mouth, Marcus. Seraphina has nothi
135As they walked away, Seraphina held tightly onto Allvar’s arm, her steps matching his as they left the commotion behind. She stayed quiet at first, sensing his frustration, but the question was already forming in her mind. Finally, she glanced up at him, her brows knitting with concern.“Allvar,” she began softly, “what exactly happened between you and Marcus?”He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. He couldn't really tell her the truth. “It’s… complicated, Seraphina. We worked together, and he crossed some lines he shouldn’t have.”She raised an eyebrow, clearly not satisfied with his vague answer. “I gathered that much, but what sort of lines are we talking about? He seemed… well, furious doesn’t even cover it.”Allvar paused, clearly choosing his words carefully. “Let’s just say Marcus had a habit of making deals that weren’t exactly on the level. I found out, and… I couldn’t let it continue. I reported it to our superior.”Seraphina’s eyes widened. “So he lost his job becaus
136Both Allvar and Seraphina turned, their expressions shifting from surprise to annoyance as they spotted Marcus. His face was a mask of barely concealed rage, his eyes sharp with resentment. He looked at Allvar as if he’d like nothing better than to tear him down right there.“Marcus?” Allvar’s voice held a sharp edge. “What are you doing here? Weren’t the guards supposed to take you out of here?”“Oh, they tried.” Marcus’s grin widened mockingly, his gaze icy. “But I have my ways. Hard to keep a man down when he’s got a point to make. Figured I’d stick around and see what my replacement is up to.”Seraphina’s expression grew wary. She glanced at Allvar, noticing the subtle way his jaw clenched. He was clearly fighting to keep his composure. “Replacement?” she asked, her tone polite but firm.“Oh, he didn’t tell you?” Marcus laughed darkly, gesturing at Allvar with a mocking sweep of his hand. “Yes, your charming date here didn’t just take my job. He stole my entire career. Because