OLIVER'S RISE TO INFLUENCE

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE. THE POWER SHIFT

The whole room seemed smaller than it was as Mr George's gesture sent ripples of confusion and disbelief through the room.

How could this be happening? Mr. George, who just moments ago seemed assured to back Mr. Smith, was now bowing to Oliver, the man everyone had underestimated.

Meanwhile Oliver remained composed, his expression unreadable, his eyes darted through everyone in the room which only made the tension in the room thicken with every passing second.

Mr. Smith, still clutching his aching stomach, struggled to stand upright. The pain and shock were evident in his eyes, but his fury was far from subdued. He glared at Mr. George, his voice seething with skepticism and sarcasm.

“What kind of expensive joke is this?” he barked, his tone dripping with disdain. “Is this some elaborate prank you’ve cooked up? I suppose next, you’ll tell me Mr. Howard is a magician who makes people disappear!”

As his anger still burned in him, memories from the previous night at the dinner flashed th