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
58Ethan looked at Derek intently. “And what if he’s not? You can’t keep chasing ghosts, Derek. Dean doesn’t care about you, or about beating Allvar. He’s in this for himself. We need to be smart about this.”Derek exhaled sharply, his shoulders slumping in defeat. “Fine,” he muttered, though his gut still told him there was more to Dean’s claim. He just needed to find out how to uncover it.“I’ll give it another day or two,” Derek added, his voice low. “But if nothing comes up, we’re moving to Plan B.”Ethan nodded, relief flashing across his tired face. “That’s all I’m asking. Just don’t let this consume you. There are always more moves on the board, Derek. You just have to look for them.”Derek leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He had no idea what his next move was, but one thing was certain—he couldn’t let Allvar win. Not now. Not ever.*****The following week arrived, and with it, another scheduled meeting with th
59As Allvar stepped into the sleek conference room that morning, he noticed the familiar lineup of cold faces across the table. Mr. Henley sat at the head, his expression unreadable but with a faint hint of skepticism in his eyes. His associates, equally stiff and formal, eyed Allvar as if waiting for another failure. "Mr. Falck," Mr. Henley greeted, the words coming out more like a formality than an actual welcome. "I trust you’ve had time to reconsider your last proposal?""I have," Allvar said, his voice steady. He took his seat opposite Mr. Henley, placing the updated contracts on the table. "And I believe you’ll find this version much more aligned with your expectations.""Let’s hope so," one of Mr. Henley’s colleagues muttered under his breath, earning a small nod of approval from the boss himself.Allvar glanced at him but chose to remain composed. He had anticipated this attitude, but he wasn’t here to engage in petty jabs. He was here to win.Mr. Henley leaned forward, flip
60Allvar didn’t flinch. He met Henley’s stare with a calm, steady gaze. “You’ve been with Waterfall Corporation long enough to know we don’t make promises we can’t keep. If this deal goes through, I personally guarantee that my team will deliver everything we’ve outlined, and more. I’m prepared to put my reputation on the line for this, Mr. Henley. And I don’t take that lightly.”Henley’s eyes narrowed, clearly not expecting such a direct response. There was a long, tense silence as he studied Allvar, tapping his fingers against the table.There was a long pause as Mr. Henley and his team deliberated. Allvar sat back in his chair, watching them, but not with the anxiety he’d felt during the first meeting. This time, he knew he had given them something they couldn’t easily refuse.After what felt like an eternity, Mr. Henley finally spoke. "We’ll need time to review these documents in detail. But based on what I’ve seen today... you’ve given us something to think about."Allvar nodded