61Jake clenched his fists, visibly seething. “You’ve got a big mouth for someone who’s about to get kicked to the curb. Just wait. I’d give it a week before you’re begging for your job back.”“Begging? Oh, I wouldn’t want to embarrass myself like that,” Allvar said, a smirk curling at the corners of his lips. “I prefer to maintain a level of dignity, unlike some of us here.”“Dignity?” Edgar scoffed, crossing his arms tightly. “Is that what you call stepping on Marcus Vale's back to climb up the ladder? I guess you learned a lot about ambition, didn’t you? It must be nice to get promoted after a week while the rest of us have been grinding for years.”They were still struggling to swallow the bitter truth: just a week after Allvar’s admission into the company, he had already secured a seat on the board, a position that had taken even the luckiest among them at least five years to attain. To make matters worse, their former colleague and friend, Marcus Vale, had been fired, and the i
62Another week had passed, and Derek was at his breaking point. His office felt smaller with each passing day, the walls seemingly closing in on him as frustration bubbled over. He sat behind his desk, his jaw clenched so tightly it hurt. His eyes burned from sleepless nights, and still—nothing. No new leads, no loopholes, nothing about Allvar’s contract that could help him.The door creaked open cautiously, and Ethan stepped inside, looking hesitant. Derek didn’t even bother looking up."Don’t tell me," Derek said, his voice cold and sharp as glass, "nothing again."Ethan let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping. "I’ve looked through everything, Derek. Every possible angle. I even hired an outside consultant to go over the contract with me. There’s nothing there."Derek shot up from his chair, slamming his fist down on the desk so hard that papers scattered across the room. "So what you’re telling me is that I’ve wasted 'two weeks' chasing after a ghost?!" His voice boomed, thic
63Dean cut him off with a chuckle, dripping with smug satisfaction. "Now, now. Let’s keep this civil. I told you there’d be a little favor in exchange, didn’t I?"Derek’s jaw tightened as his teeth ground together. "You’re a manipulative bastard, Dean," he growled, voice low and dangerous. "You’ve been playing me from the start.""Playing?" Dean’s laugh echoed through the phone, calm and infuriatingly smooth. "Derek, this is *business*. Games are for children, and frankly, I thought you knew better.""You think screwing me over is business?" Derek’s voice shot up, filled with venom. "You think stringing me along is just part of the job?"Dean hummed as if amused by Derek’s outrage. "Come on, Derek. You can’t seriously be surprised. This is how the game is played. You, of all people, should know that by now."Derek’s pulse pounded in his ears, his rage bubbling over. "You think this is a game? You 'used' me! You’re going to pay for this."Dean’s laugh grated on Derek’s last nerve. "I
64Ethan sighed, folding his arms. "Look, man. I get it. Dean’s a snake. But if you start making decisions out of anger, you’ll lose sight of what’s important."Derek turned on him, his voice sharp. "And what’s important, Ethan? Because right now, I can’t see anything past wiping that smug grin off Dean’s face."Ethan held his gaze, unfazed by Derek’s outburst. "What’s important is that we’re smarter than him. We don’t let him manipulate us into making reckless moves. Dean wants you angry, Derek. He wants you blinded by it."Derek stared at him for a long moment, breathing heavily, before his shoulders slumped. "He’s laughing at me. Right now, he’s laughing at how easy I am to rile up."Ethan nodded, his voice gentler now. "Yeah, he is. And the only way to win is to stop playing his game. Focus on the bigger picture. Figure out what he meant by ‘more at stake.’ There’s something we’re missing, Derek."Derek ran a hand through his hair, frustration still simmering beneath the surface.
65Allvar stepped into 'La Maison Élégance', feeling the stares hit him like a wave. He had never cared much about formalities, but the tension in the air made it impossible to ignore. His t-shirt and jeans suddenly felt too casual, too plain, for a place where even the chandeliers seemed to judge him. The murmurs started almost immediately, and his heart raced as he made his way toward the front desk.“Is that the guy with the Ferrari?” A woman’s whisper barely reached his ears, but the sharp tone pierced through.“He doesn’t 'look' like someone who should be driving one,” her husband scoffed, giving Allvar a once-over that lingered just long enough to burn.Allvar’s cheeks flushed, and he quickened his pace, wishing he could disappear.“Really?” another voice chimed in from his left. “A t-shirt and jeans at 'La Maison Élégance'?” The woman snickered, nudging her friend. “I guess he thinks money equals class.”Her friend’s laughter echoed as Allvar passed by, his shoulders stiffening
66“God, just look at him,” a woman at the next table sneered, her voice like a dagger. “You’d think he’d at least try to look decent if he’s going to a place like this.”Her friend leaned in, whispering loudly enough for Allvar to hear. “Maybe he’s lost. I mean, who dresses like that? I didn’t realize this place had started letting 'anyone' in.”Allvar clenched his jaw, feeling the burn of embarrassment creep up his neck. He could feel the sweat gathering at the nape of his neck, and every second in that chair felt like an eternity.Just as he thought it couldn’t get worse, a man at a nearby table laughed, loud and obnoxious. “Can you imagine him trying to pronounce anything here? He’s clearly not from around 'this'part of town.”Allvar wanted to disappear. His vision blurred with frustration, his hands trembling. He felt as though he was under a microscope, every move he made scrutinized by the sneering faces surrounding him.Someone else chuckled. “Guess anyone can walk in here the
67Allvar sat quietly, drumming his fingers against the table, trying to drown out the incessant whispers. His gaze flickered toward the entrance, weighing the possibility of making a quick exit. But his pride held him firmly in place. He wasn’t about to be run out by a bunch of strangers who had no idea who he really was.A loud voice cut through the soft ambiance. “I bet he asked for it well-done. I mean, of course, he did,” the man scoffed, his companions laughing along.Allvar’s grip on his glass tightened. He could feel the sting of their laughter more with every passing second.“Excuse me,” a voice interrupted his thoughts. Allvar looked up to see a tall, silver-haired woman in a tailored suit approaching his table. Her face was a picture of composure, though her eyes held a glint of something else—curiosity, perhaps.She was undeniable beautiful with her blue eyes and long hair. She seemed to be in her mid twenties.“Mind if I join you?” she asked, already pulling out the chair
68Allvar’s jaw clenched, but Seraphina was quicker to react. She turned toward the source of the voice, her expression sharp. “Must be nice to judge from such a comfortable distance,” she said, her voice slicing through the tension like a knife.The man’s laughter faltered, eyes narrowing. “Excuse me?”“Yeah,” one of his companions chimed in, snickering. “What’s a guy like you doing with a woman like that, anyway? Using her to shield you from the truth? How pathetic.”Seraphina tilted her head slightly, a smile dancing on her lips. “Oh, darling, you misunderstand. I’m not here to defend Allvar. He can do that perfectly well on his own. I’m just here for the entertainment.” She raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying their discomfort.“Entertainment? Is that what you call it?” the loud man scoffed, crossing his arms defiantly. “Seems more like you’re just trying to elevate your status by association.”“Status?” Seraphina replied, feigning deep contemplation. “How quaint. You must be new t