50Derek stared at the now silent phone, his pulse pounding in his ears. Everything was falling apart faster than he could manage. Allvar had gotten the upper hand, and Marcus had turned into an unexpected liability.His mind was spinning—this wasn’t supposed to happen. Marcus was out, Allvar had won a high-profile job, and everything was spiraling out of his control.But the worst part? He hadn’t just failed to keep Allvar down. He’d made him stronger.Derek swore under his breath. “Damn it,” he muttered, clenching his fists. There had to be something he could do. 'Anything.'Just as he began pacing, trying to force his brain to think of a solution, a sharp knock at his office door snapped him out of his spiraling thoughts.“Who is it?” he barked, his patience running thin.Fiona, his ever-persistent assistant, stepped in cautiously. Her usual crisp confidence was tinged with anxiety as she took in Derek’s disheveled state. “Mr. Hawthorne, are you alright? You look—”“Not now, Fiona,
51Derek’s heart skipped a beat. If what Dean was saying was true, this could be the leverage he needed to take Allvar down once and for all. “Why are you telling me this? What’s in it for you?”Dean’s voice was casual, almost playful. “Let’s just say Allvar’s success doesn’t exactly align with my interests either. We both stand to gain if we can knock him down a peg.”Derek’s mind was spinning, weighing the risks and rewards. He didn’t trust Dean—he never had—but if this information was real…“Alright,” Derek said, his voice firm. “What do you want in exchange?”“Nothing much,” Dean replied, the smirk evident in his tone. “Just a little favor down the line. I’ll let you know when the time comes.”Derek’s stomach twisted. He didn’t like owing anyone, least of all Dean. But if this was his chance to regain control, he had no choice. “Fine. What’s the information?”There was a pause, and then Dean’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Check Allvar’s contract with Waterfall. Specifically, the c
52The following week, Allvar found himself sitting across from his father and Mr. Lorentz in the expansive, sunlit study. A gentle breeze flowed through the open window, rustling the meticulously arranged papers on the desk. Allvar fidgeted with his coffee cup, glancing from his father to the butler, feeling a mix of anticipation and apprehension.“Dad, can we talk about something?” Allvar began, hesitating for a moment. “I’ve been thinking a lot about the company… and what I want to do with it.”Leonard Falck looked up from his notes, a spark of interest in his eyes. “Of course, Allvar. What’s on your mind?”“Well, for starters,” Allvar said, crossing his arms, “I want to understand more about our conglomerate. I mean, I know we’re big, but I didn’t realize how big until I started digging into the reports. Can you give me a rundown of what we actually own?”Mr. Lorentz straightened, leaning slightly closer. “A solid question, young master. Knowledge of your assets is crucial.” “Ri
53 They walked down the long marble hallway, crossing several guards who stood at attention as they passed. Allvar couldn’t help but notice the sheer luxury of everything around him. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their lights dancing on the pristine floors. Expensive art adorned the walls, each piece more extravagant than the last."Does everything in this house have to be so... over-the-top?" Allvar muttered, half to himself.Lorentz glanced at him, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Your father likes to keep things grand. It's part of the image, young master."Allvar rolled his eyes but stayed silent as they continued down the corridor, finally reaching a set of large double doors at the far end. Lorentz unlocked the doors with a swipe of a key card, and they stepped outside, the sun warming Allvar’s skin. A paved path stretched ahead, lined with carefully trimmed hedges, and at the end of it, the garage loomed.They passed a few more guards, all wearin
54Allvar slid into the driver’s seat of the fiery red Ferrari, the leather cool beneath him. Mr. Lorentz took the passenger seat with a composed nod, fastening his seatbelt as Allvar stared at the sleek dashboard in awe. “This thing is unreal,” Allvar muttered, running his hands along the steering wheel.“Ferrari’s craftsmanship is unmatched,” Lorentz said, glancing out the window. “But, of course, it’s not just about the car—it’s about how you handle it.”Allvar chuckled, firing up the engine with a throaty roar that echoed through the garage. “I guess we’ll find out.”As they pulled out of the estate and onto the wide, winding road that led down the hill, Allvar felt a surge of adrenaline. He eased the car onto the road, the engine purring as they left the estate behind. It was still early, and the morning sun bathed the street in golden light.“You’re doing well, young master,” Lorentz said calmly, watching Allvar’s movements. “But remember, these cars respond to even the slighte
55“You don’t know a damn thing about me,” Allvar said, his voice low but steady, trying to keep his cool.The man in front of him, Mark, looked surprised for a second, but quickly his smirk returned. “Really?” Mark scoffed. “You’re just some spoiled rich kid, right? Got everything handed to you on a silver platter, and now you think driving a car like this makes you somebody? News flash, you’re nobody.”Allvar’s jaw clenched, his fingers tightening around the steering wheel. He knew this type of guy all too well—the ones who preyed on others' insecurities just to feel better about themselves. But Allvar wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction.Before Allvar could respond, one of Mark’s buddies stepped forward, looking uneasy. “Hey, Mark, maybe we should just let him go,” the guy muttered. “This isn’t worth it, man. He’s not worth the trouble.”Mark shot him an irritated glare. “Shut up, Travis. I’m not done here.”Allvar could feel the tension rising, but he stayed silent, eyes lo
56As they drove in silence for a few moments, Allvar felt the lingering effects of the confrontation still coursing through his veins. The Ferrari’s engine purred beneath him, almost as if sensing the change in his mood, but he kept his grip steady on the wheel.“You didn’t let that guy get under your skin,” Lorentz finally broke the silence, his calm voice cutting through Allvar’s thoughts. “That’s a sign of maturity. Many wouldn’t have handled it as well.”Allvar shrugged, his eyes still focused on the road ahead. “I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction. Guys like that are all talk anyway.”“Still,” Lorentz added, glancing out the window as the city skyline came into view, “knowing when to walk away is a valuable skill. Not everything requires a fight.”Allvar’s lips twitched into a smirk. “So, you’re saying I should’ve just let him walk all over me?”Lorentz chuckled softly. “Not quite. But sometimes, being the bigger person is the most powerful statement.”Allvar considered
57A week had passed, and Derek was beyond impatient. He sat in his office, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the wooden desk, the ticking of the clock the only sound filling the room. His jaw was clenched so tight it ached, his mind running wild with frustration. Ethan hadn’t found anything yet, and Derek’s patience had run thin.The office door swung open, and Ethan walked in, looking exhausted, dark circles under his eyes. Derek didn’t wait for a greeting.“Well?” Derek snapped, not bothering to hide his irritation. “It’s been a week. What the hell have you found?”Ethan sank into the chair opposite Derek, sighing deeply. “I’ve been through every piece of that contract, Derek. Every single page. There’s nothing on outside funding.”Derek’s eyes narrowed, his fists clenching on the desk. “What do you mean, nothing? Dean made it sound like there was something buried in there—something important.”Ethan shrugged, looking frustrated himself. “I don’t know what to tell you. I we