182"Douglas, there has to be hope. We can't give up on him," Michael pleaded desperately. The thought of his father's life hanging by a thread was unbearable.Douglas, placed a comforting hand on Michael's shoulder. "I understand your feelings, but false hopes can be more devastating. We need to prepare for the worst," he replied, his voice tinged with sorrow. "And his disappearance is not good for the conglomerate," Douglas continued, his tone becoming more serious. Michael looked up, his eyes filled with concern. "What does his disappearance mean for the conglomerate?" he asked, resigned to the fact that the situation had larger implications.Douglas hesitated momentarily before responding, his words carefully chosen. "Your father has already signed his will, Michael. If anything happens to him, he has designated you to take full control," he revealed, his voice steady but filled with a weighty sense of responsibility.Michael's shock was palpable. "What? I'm not ready for that. I
The next day, Michael, now fully aware of his responsibilities, took center stage at the press conference. Reporters gathered, cameras flashing, as he faced the daunting task of addressing not only his father's disappearance but also his unexpected inheritance of the conglomerate.Michael began, "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining me today. As many of you are aware, my father, Edward Ventura, has been missing for the past three days. It is a challenging time for our family, and we appreciate your support during this difficult period."Questions flew from the reporters, probing into the circumstances and expressing condolences. Michael, composed yet vulnerable, answered with sincerity. He continued, "In light of my father's absence, I have assumed the interim leadership of the Ventura conglomerate. It's a role I never anticipated, but I am committed to upholding my father's legacy and guiding the company through these uncertain times."A murmur of surprise rippled through the
~ 6 months later, ~It had been 6 months since Edward's return, and Michael was filled with joy. Life seemed perfect - his father was healthy, the company thriving, and his love for Olivia deeper than ever. Tonight, he planned to take their relationship to the next level. After work, Michael drove them to their favorite spot overlooking the city. A picnic dinner was laid out as the sun set over the horizon, bathing them in a glow of warmth.Michael gazed deeply into Olivia's eyes. "Liv, I still remember the first time I saw you, a year ago at that coffee shop. You were yelling so ferociously on the phone, and even though you pushed me away at first, something about your spirit drew me in."Olivia gave a watery laugh. "I was always feisty, even then. But you wore me down with that handsome smile of yours," she teased. "When you told me what Maxwell was doing, threatening and blackmailing you, I felt such rage," Michael continued, his eyes darkening briefly
Michael's heart sank as he trudged into the conference room. He could feel the tension in the air as soon as he entered. John Smith, his boss, sat at the head of the table with a stern expression on his face. Michael took a seat, feeling a knot form in his stomach. "Michael, we've received reports that you've been misusing company resources," John said, his voice cold and unfeeling. "What? That's not true!" Michael protested. "We have evidence, Michael, that you've been using company time and equipment for your own personal projects," John said, his voice rising. Michael's mind raced as he tried to figure out where this was coming from. He had always been a hardworking employee, going above and beyond what was asked of him. "You've cost this company a lot of money, Michael," John said, his voice dripping with anger. "We've calculated it all, and it's a huge loss. You're going to have to pay it all back." John grabbed a stack of papers and threw them in Michael's direction. The in
Chapter 2Michael took a step forward, his fists clenched. "You don't get to talk to me like that, Samantha. This is a big deal, and you don't even care."Ryan stood up, his eyes flashing. "Listen to her, loser. You're nothing but a worthless cog in the machine. You should thank me for helping you get demoted and put you in your place..."Michael, seething with anger, shot back, "I've had enough of your bullshit, Ryan! You've always been an arrogant prick, but I never thought you would stoop this low. Did you have something to do with my demotion?"Ryan and Samantha burst into laughter, mocking Michael. "You're so naive that it is hilarious!" the spoilt brat exclaimed.Michael's face turned red with fury. He clenched his jaw and took a step closer to Ryan. "You're not telling me everything, Ryan. What did you do?"Ryan smirked, thoroughly enjoying Michael's torment. "Oh, Michael... You have no idea what's been going on behind your back. Samantha and I orchestrated your downfall. We ma
Chapter 3: fired"Look! That guy is waking up," a gruff voice woke him up.Michael opened his eyes to see two unfamiliar faces looming over him. They looked homeless and destitute. He realized he had been lying on the concrete in a dark alley, just beneath a large dumpster. Immediately, a wave of nausea hit him and his pounded like a hammer.As he sat up, the men backed away, leaving Michael confused and disoriented. Nausea hit him like a wave, and he wondered," what had happened?"He took a deep breath and tried to sit up, his hand instinctively went to his neck, where the necklace his family had passed down to him was supposed to be. He had a nightmare that it has somehow slipped into his body and disappeared.He searched the garbage pile, hoping to find it, but it wasn't there. Michael's heart sank as he realized that his last link to his family was now lost.As he stood up, he realized that he didn't feel any pain, though he knew he had taken a severe beating. He must have passe
Michael was trembling with anger and frustration. "I can't believe this is happening," he muttered to himself."One more thing," John said with a smirk. "If you try to speak out against this decision or take any legal action, I'll sue you for slander." After threatening him he left the room . As Michael was being led out, Samantha and Ryan followed closely behind, wearing sneaky smiles. Samantha whispered slyly, "You know, Michael, this whole situation wasn't just a coincidence." Ryan nodded, an arrogant glint in his eyes. "That's right, buddy. We set you up." Michael's eyes widened in disbelief. "What do you mean, 'set me up'? What did you do?" Samantha giggled mockingly. "Remember when you misplaced your security card last week? Well, it wasn't misplaced at all. I took it." Ryan chimed in, a malicious twist to his words. "And guess what? I used that card to sneak into the storage room and steal some valuable items. Oh, the look on your face when you were accused of being a thi
" Ooh My God!""Look at his face!" The crowd laughed, and Michael tried to understand what happened. Confusion overwhelmed him, as everyone looked at Ryan on the ground, in agony.Thoughts raced through Michael's mind, and a chilling realization seeped into his consciousness. "Did I make him trip just by wishing it? No, that's ludicrous. Nobody can possess that kind of power. " He thought.But deep down, a small voice whispered, reminding him of the warm surge he felt in his chest when he wished for Ryan's downfall.Yet, with the chaos unfolding before his eyes, Michael couldn't afford to dwell on his newfound abilities. The drama surged back, drawing his attention back to Ryan, who struggled to regain his composure. Michael feeling avenged couldn't help himself and let out a quiet chuckle. But as Ryan laid there in a heap on the floor, the people around him began to giggle, mock, and point him."Guess karma isn't too fond of bullies, is it?" Michael said, his voice laced with a hi