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!
38As he reached the living room, Allvar paused outside the door, his heart pounding in his chest. He took a deep breath, bracing himself for whatever news or lecture was coming this time.“Come in, son!” his father’s booming voice called from inside, filled with warmth. "I’m glad you’re here."Allvar pushed open the door, forcing a smile as he stepped into the room. “Dad, you wanted to see me?”His father sat comfortably on the plush couch, a knowing smile already playing on his lips. “Yes, I did. There are a few things we need to talk about. Specifically, your future—”Allvar cut him off with a sarcastic tone, crossing his arms. “Oh, great. More surprises? Should I brace myself for another bombshell? Or is this the part where you reveal I have a long-lost brother who’s next in line for the company?”His father chuckled softly, motioning for him to take a seat. “Nothing that dramatic this time, I promise. Sit down, son. It’s not that kind of talk.”“All right,” Allvar replied, ploppi
39The next few days were filled with tense whispers and heated exchanges among the board members. Their offices buzzed with outrage, jealousy, and disbelief. Every time Allvar passed by, conversations hushed and eyes narrowed. It was no secret that they weren't happy with Ms. Westwood’s decision to fire Marcus Vale and appoint Allvar in his place.First of all they were the same people who have belittled and dismissed him the last time when he came for the job interview. They were feeling so shameful!They were friends with Marcus Vale. And now the CEO, Ms. Westwood has fired him to put this pauper useless at Marcus position. They couldn't believe it.In one of the boardrooms, Edgar Loud, the silver-haired board member who had questioned Allvar’s qualifications, slammed his fist on the table. "This is absurd!" he growled, his face flushed with anger. "A few days here and suddenly he’s a member of the board? He hasn’t earned it!"Ms. Abbott, seated across from him, folded her arms, h
40The days following Allvar's promotion were far from smooth. Resentment simmered beneath the surface, and the tension among his colleagues became palpable. Every time Allvar entered a room, conversations would abruptly stop, and hostile eyes followed his every move.One morning in the break room, the whispers behind him were louder than usual as he poured himself a cup of coffee. He didn’t need to turn around to know they were talking about him."Can you believe this?" Jake, one of the more senior employees, muttered to Edgar, his voice low but full of disdain. "Ms. Westwood must’ve completely lost it. There’s no way this kid deserves Marcus's position."Edgar leaned in closer, sneering. "The guy has no clue what he's doing. You think he can handle Marcus's clients? Please. He’ll crack in no time." He shot a look at Allvar, who stood rigidly by the coffee machine.Allvar tightened his grip on the cup. The temptation to turn around and say something was strong, but he forced himself