72Seraphina could feel the tension thickening around their table, like a storm brewing just beneath the surface. She leaned closer to Allvar, her voice low yet firm. “Don’t let them get to you. They’re nothing but a bunch of fools who think mocking others makes them important.”Allvar’s jaw clenched tighter, his frustration spilling over. “I didn’t come here to be humiliated, Seraphina,” he muttered, glancing at the waiter, who was now relishing the chaos he had sparked.“I know,” she replied softly, her eyes locked on him, willing him to see the bigger picture. “But stooping to their level won’t help. Let’s just pay the bill and leave.”A woman from another table chimed in, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, come on! What’s the matter? Afraid to show us how poor you really are?” Her companions burst into laughter, and the laughter spread like wildfire, igniting the whole room.Allvar’s composure began to crack, but Seraphina placed a steadying hand on his forearm, grounding him.
73Seraphina placed a calming hand on his arm, though her eyes remained locked on the waiter. “Ignore them,” she whispered. “They’re beneath us.”The waiter, however, wasn’t finished. “See? Even the lady’s trying to calm you down,” he said with a chuckle. “Maybe she knows something you don’t—like how this place runs on appearances.”Allvar stood abruptly, his chair scraping harshly against the floor. He glared at the waiter, his patience threadbare. “You want proof I can pay?” His voice was low, dangerous, each word more venomous than the last. The waiter took a step back, momentarily surprised, but recovered quickly. “Oh, I’m not asking for proof, sir. Just pointing out that some places have certain... standards.”“That’s enough,” Seraphina interrupted, her voice as sharp as ice. “Your insinuations are unfounded, and frankly, unprofessional.”Allvar leaned in closer to the waiter, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. “Do you think insulting me will get you a bigger tip?”The wa
74As Allvar and Seraphina stepped out of the restaurant, they found themselves in the dimly lit parking lot. The tension from the dining room was still thick in the air, but the silence outside provided some much-needed relief. Allvar ran a hand through his hair, letting out a long, slow breath, his frustration beginning to ease now that they had left the chaos behind.Seraphina strode confidently towards her car, and Allvar followed. His eyes widened slightly as he took in the sight of the vehicle in front of them—sleek, black, and enormous. It was a top-tier luxury car, the kind that only the wealthiest people drove. The polished chrome reflected the dim light from the streetlamps, and the leather interior gleamed under the soft glow.“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Allvar muttered under his breath, quickly realizing just how rich Seraphina must be. For someone who had defended him in the restaurant, she clearly was very rich.Seraphina caught his gaze as she unlocked the car with
75A few days had passed since Allvar's meeting with the Henleys, and he found himself anxiously awaiting their decision, though he tried to stay optimistic. He replayed the conversation in his head multiple times, going over every detail, every nod of approval, every hint of hesitation. After how the meeting had gone, he was hopeful they would approve the new proposal, but the waiting was eating at him.Allvar was in his office, poring over some paperwork, trying to keep his mind busy, when there was a knock at the door. His assistant poked her head in, her usual cheery smile in place.“The Henleys are on the phone for you,” she said, her tone more excited than usual, as if she knew this call was the one Allvar had been waiting for.Allvar felt his heart race as he stood from his chair, running a hand over his tie as if to straighten it, even though no one could see him. “Thank you, Erica. Put them through,” he said, keeping his voice steady despite the adrenaline pulsing through him
76“Mrs. Westwood, this is a surprise,” Allvar greeted her, stepping forward. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”“I just got off the phone with Mr. Henley myself,” Mrs. Westwood said, a rare smile curling at her lips as she entered the room. “He informed me that you secured the contract. Well done, Allvar.”Allvar's chest swelled with pride as he extended his hand. “Thank you, Mrs. Westwood. That means a lot coming from you. I’m glad I could help close such an important deal.”Mrs. Westwood shook his hand firmly, her gaze steady. “You should be proud. That was no easy feat,” she said, her voice filled with approval. “There were a lot of doubts about whether we could win this, but I knew you had the capability.”Allvar nodded, the praise making the victory even sweeter. “I appreciate the confidence you’ve always shown in me. It really motivated me to go above and beyond. I didn’t want to let you or the team down.”“And you didn’t,” Mrs. Westwood replied, her eyes gleaming. “You exceeded
77For a split second, Edgar's face twisted in disbelief before he regained his sneer. "Oh, come off it, Allvar. You? Securing a deal with Henley? Don't make me laugh," he scoffed, leaning against the wall with crossed arms. "You must be dreaming."Ms. Abbott chuckled, her laugh sharp like a knife. "What is it with you today, Falck? Think we’re stupid? Henley wouldn't waste his time on you. Bloody liar." She shot him a mocking grin. “What’s next? Gonna tell us you’re our chef on the board too?”Allvar’s eyes gleamed, and he couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at his lips. “Oh, Ms. Abbott, I wouldn’t joke about things I can’t back up. That’s your specialty.” His words cut through the air like a blade, causing her grin to falter, but Edgar wasn’t done yet."Give me a break." Edgar rolled his eyes, his voice dripping with disdain. "There’s no way in hell you closed that deal. Henley’s impossible to please, and you're just—""A bloody nobody," Jake cut in, his voice thick with contempt. "
78“You think you’re clever, don’t you?” Edgar snarled, stepping closer, his aggressive posture unmistakable. His hands balled into fists at his sides, and his glare could have set Allvar on fire. “You get one win, and now you think you’re king of the world. Newsflash, Falck, one contract doesn’t make you untouchable.”Allvar’s eyebrows rose slightly, a smirk tugging at his lips as he calmly met Edgar’s stare. “King? I’m flattered that you see me that way,” he responded smoothly, leaning back against the table. “But no, Edgar, I don’t think I’m a king. Just someone who’s good at his job.” He gave a casual shrug, as if Edgar’s rising temper was nothing but background noise. “As for cleverness, I’d say results speak louder than any self-declared title. But hey, if you’d like to take notes, feel free.”“You arrogant—” Edgar started, his voice growing louder, but Ms. Abbott cut him off with a sharp, icy tone.“You think you’ve earned your place, don’t you, Falck?” Ms. Abbott’s voice dripp
79Allvar didn’t flinch, didn’t back down an inch. He met Edgar’s fury with a calm, unwavering gaze. “Talk to you like what, Edgar? Like I’m not afraid of you? Like I don’t need to kiss your ass to get ahead? Is that what’s bothering you?” His voice was steady, measured. “Because if that’s it, I can’t help you.”Edgar’s jaw clenched, and his eyes flashed with anger. “You think you can just stand there and disrespect me like that?” His voice shook, a mixture of rage and disbelief. “You’re out of line, Allvar. Completely.”“Disrespect you?” Allvar’s lips curled into a small smile, his tone as sharp as a blade. “I’m just speaking the truth. If that feels like disrespect, then maybe you should start asking yourself why you feel so threatened.”Jake, who had been standing quietly to the side, cleared his throat and finally spoke up, his voice low but firm. “Edgar, maybe we should back off,” he suggested, his gaze shifting nervously between the two men. “He’s not worth it.”Edgar whipped ar