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
80Allvar casually sipped his coffee, listening to the soft hum of the office around him. He could practically feel the fury still radiating from Edgar, Jake, and Ms. Abbott behind him. But it was their whispered conversation that caught his attention."How the hell did he do it?" Edgar hissed, his voice barely contained. "First, he gets Marcus fired, then takes his place on the board like it’s nothing? There’s no way this guy’s clean. Something’s off."Jake grunted in agreement, rubbing the back of his neck. “Marcus had been with the company for years. To see him go down like that—it just doesn’t make sense.”Ms. Abbott folded her arms, her sharp eyes narrowing as she glared at Allvar’s back. “It’s not just Marcus,” she added bitterly. “It’s the Henley deal too. He’s managed to slide his way into every opportunity. It’s too perfect.”Allvar, pretending not to hear, couldn’t help the small smirk tugging at his lips. He turned around, catching their glares in his direction. “You’re rig
81Derek sat in his office, seething. The past week had been a relentless storm of frustration, and he was at his breaking point. His fingers tapped angrily against the edge of the desk, the rhythm growing faster with each tick of the clock.He hadn’t slept properly, his mind consumed with Allvar's contract, his every thought clawing for a crack in the deal. But nothing. Not a single damn thing.His phone buzzed, but he ignored it. The anger bubbling inside him had reached dangerous levels. Every day that went by, Allvar cemented his position while Derek floundered helplessly.The sound of soft footsteps broke his focus, and his secretary, Lisa, appeared at the door, her face cautious as she lingered. “Mr. Hawthorne?” she began gently, clearly aware of his foul mood. “Mr. Ethan’s here. He says it’s urgent.”Derek’s jaw clenched. The last thing he wanted was to see Ethan right now, especially after that disaster last time. “Ethan? Again? Why?” His voice was sharp, cutting through the t
82Ethan licked his lips nervously. “Waterfall Corporation has been awarded the contract. Allvar sealed the deal.”The words hung in the air for a second, Derek staring at Ethan as if he’d grown two heads. His mouth dropped open, disbelief and fury crashing over him.“What did you just say?” Derek’s voice trembled with barely controlled anger.Ethan winced, his hands shaking slightly as he repeated himself. “The Henleys...they gave him the contract. It’s done.”For a moment, Derek said nothing. He just stood there, his body taut like a spring ready to snap. His mind raced, trying to process what he had just heard. It couldn’t be true.“No...no, you must be mistaken,” Derek said slowly, his voice rising. “How could they—after all the meetings, the promises—they gave it to him?”Ethan took a step back, as if preparing for the explosion he knew was coming. “I double-checked everything. The papers are signed. The deal’s finalized.”“No…” he whispered, shaking his head. “No, this can’t be
83Derek wasted no time after Ethan left. His hands trembled as he grabbed his phone from the desk, dialing the Henleys' company. He needed answers—how they had the audacity to hand his contract to that slimy bastard, Allvar.The phone rang twice before a cheerful voice greeted him, “Good afternoon, Henleys Corporation. How may I direct your call?”Derek clenched his jaw. “This is Derek Hawthorne. Put me through to Mr. Henley. Now.”There was a brief pause, the voice on the other end adopting a slightly cautious tone. “I’m afraid Mr. Henley is unavailable at the moment. Can I take a message?”Derek’s temper flared instantly. “A message? Do you even know who you're talking to? I don’t leave messages. I speak directly to Mr. Henley, or heads will roll.”The secretary hesitated, her tone still polite but firm. “I understand your urgency, Mr. Hawthorne, but Mr. Henley is currently in a meeting. I’m happy to let him know you called, and he can—”“You’re not listening to me,” Derek snapped,
84Allvar sat at his desk, the dim light from his lamp casting long shadows across the office. It was late—far later than he usually stayed—but there was still too much to do. The Henley deal, the fallout with Derek, and Marcus’s removal had left the company in a state of transition, and he wasn’t about to leave any loose ends.He rubbed his temples, glancing at the clock. Nearly 9 p.m. The rest of the office had long since emptied, leaving only the hum of the air conditioning and the quiet tapping of his keyboard to fill the silence.A soft knock on the door caught his attention. He looked up to see Clarabelle, his secretary, standing in the doorway. She was stunning, as always—her deep red hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders, and her bright blue eyes sparkled even in the dull office light. She wore a fitted black pencil skirt that hugged her curves perfectly, paired with a white blouse, unbuttoned just enough to draw the eye but remain professional. Her high heels clicked so