179Ryan sauntered into the room, a wicked grin on his face. "Well, well, Michael Ventura, fancy meeting you here. What brings you to our little hideout?" A sardonic grin etching his features. Michael, his eyes narrowing at the sight of his adversary, spat out the words, "Ryan. Should've known you'd be slithering behind all this."He leaned against the cold, concrete wall, his arms folded in mock admiration. "Surprised, Mikey? I've been watching you play hero on the six o'clock news. Quite the spectacle you made, snagging those two-bit kidnappers," he said disdainfully, "It was almost as enjoyable as the time I sent those three goons to rough you up but you beat them up. Quite impressive of you ."Michael's jaw clenched, his anger barely contained. "Why am I not surprised? You always were a coward, hiding behind others to do your dirty work."Ryan chuckled darkly, circling Michael like a predator. "Oh, Michael, always so direct. Coward or not, Mikey, I always find a way to get what I
180"What incompetence is this?" Ryan exclaimed incredulously. "Ouuuuuuch!" The thug groaned in pain, writhing on the floor, and Ryan's expression turned from shock to fury.Seething with anger, he barked orders, "You imbecile! Get up and finish the job!"The thug continued writhing on the floor, screaming in agony as the poison started to take effect. "The syringe...it broke the skin...I can feel it burning!" "Get up you fool!" Ryan screamed, his face red with rage. But the man was incapacitated, gripped by the searing pain shooting through his veins. Ryan scoffed in frustration and snatched the fallen syringe. "It seems I'll have to take matters into my own hands." He swung his gaze to Emily, eyes glinting manically."No!" Michael shouted, straining against his bonds. "I warned you Ryan, you're in over your head!" But Ryan ignored him, advancing on Emily with the syringe. She sobbed in terror, shrinking back against the wall. "Please, don't do this!""Emily!" Michael cried despe
181Lea stepped forward, grinning. "Well, your dad here orchestrated a little surprise for you."Edward chuckled. "I couldn't let you go through all that without something to lift your spirits."Emily could hardly believe her eyes. After everything that had happened, seeing her father and Lea Boutin standing there seemed too good to be true. "Is it really true?" She pinched herself and felt the pain, so it was true.Her father beckoned to her with a smile. "Come now darling, don't stand in the doorway. Let us in, you must be exhausted."Emily slowly stepped aside numbly as they entered. Lea presented the bouquet with a gentle grin. "These are for you Emily, to lift your spirits as your father said."Still in shock, Emily turned to her father. "Dad...is this real? Or am I dreaming?" He patted her arm reassuringly. "It's no dream sweetheart. I promised you something to cheer you up, and I meant it."Lea nodded. "It's truly me, Emily. Not the fraud who deceived you before. When your fa
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