18Eleanor’s expression shifted, a flicker of anger crossing her face. "What do you mean rejected? What happened?"Allvar took a deep breath, still trying to grasp the reality of the situation. "I had an interview for an entry-level position. They were dismissive, rude... I felt like they just wanted to tear me apart. They kept mocking my appearance and belittling my experience."Eleanor's jaw tightened. "I can’t believe this. Who were the interviewers? They have no idea what they’re doing if they treated you like that. This is unacceptable." Her voice had taken on a fierce edge, and Allvar could sense the power radiating from her."It was a panel," Allvar explained. "The man in the center—he acted like I was just wasting his time. He said I didn’t have the grit for the job because I couldn’t afford a decent suit.""That’s outrageous!" Eleanor exclaimed, her eyes blazing. "I will find out who gave that order and severely punish them. You don’t deserve to be treated like that, especial
19They all turned and striding toward them was Eleanor Westwood herself, the CEO of Waterfall Corporation. Her presence was like a storm rolling in—calm, powerful, and intimidating all at once.Marcus froze, the color draining from his face. "Ms. Westwood," he stammered, his confident demeanor faltering. "I—uh—this... This young man was causing a disturbance. I was just handling it."Eleanor’s sharp eyes flicked between Marcus and Allvar. "Causing a disturbance?" Her voice was icy, her gaze settling on Marcus with thinly veiled contempt. "Mr. Falck is here as my guest."Allvar felt a wave of relief wash over him as Eleanor stepped between him and the guards. She looked at Marcus with a steely gaze that could cut through iron. "Tell me, Marcus," she continued, her tone dangerously low, "since when do you have the authority to decide who enters this building? Because last time I checked, that’s my decision."Marcus swallowed, trying to regain his composure. "I... I didn’t realize he wa
20The guards hesitated for a moment before stepping forward. Marcus recoiled, holding up his hands as if to ward them off. "Wait, please! This is all a misunderstanding! You can’t do this to me!""Actually, I can," Eleanor said coldly, turning away from him. "And I just did."Marcus’s protests faded into the background as the guards grabbed him by the arms and began to drag him toward the exit. He struggled for a moment but quickly realized it was futile. His final words were a mix of desperate pleas and angry curses, but no one listened.When the lobby was finally quiet again, Eleanor faced Allvar, her demeanor softening just a fraction. "I’m sorry you had to witness that," she said, her voice much gentler now. "Marcus was out of line, and I won’t tolerate that kind of behavior in this company."Allvar, still processing everything that had just happened, nodded slowly. "Thank you for standing up for me. I didn’t expect...""You didn’t expect to be treated like a human being?" Eleano
21At that moment, Claire refreshed the page on her phone and let out a sharp gasp."Ms. Westwood, the post… it’s gone," she said, holding the phone up for Eleanor to see.Eleanor, who had been pacing furiously, stopped in her tracks. "What do you mean, gone?""The post. It’s been deleted," Claire explained, her voice laced with confusion. "I just checked again, and it’s no longer there."Allvar, who had been standing tensely, let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. "Well, that’s something, at least. But it doesn't explain who’s behind this in the first place."Eleanor narrowed her eyes, taking the phone from Claire to see for herself. Sure enough, the incriminating post had vanished without a trace. "This doesn’t make any sense," she muttered, handing the phone back. "Things don’t just disappear like that unless someone’s pulling strings."Suddenly, Allvar’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He frowned, pulling it
22Allvar slipped his phone back into his pocket, but his mind was already racing. Two faces immediately popped into his thoughts: Serena, his ex, and her new lover. If anyone was behind this, it had to be them. He clenched his jaw, his fists balling at his sides.Eleanor, standing nearby, noticed the shift in his expression and tilted her head, her brow furrowing in concern. "What’s going on Mr. Falck?" she asked, her tone gentle but curious.Allvar’s gaze flicked to her, tension evident in his voice. "I think I know who did this."Claire, who had been pacing in the background, stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening as she looked between them. "You do? Who?"He nodded, exhaling sharply as he ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "My ex... Serena. And her new lover. They're the only ones with a reason to try and ruin me like this. It makes too much sense."Eleanor frowned, crossing her arms. "Your ex?"Before anyone could say more, Allvar’s phone buzzed in his pocket again. Hi
23The next few hours crawled by as Allvar paced the room, his mind racing with anticipation. Eleanor and Claire sat nearby, exchanging occasional glances but keeping quiet as they watched him.Finally, the silence was broken by the sharp buzz of Allvar’s phone. His heart leapt as he grabbed it, seeing Mr. Lorentz’s name on the screen again. He answered immediately."Mr. Lorentz?"The butler’s calm voice greeted him on the other end. "Young Master, I have an update."Allvar’s grip on the phone tightened. "Did the hacker find something?""Indeed," Mr. Lorentz replied, his tone as composed as ever. "The hacker managed to infiltrate your ex girlfriend’s computer through technical means. They obtained incriminating recordings of both her and her new lover, Derek Hawthorne."Allvar’s eyes widened. "Recordings? What kind of recordings?""Conversations, video calls... it’s all there," Mr. Lorentz explained. "They openly discuss the plan to tarnish your reputation. It’s undeniable evidence."
24Derek pulled her close, his hands resting on her hips as they swayed to the rhythm of the music playing softly in the background. “I told you, babe, I knew exactly what would hit him where it hurt.” she continued with a proud smile.Serena leaned her head against his chest, her voice dripping with satisfaction. “You should’ve seen some of the comments. They’re ruthless. People are making fun of him, saying things like ‘gigolo in a cheap suit’ and ‘just another pretty face with no brain.’”Derek chuckled, tilting her chin up for a kiss. “That’s what happens when you mess with the Hawthornes.”Serena smiled against his lips before pulling back slightly. “Oh, and that post about his sugar mama? That’s my personal favorite. Some girl even wrote that she saw him hanging around her salon like a lost puppy.”They both laughed, Derek spinning her around before pulling her back into his arms. “This is perfect. He’s going to be the joke of the town for a long time.”Serena’s eyes sparkled as
25Derek paced the room, his face twisted in frustration as Serena watched from the bed, biting her lip nervously. The glow of their earlier victory had completely vanished, replaced by a heavy cloud of panic."Calm down," Serena finally said, her voice attempting to sound soothing, though she was clearly unsettled herself. "Getting angry won't help us fix this."Derek spun around, his face flushed with rage. "How the hell am I supposed to calm down, Serena? Everything's gone! Vanished! This was supposed to ruin him, not us!"Serena flinched but kept her composure. "Yelling at me isn’t going to change anything. We need to figure out what happened.""And you think I don’t know that?" Derek snapped, his eyes blazing. "I swear, this can't be happening. All those comments, all that work—it’s all wiped like it never existed!""Then let’s do something about it!" Serena stood up, walking over to him and grabbing his arm. "Call them. Call whoever’s responsible for taking it down. We need answ
Emily had never been one to back down, but as she stumbled towards the door, her face flushed with humiliation, her thoughts were a tangled mess. How could she have been so blind? How could she have dismissed him so easily? The man she had thought was just some arrogant, rich playboy was, in fact, a billionaire with more power than she had ever imagined. The realization was like a punch to her stomach, leaving her breathless.She could still feel the weight of Allvar's gaze on her, his icy eyes cutting through her with the precision of a sharp blade. It wasn’t just the shock of his wealth that had shaken her—it was the way he had handled the situation. The way he had turned the tables, dismantling their arrogance with effortless ease. The way he had put Derek and Serena in their place without so much as raising his voice. It was as if he had orchestrated the whole thing from the very beginning, knowing exactly how it would play out."Did you hear him?" Serena whispered, her voice bare
Derek’s face hardened as he tried to muster whatever defiance he could. "What do you want from us? Haven’t you done enough already?" His voice was laced with false bravado, but his shaking hands gave him away.Allvar stepped forward, his polished leather shoes clicking softly on the marble floor. His sharp, tailored suit made him look even more imposing. He tilted his head slightly, studying Derek as if he were an insignificant insect. "Done enough?" he repeated, his voice calm, dangerously so. "You mocked me, insulted me, and attempted to humiliate me in public. And now, you think you can walk away without facing the consequences?"Serena whimpered, clutching Derek’s arm tighter. "W-we didn’t know who you were! We didn’t mean—""Didn’t mean?" Allvar’s icy gaze locked onto hers, cutting her off mid-sentence. "What you mean is you didn’t think I was someone who could fight back. That’s always the problem with people like you. You respect power only when it’s shoved in your face."Emily
209Mr. Alves froze, the receiver trembling in his grip as the weight of the words settled over him. He couldn’t breathe, his eyes flickering nervously to Allvar, who still stood there, calm and composed."Y-you can't be serious..." Alves whispered, as if trying to reason with the invisible figure on the other end of the phone.The voice was cold and unforgiving. "I don’t make jokes about business, Mr. Alves. You’ve disrespected someone you shouldn’t have. Pack your things. Security will escort you out shortly."The line clicked dead.For a moment, no one moved. The silence was deafening, broken only by the faint hum of the restaurant's air conditioning. Derek and Serena gaped at the manager, their smug smiles wiped clean."What did—" Derek started, his voice cracking."Vacant?" Serena’s voice was a high-pitched squeak. "H-he said vacant!?"Mr. Alves stumbled back, his face still ghostly pale. "T-this is impossible," he muttered, eyes darting to Allvar, who now smiled ever so faintly,
208Allvar clenched his fists in anger, grinding his teeth at Derek's audacity. Serena scowled with flaming cheeks, rolling her eyes dismissively.Allvar remained composed, arching a brow at their reaction. "There seems to be an issue here that requires your assistance," Allvar replied calmly into the phone.On the other end of the line, the voice grew sharp with concern. "What sort of situation, Young Master? Are you alright?"Allvar couldn't help but let a small, wry smile flicker across his face, his eyes glinting with a mixture of annoyance and amusement. "I've been accused of theft, of all things," he explained, his voice laced with disbelief. "The manager here refuses to believe the gold card is mine. He's threatening to call security on me."He went on and relayed all the events that had transpired, describing how he had been openly mocked and ridiculed by the manager.The butler listened attentively, a frown forming on his aged face. Such disrespect towards the young master wa
Allvar's lips curled into a faint smirk, his calm demeanor betraying none of the turmoil his accusers expected. “How… How did this hobo come into possession of this?" Mr. Alves gasped, his eyes widening in disbelief as he scrutinized the exclusive card in his hand. Allvar remained impassive, his posture relaxed as he watched Mr. Alves struggle to reconcile the elegant card with the man before him. The manager cleared his throat, masking his astonishment with an air of accusation. His gaze darkened as he fixed Allvar with an intense glare. “You’re a criminal! Where did you get this card? This isn’t something just anyone can own. Where did you steal it from?” “From my family," Allvar replied casually, his tone devoid of concern. Emily froze, her pale face reflecting her confusion. She trusted Allvar's integrity but couldn't fathom how he had acquired such an item. In stark contrast, Derek and Serena scoffed simultaneously, their eyes rolling in unison. “Like your pathetic fam
206“Hey!! You're making a mistake here!” Serena called out in a harsh voice, her face scowling at the waiter, who turned slightly to acknowledge them once more.“Do you know who this man is?!” she demanded, pointing dramatically at Derek, who had the audacity to look smug. Emily could only roll her eyes at their theatrics.With newfound determination, Serena stomped toward their direction, intent on blocking their path. She crossed her arms and glared daggers at the trio. Pleased with the development, Derek swaggered forward to join her, standing beside her like a soldier in solidarity. He eyed the waiter and Allvar with disdain, sneering as if he owned the entire establishment.“Do you know who I am?!” Derek bellowed, his voice dripping with arrogance. “Do you realize what weight my family name carries? How dare you relegate me to the background just to attend to this nobody?!”He jabbed a finger toward Allvar, his contempt thinly veiled, while the waiter’s face twisted in confusion
205Allvar took a slow, deep breath to calm himself. Then, with steady hands, he reached into his wallet and extracted a sleek gold card his father gave him, it shimmered under the restaurant's ambient lighting. He placed it on the table with quiet confidence."I would like to be considered a VIP as well," he declared, his voice steady, betraying none of the inner storm churning within him.Derek's response was swift, his laughter sharp and full of disbelief. "Oh, come on! You think that piece of plastic makes you special here?" He leaned in closer, his eyes narrowing into a mocking glare. "This isn't some game where you can just buy your way to the top. It's about who you are, and clearly, you're playing out of your league."As Serena joined in, Allvar's gaze turned toward her, wondering what had ever drawn him to such a cruel woman. Her beauty was undeniable, but now, her biting cruelty far eclipsed any physical allure she once held."Absolutely, darling. It's adorable you think a b
204Their heated exchange was abruptly interrupted by a waiter, who approached with an apologetic yet firm demeanor. “I must ask you to keep the noise down. This is a respectable establishment, and we need to maintain a peaceful atmosphere.”Derek’s face, now a picture of barely restrained fury, turned towards the waiter, his fists clenched at his sides as if he were physically holding back his anger. “Fine,” he spat out through gritted teeth, the words venomous. “But we refuse to sit near these… individuals.” His eyes, sharp with disdain, flicked towards Emily and Allvar, a clear line drawn.Serena, echoing Derek’s sentiment with a venomous edge to her voice, added, “Absolutely. We’d rather not share our space with such… bastards.” Her lips curled around the word, her disdain palpable. She tossed her hair, an attempt to regain some semblance of control, though the slight tremble in her hands betrayed her composure.The waiter, taken aback by the harshness of their words, replied in a
203Derek and Serena exchanged glances, scrambling to regain their footing after Emily's deft rebuttal.Derek cleared his throat, forcing a tight smile. "Now see here, we simply want the best for you both. It would be a shame if...appearances were deceiving." He glanced meaningfully at Allvar.Emily's eyes narrowed as she scrutinized Derek. His arrogant demeanor was starting to crack under the pressure. "Appearances? Or your fragile egos now that the tables have turned?"Serena clenched her jaw, nostrils flaring as she watched the exchange. How dare this woman speak to them this way! And yet, she was wary of making another misstep against a business tycoon like Emily.Drawing in a deliberate, slow breath, Serena adopted a smooth, almost affectionate tone as she turned her attention back to Emily. "My dear, we're only trying to offer you some guidance. You see, Derek's father, Victor Hawthorne, holds a significant presence in the City, owning numerous businesses, including the expansiv