75"Wow, what has happened? What did she do?”"The notice projector did not say anything, but she has been very hardworking, you know.""That serves her right!"As Rowland entered the lobby, the morning sun bathed the Fence Company building in golden light, his usual brisk pace and commanding presence drawing attention. He assumed it would be another busy day.He exchanged a few standard greetings but ignored the unusual buzz of hushed conversations among employees. Groups huddled together, whispering urgently and fleetingly, with occasional glances directed his way.He dismissed the scene as typical office gossip, but a nagging unease persisted. Rowland went into his office, took a seat, and started going through his morning schedule. His first task was to reach out to Mia first.Rowland picked up the phone and dialed Mia's office number, waiting until the tone rang. There was no response. He frowned, glanced at the clock, and redialed, allowing it to ring longer this time. Again, th
Rowland was standing outside the silent, imposing door of Mr. Jones's office. After inhaling deeply, he adjusted his tie and gave a firm knock. He pushed the door open and entered without waiting for a response.Mr. Jones and Mrs. Jones were seated comfortably in the large office, as was to be expected. When Rowland walked in, Mr. Jones leaned back in his chair and grinned smugly.Seated on the edge of the desk, Mrs. Jones folded her arms and wore a look of contemptuous laughter."Well, well," said Mr. Jones, his tone brimming with derision. "What a pleasant surprise to see the company's prestigious project manager. Tell me, Rowland, have you come to confess you stole the jewelry design after all?"Mrs. Jones chuckled and exchanged a knowing look with her husband. "Oh, I would love to hear this," she exclaimed, her laughter echoing throughout the room like a bell.Rowland tightened his jaw, but he refused to take the bait. "I am not here for your games," he stated coldly, his voice s
The tension in the reception area rose to a fever pitch as Mr. Jones pointed a furious finger at Mia, his voice thunderous."What exactly are you doing here?! You were suspended, and now you walk back in here as if you own the place?"Mrs. Jones raised her hand, signaling to the guards, before Mia could respond. "Take her out," she ordered sharply, leaving no room for argument.The guards paused briefly, looking at Rowland and the Joneses. They could not refuse, so they re-grabbed Mia's arms and dragged her toward the exit."Let me go!" Mia yelled, struggling against them. The employees in the reception area murmured among themselves, some clearly uncomfortable with what was happening in front of them, while others watched with morbid curiosity."Stop this madness right away!" Rowland barked, stepping forward to intervene, but Mrs. Jones interrupted him, her eyes blazing with authority."I would not dare it if I were you, Rowland, or you will be joining her out on the street," she hi
The air in the reception area became almost suffocating as Khalid's icy glare met Mr. Jones' desperate defense.Mr. Greyson, standing tall among the other investors, exuded quiet authority. The employees whispered amongst themselves, torn between shock and curiosity."Surely, Mr. Greyson, you are not basing such serious accusations on Shard's alleged confession," Mrs. Jones interjected, her tone composed but tinged with desperation. "How can we believe his words in the absence of tangible proof?"Khalid folded his arms, his expression unreadable but his voice sharp. "The truth does not always wait for evidence to speak. Shard's words cannot be lies because the pieces fit together so well."Mr. Jones took a step forward, his voice raised this time, fueled by panic disguised as indignation. “This is slander! Shard is just a disgruntled employee who will say anything to save himself. You cannot tarnish our reputation because of his lies!"The murmurs in the room became louder as the empl
Following the initial uproar, the reception area had returned to an eerie calm. Employees returned to their desks, whispers about the incident still lingering in the air.The investors had left, their confident strides carrying them out the door, leaving Khalid behind with promises to keep Mr. Fence updated on the jewelry design project's progress.Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Jones stormed into their office, their expressions darkened with frustration. Their earlier victory had been fleeting, and now humiliation weighed heavily on them.As they entered the office, Mr. Jones slammed the door shut with such force that it echoed through the hallway. Mrs. Jones flopped onto the plush leather chair, her hands clenching the armrests, her face twisted in bitter anger."I cannot believe this!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling. "That is Rowland! How dare he? How dare Khalid and Mr. Greyson side with him?”Mr. Jones paced the room with his hands balled into fists. "We have been humiliated. Shard'
Amaya slammed the phone down on the nightstand, her face twisted with frustration and resolve. Clinton, seated across the room in a sleek armchair, looked up from his tablet, intrigued."Who was that?" he inquired, his tone tinged with mild irritation at the interruption."It was my mother," Amaya responded sharply, her voice still brimming with rage. She stood up and started pacing the room, the sharp click of her heels echoing on the marble floor. "She just told me about what happened at the company today. Rowland humiliated my parents in front of everybody."Clinton raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Humiliated them? How?"Amaya paused her pacing and looked at him, her face filled with rage and contempt."Shard confessed. He admitted to stealing and revealed everything. Rowland must have managed to persuade him to tell the truth. My parents were humiliated, and the investors agreed with Rowland."As she continued, her tone became sharper. "Can you believe that man has that much nerve?
The Fence Emerald Company's grand hall was alive with excitement as guests arrived, their footsteps resonating off the polished floors.The presentation space was beautifully set up, with a big stage taking up most of the front of the room.Investors, stakeholders, and company representatives were seated in rows, their voices blending into low murmurs. There was tension in the air, a lingering mix of skepticism and curiosity.Amaya and Clinton joined Mr. and Mrs. Jones at one of the main tables. Their faces were a mixture of annoyance and contempt, their eyes darting now and then to the stage where Rowland would soon be seen."I still can not believe they let him lead this presentation," Amaya said, her voice low and venomous. "It is a slap in the face!""Disgraceful," Mrs. Jones said, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. "That man has no right to be in the spotlight after all he is done."Mr. Jones leaned back in his chair, his jaw tightened. "Let us see how long he can last. Hi
There was still a lot of excitement and curiosity surrounding Fence Emerald Company's grand presentation. Investors whispered to one another about Rowland's outstanding presentation. It was difficult to ignore his poise and confidence, even the most cynical skeptics had to concede.However, the atmosphere was completely different at the Jones table. Amaya, Clinton, and Mr. and Mrs. Jones were visibly nervous, their earlier belief in Rowland's failure shattered."This is not how it is supposed to go," Amaya complained angrily. "We must find a way to turn things around before it is too late."Clinton leaned in close to her, his voice low and frustrated. "Patience. His downfall will arrive. Just wait.”Before they could say anything else, a commotion broke out at the entrance to the hall.“Let me in! I need to see my son!” A man's voice yelled, loud and desperate.All eyes were drawn to the disturbance as security guards struggled to restrain an elderly man who had forced his way past t
The day of the final presentation at Fence Emerald Company arrived with much excitement. The venue was a grand hall that had been meticulously decorated with golden drapes and silver accents to create an elegant and formal atmosphere.The floor was lined with rows of neatly arranged tables, each reserved for a prominent figure in business. As attendees began to arrive, the room was filled with low murmurs and excited chatter.Mr. Mark and a group of prominent investors were among the invited guests from a variety of industries.Clinton, the Fence Emerald Company's vice president, was seated at a prestigious table close to the front with Mr. Fence, the company's chief executive officer, and Khalid, his personal assistant.Mr. and Mrs. Jones soon followed, their triumphant, self-assured steps announcing their arrival.Discreetly enjoying the fact that their plan appeared to be going well, they dressed immaculately and greeted other guests politely."Today is the day," Mrs. Jones muttere
That same day, the atmosphere at the Jones Company was tense. Rowland sat at his desk, looking composed but determined.He had just signed off on a letter that he knew would cause a stir throughout the company—a termination letter for Mia.He put the letter in a folder and a few seconds later Beauty, the secretary, came into the room. She noted his unusual stillness and furrowed brow as he slid the document across the desk toward her."Sir, Is there anything urgent?" Beauty inquired cautiously."Yes," Rowland responded, his tone even yet firm. "This is Mia's termination notice. I would like you to personally deliver it to Mr. and Mrs. Jones. I want them to sign it too."Beauty stood stunned, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Sir... Mia? Are you certain?”Rowland responded with a nod. "It has been authorized. Please ensure that it gets to them as soon as possible."Beauty paused, searching his face for an explanation, but his expression was unreadable. Knowing better than to inquire fur
The next morning at Jones Company, the atmosphere was alive with activity as employees shuffled around, getting ready for another busy day. However, behind the pristine façade of the company's operations, Mr. and Mrs. Jones were deep in conversation, their voices hushed but charged with malice. They sat across from each other in Mr. Jones' large office, with the blinds drawn to ensure privacy. Mrs. Jones leaned forward, tapping the table with her neatly manicured nails. "It is no surprise that Mia has been assisting Rowland behind our backs. That girl has created her own obstacle, and you know how I feel about obstacles." Mr. Jones smirked, his expression darkened. "She has no idea what is going to happen. You are right, though. If we are going to deal with Rowland properly, we need to first neutralize Mia.” Mrs. Jones gave a nod, her eyes narrowing. "Exactly. And, after hearing how Rowland lost the deal at Fence Emerald Company, I am confident we can replicate his success
Amaya moved quickly down the hallway of Fence Emerald Company, her heels clicking sharply against the polished tiles. Her confidence radiated as she approached the Vice President's office.She had always considered Clinton to be not only her husband, but also her strongest ally in the company, and she felt vindicated today.She could still remember Mr. Mark's gleeful compliments, and she felt even more triumphant after witnessing Rowland's subdued response.She knocked lightly and went inside without waiting for a response. Clinton looked up from his desk, his sharp features softening into a happy smile."Amaya," he replied, leaning back in his chair. "Just on time. I assume everything went according to plan?"Amaya returned the smile, setting her handbag on one of the chairs before taking a seat. "It was better than I expected. Mr. Mark was completely impressed. He’s reinstating the deal and even praised the design to Rowland’s face.”Clinton chuckled and shook his head. "I promised
Rowland stepped out of the taxi as it approached Fence Emerald Company, his mind racing with memories of the old man's revelations. He had promised to help, but there was still much he did not know. The old man remained in the taxi, reluctant to draw attention to himself. "I will handle this for the time being," Rowland said, looking back at him. "The taxi driver will transport you back from here." The old man nodded reluctantly and clutched his photograph tightly. Rowland adjusted his tie before entering the company's sleek glass doors. The air was filled with activity, with employees rushing back and forth with files and tablets in hand. Rowland came to a halt as he approached his office, recognizing Mr. Mark, standing near the main lobby. Mr Mark was shaking hands with Amaya Clinton. The sight was unusual enough to make him pause. "Thank you, Mrs. Clinton," Mr. Mark replied warmly, his tone full of gratitude. "Your design is precisely what we needed to persuade the board
The next morning, the old man sat in the lobby of a small hospital, his mind clouded with memories of a life full of mistakes and regrets.His hands trembled as he clutched a photograph of his late wife, Isabella Dwin, whom he had not seen in decades.He had spent the night before piecing together fragments of his past, haunted by the possibility that he had mistakenly assumed his daughter had died with her mother during childbirth.When the nurse called his name, he stood up and determinedly followed her into the doctor's office. The doctor, an older man with a friendly but inquisitive expression, motioned for him to sit."How can I assist you today?" the doctor inquired, folding his hands over a stack of files.The old man leaned forward, his voice full of emotion. "I need to look into the records of a woman named Isabella Dwin. She was admitted to this facility several years ago. She... died while giving birth."“Who was she to you?”"She was my wife."The doctor furrowed his brow
The room at Fence Maison was unusually tense. The aftermath of the previous incident during the presentation lingered like a shadow, casting doubt and confusion over those present. Rowland sat at the far end of the table, his fingers drumming on the polished surface. His father, Mr. Fence, stood by the tall windows, his posture rigid as he looked out at the sprawling cityscape. Khalid, ever perceptive and meticulous, took a seat to Rowland's left, his sharp gaze darting between the father and son.Mr. Fence broke the silence, turning to face them with a grim expression."Son," he began, his voice low and controlled, "I want to know everything you know about the old man who interrupted the presentation that day. Who exactly is he? And why would he claim to be your father?"Rowland shook his head, his brow furrowed in genuine puzzlement. "Father, I have never seen that man before in my life. His face does not ring any bells. I was as surprised as you were when he walked in and began m
Clinton stormed out of Mr. Fence's room, his face etched with rage. The humiliation of being silent in front of Rowland and Khalid was unbearable.He slammed the door behind him, muttering curses under his breath as he walked to the parking lot. His steps were quick and forceful, echoing through the empty halls of Fence's large Maison.The journey home was no better; his knuckles whitened as he gripped the steering wheel, his mind racing with vengeance.Clinton was furious by the time he arrived at his home. He flung open the door and stepped inside, startling Amaya, who was sitting in the living room drinking tea.She looked up, her face brightening with concern as she saw the rage in her husband's eyes."What happened?" she inquired, setting her cup down and rising to greet him.Clinton paced back and forth, running his hand through his hair like a caged animal. "That man—Father—he supported Rowland again! He refused to listen to reason, and when I suggested Rowland's removal as pr
As each of the four men took their seats, the air in the room became thick with tension. Mr. Fence sat at the front of the room, his back straight and his gaze commanding.Khalid, as silent and observant as ever, sat to the left of Mr. Fence, his sharp eyes darting between Rowland and Clinton.Clinton, visibly agitated, sat opposite Rowland, whose calm demeanor gave no indication of the storm brewing around him.It was an unplanned and uninvited meeting, but everyone present knew that the conversation would shape Fence Emerald's future.Rowland was the first person to speak. His tone was measured, and he chose each word with care. "Mr. Fence, I came here because there is something you should know. "The jewelry design project with Mr. Mark has been officially cancelled."Mr. Fence's expression remained impassive, but his silence indicated that he wanted to hear more. Before Rowland could finish, Clinton, who had been itching to say something, leaned forward in his chair, his voice lace