30Derek ran a hand through his hair in frustration, pacing back and forth in the grand office as his father, Victor Hawthorne, sat behind his massive mahogany desk, watching him with a cold, calculating gaze. The silence between them stretched on until Victor finally broke it.“You’re getting sloppy, Derek,” Victor said, his voice low but sharp enough to cut through the tension in the room. “I told you before, we don’t move until the plan is airtight. Now look at the mess you’ve created.”Derek spun around, his expression defiant. “I had everything under control. Allvar was supposed to be dealt with. If it wasn’t for Tom screwing up—"Victor slammed his hand on the desk, cutting Derek off mid-sentence. “Enough with the excuses! You think you can pin this on Tom? This disaster is your responsibility, and now our family’s reputation is hanging by a thread.”Derek’s fists clenched at his sides. “Allvar had it coming! He’s been undermining us for months, playing everyone like fools. I co
31The next day, Allvar arrived at Waterfall Corporation, still shaken by the events of the last time he has been there. Marcus Vale's dismissal. He entered the sleek, modern building, feeling the weight of the rumors swirling around him. As he stepped into the elevator, he straightened his jacket, trying to focus on what lay ahead.When he reached the executive floor, Eleanor was already waiting for him in her office. She motioned for him to sit across from her. Her sharp eyes studied him closely, though there was a touch of warmth in her voice.“Mr. Falck,” she began, “I’ve been thinking about where you’ll fit best in this company. What kind of role do you see yourself in?”Allvar hesitated. “I don’t want anything too big, Ms. Westwood. Just something where I can contribute and grow, nothing that draws too much attention.”Eleanor raised an eyebrow. “Not too big? You’re selling yourself short.”He shifted uncomfortably. “I think it’s best, given... well, the circumstances. I don’t
32The room fell silent as Eleanor’s words sank in. A few board members exchanged glances, some raising their eyebrows in surprise, while others kept their expressions carefully neutral. Allvar could sense the tension in the air, but he stood tall, determined not to let it show.One of the older board members, a man with silver hair and a sharp gaze, was the first to speak. "Mr. Falck," he said, his tone even but edged with skepticism, "you’ve been with us for—what? A few days? And now you’re heading our most critical project?"Allvar cleared his throat, meeting the man's eyes. "Yes, sir. I understand this might seem sudden, but I assure you I’m up for the challenge.""Challenge?" A woman with a sharp voice interjected from the other side of the table. She leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. "This isn’t just any project, Mr. Falck. It’s the cornerstone of our future growth. We need more than assurances. We need results."Eleanor stepped in, her voice calm but firm. "You’ll get results
33A week later,As Allvar walked down the sleek, glass-paneled hallways of Waterfall Corporation, he couldn’t help but notice the sudden hush that seemed to follow him. Small groups of employees, gathered near the water cooler or in break areas, would go quiet the moment they saw him approach, only for the whispers to pick up again once he passed. He didn’t have to strain his ears to catch snippets of the conversation—it was loud enough.“Can you believe it?” one woman muttered, her voice dripping with disbelief. “The guy’s only been here for what, a week? And now he’s heading our biggest project?”Her colleague, a tall man with a heavy sigh, shook his head. “Yeah, and did you hear about Marcus Vale? Fired because of some ‘ethics violation’? Rumor has it, Allvar had something to do with that.”“No surprise there,” another voice chimed in, a touch more bitter. “The CEO practically fawns over him. It’s like he’s her new golden boy.”Allvar’s grip on the files in his hand tightened as
34A few days later, Allvar arranged a meeting with the team from his department to discuss the upcoming project. As he approached the glass-walled meeting room, he could already feel the disdainful stares boring into him through the transparent panels. Dressed in a simple gray T-shirt, dark jeans, and a pair of plain sneakers, he knew his outfit would draw attention—especially from people who judged worth by appearances.When he walked in, the whispering started immediately. No one even bothered to stand up to greet him as their superior. Allvar’s jaw tightened. He could hear the snickers, the faint muttering of sarcastic comments under their breath.“Is that our boss?” a man near the end of the table mumbled to his colleague, barely containing his laughter. “I thought they were letting in the janitor.”Another woman, sitting close to the front, smirked. “Who knew casual Friday applied to every day for him?”Allvar clenched his fists, his patience thinning as the group continued to
35Allvar’s patience snapped. He took a step forward, his voice cold, his eyes fixed on the woman. "I don’t care what anyone else thinks. I’m telling you to get rid of it. Now."The woman’s smirk deepened, her defiance on full display as she leaned forward slightly, her gaze unwavering. "Or what?" she asked once again, her voice dripping with challenge. Her eyes flicked to the others in the room, gauging their reactions. She wanted their approval. She wanted to be seen as the baddie who didn’t bow to authority.Someone from the back, clearly entertained, chimed in with a snicker, "Yeah, boss. Let her chew. It’s just gum. What’s the big deal?""This is a professional meeting, and it’s disrespectful. So, get ride of it!" He ordered.Encouraged by the support, she grinned wider, popping another bubble, louder this time. "See? No one else cares," she drawled, glancing around the room. "We’re all professionals here. Right?"A few chuckles erupted around the table, with several of her coll
36Allvar took a deep breath as he sat down, preparing to address the board again. The room was still buzzing with a mix of anticipation and lingering tension from the previous exchange. He scanned the faces before him, feeling the weight of their expectations. "Thank you all for your patience," Allvar began, keeping his tone steady. "Let’s move on to the next agenda item—the international expansion plan."The woman who had been chewing gum leaned back in her chair, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Oh, I can’t wait to hear more of your bold ideas, Mr. Falck," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm."Right?" chimed in one of her supporters, a tall man with a casual smirk. "I bet it’s going to be just as thrilling as the gum debate."Allvar felt his jaw clench but forced himself to remain composed. "Our primary focus will be on Southeast Asia, where we have identified significant opportunities for growth.""Is that before or after you tell us how to get rid of chewing gum in me
37Allvar's mind raced, but he refused to react further. He would not give them the satisfaction of knowing they had gotten under his skin. "I believe that’s enough banter for now," he said, forcing his voice to remain calm. "Let’s dive deeper into the logistics of our project."The woman leaned back in her chair, still grinning, and whispered to her colleagues, "He’s trying so hard to be serious. It’s adorable!"Allvar pretended not to hear, focusing intently on his notes. "First, I propose a detailed analysis of our target regions. This will allow us to identify key opportunities and tailor our approach accordingly.""Key opportunities? Or should we call them ‘keys to nowhere’?" the woman replied, unable to contain her laughter."Is this a meeting or a comedy show?" a man at the back chimed in, chuckling. "Because I’m ready for the next act."Allvar forced a smile, swallowing his irritation. "I assure you, the insights will be valuable. Let's keep our focus.""Valuable? That's rich!