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
85One hour later, Allvar finally decided it was time to call it a night. His eyes burned from staring at the computer screen for too long, and a long yawn escaped his lips."Uhhh," he groaned, rubbing his tired eyes. "I’ve had enough of this for one day."He stacked the papers neatly on his desk, glancing at the growing pile. "I’ll deal with you tomorrow," he muttered to himself, grabbing his briefcase and turning off the dim lamp.The quiet click of his office door shutting behind him echoed in the empty hallway as he made his way to the elevator. The building was eerily silent, but that didn’t bother him. In fact, he welcomed it."At least I can think in peace," Allvar whispered, pressing the elevator button. "Silence beats another day of phone calls and meetings."By the time he reached the underground parking lot, the weight of exhaustion was pressing down hard on him. He slid into the driver’s seat of his car and leaned back for a moment, resting his head against the headrest."
86Allvar’s mind raced. Who were they? And what did they want? He had enemies, sure. But no one would dare make such a blatant move against him, right?His phone buzzed in his pocket, snapping him out of his thoughts. He fumbled to retrieve it, hoping for a distraction, maybe a message or a call that would make this nightmare disappear. But when he saw the unknown number flashing on the screen, a sinking feeling set in.He hesitated before answering. "Hello?" His voice wavered, despite his attempt to sound composed.A cold, gravelly voice responded, dripping with menace. “Mr. Falck, it seems you’ve been playing a dangerous game.”Allvar’s heart dropped. “Who the hell is this?”The voice chuckled darkly. “Someone who doesn’t appreciate being underestimated."Allvar’s heart pounded in his chest as he gripped the phone tighter, the silence in his car thick and oppressive.“Who the hell is this?” His voice trembled despite his best efforts to keep it steady.A dark chuckle came from the o
214---As Mrs. Abbott, Jake, and Edgar exited the conference room, their previously subdued demeanors shifted the moment they were out of Allvar’s sight. They huddled in a secluded corner of the hallway, their hushed voices sharp and venomous.“This pompous ass thinks he’s untouchable,” Jake growled, his fingers gripping the edge of his tablet so tightly it looked like it might snap.Edgar, still pale, rubbed his temples. “He’s bluffing. He must be. There’s no way he has concrete evidence.”Mrs. Abbott narrowed her eyes, her lips pressed into a thin line. “Evidence or not, he’s already on to us. We need to act fast before he turns this into a power play.”Jake leaned in, lowering his voice further. “He practically told us he’s waiting for us to slip up. If we don’t counter this, we’ll lose everything—and he’ll come out looking like the damn hero.”Edgar shook his head. “I told you the offshore accounts were too risky. Now we’re all in the crosshairs.”Mrs. Abbott snapped, “Don’t star
213The next day at Waterfall Corporation, Darwin leaned back in his sleek leather chair, a smug grin etched across his face. He tapped his fingers against the polished oak desk, his thoughts swimming with satisfaction. Yesterday's encounter with Serena and Derek had been nothing short of delightful. The way they’d left—angry, humiliated, and seething—was a perfect appetizer to the meal of revenge he was planning. “This is just the beginning,” he muttered under his breath, his smile widening. Serena. Her name alone sent a rush of anger through him, but he kept it buried beneath his polished exterior. She had dumped him, publicly no less, treating him like some disposable piece of her glamorous world. And Derek? That self-righteous fool had dared to tarnish his reputation with those baseless allegations. Oh, they would both pay, and dearly. A knock at the door broke his train of thought, and Clarabelle, his efficient and ever-loyal secretary, stepped in. She carried her tablet in
Serena's grip on Derek's arm tightened as they reached the entrance. Her breath came in shallow, uneven gasps, and her eyes darted around as if looking for answers in the gleaming marble floor or the polished chrome fixtures. The silence between them was suffocating, filled with unspoken accusations and the sting of embarrassment.“I can’t believe we let him play us like that,” Serena hissed, her nails digging into Derek’s sleeve. “We’re not just going to let him get away with this, are we?”Derek’s jaw clenched, but he kept his eyes fixed on the revolving door in front of them. “And what do you suggest we do, Serena? March back in there and challenge a man who could buy and sell us ten times over?”Serena’s eyes flashed with anger. “No, but we’re not going to crawl away with our tails between our legs either. We need to hit him where it hurts—his reputation, his alliances. If he thinks he’s untouchable, we’ll show him he’s not.”Derek scoffed, the bitterness in his voice cutting thro
Emily had never been one to back down, but as she stumbled towards the door, her face flushed with humiliation, her thoughts were a tangled mess. How could she have been so blind? How could she have dismissed him so easily? The man she had thought was just some arrogant, rich playboy was, in fact, a billionaire with more power than she had ever imagined. The realization was like a punch to her stomach, leaving her breathless.She could still feel the weight of Allvar's gaze on her, his icy eyes cutting through her with the precision of a sharp blade. It wasn’t just the shock of his wealth that had shaken her—it was the way he had handled the situation. The way he had turned the tables, dismantling their arrogance with effortless ease. The way he had put Derek and Serena in their place without so much as raising his voice. It was as if he had orchestrated the whole thing from the very beginning, knowing exactly how it would play out."Did you hear him?" Serena whispered, her voice bare
Derek’s face hardened as he tried to muster whatever defiance he could. "What do you want from us? Haven’t you done enough already?" His voice was laced with false bravado, but his shaking hands gave him away.Allvar stepped forward, his polished leather shoes clicking softly on the marble floor. His sharp, tailored suit made him look even more imposing. He tilted his head slightly, studying Derek as if he were an insignificant insect. "Done enough?" he repeated, his voice calm, dangerously so. "You mocked me, insulted me, and attempted to humiliate me in public. And now, you think you can walk away without facing the consequences?"Serena whimpered, clutching Derek’s arm tighter. "W-we didn’t know who you were! We didn’t mean—""Didn’t mean?" Allvar’s icy gaze locked onto hers, cutting her off mid-sentence. "What you mean is you didn’t think I was someone who could fight back. That’s always the problem with people like you. You respect power only when it’s shoved in your face."Emily
209Mr. Alves froze, the receiver trembling in his grip as the weight of the words settled over him. He couldn’t breathe, his eyes flickering nervously to Allvar, who still stood there, calm and composed."Y-you can't be serious..." Alves whispered, as if trying to reason with the invisible figure on the other end of the phone.The voice was cold and unforgiving. "I don’t make jokes about business, Mr. Alves. You’ve disrespected someone you shouldn’t have. Pack your things. Security will escort you out shortly."The line clicked dead.For a moment, no one moved. The silence was deafening, broken only by the faint hum of the restaurant's air conditioning. Derek and Serena gaped at the manager, their smug smiles wiped clean."What did—" Derek started, his voice cracking."Vacant?" Serena’s voice was a high-pitched squeak. "H-he said vacant!?"Mr. Alves stumbled back, his face still ghostly pale. "T-this is impossible," he muttered, eyes darting to Allvar, who now smiled ever so faintly,
208Allvar clenched his fists in anger, grinding his teeth at Derek's audacity. Serena scowled with flaming cheeks, rolling her eyes dismissively.Allvar remained composed, arching a brow at their reaction. "There seems to be an issue here that requires your assistance," Allvar replied calmly into the phone.On the other end of the line, the voice grew sharp with concern. "What sort of situation, Young Master? Are you alright?"Allvar couldn't help but let a small, wry smile flicker across his face, his eyes glinting with a mixture of annoyance and amusement. "I've been accused of theft, of all things," he explained, his voice laced with disbelief. "The manager here refuses to believe the gold card is mine. He's threatening to call security on me."He went on and relayed all the events that had transpired, describing how he had been openly mocked and ridiculed by the manager.The butler listened attentively, a frown forming on his aged face. Such disrespect towards the young master wa
Allvar's lips curled into a faint smirk, his calm demeanor betraying none of the turmoil his accusers expected. “How… How did this hobo come into possession of this?" Mr. Alves gasped, his eyes widening in disbelief as he scrutinized the exclusive card in his hand. Allvar remained impassive, his posture relaxed as he watched Mr. Alves struggle to reconcile the elegant card with the man before him. The manager cleared his throat, masking his astonishment with an air of accusation. His gaze darkened as he fixed Allvar with an intense glare. “You’re a criminal! Where did you get this card? This isn’t something just anyone can own. Where did you steal it from?” “From my family," Allvar replied casually, his tone devoid of concern. Emily froze, her pale face reflecting her confusion. She trusted Allvar's integrity but couldn't fathom how he had acquired such an item. In stark contrast, Derek and Serena scoffed simultaneously, their eyes rolling in unison. “Like your pathetic fam
206“Hey!! You're making a mistake here!” Serena called out in a harsh voice, her face scowling at the waiter, who turned slightly to acknowledge them once more.“Do you know who this man is?!” she demanded, pointing dramatically at Derek, who had the audacity to look smug. Emily could only roll her eyes at their theatrics.With newfound determination, Serena stomped toward their direction, intent on blocking their path. She crossed her arms and glared daggers at the trio. Pleased with the development, Derek swaggered forward to join her, standing beside her like a soldier in solidarity. He eyed the waiter and Allvar with disdain, sneering as if he owned the entire establishment.“Do you know who I am?!” Derek bellowed, his voice dripping with arrogance. “Do you realize what weight my family name carries? How dare you relegate me to the background just to attend to this nobody?!”He jabbed a finger toward Allvar, his contempt thinly veiled, while the waiter’s face twisted in confusion