As they entered the conference room, everyone's eyes turned to Patrick, and they bowed slightly in greeting. But it was clear they didn't know who he was. Patrick didn't seem to mind, his confident stride and kind smile commanding attention."Good morning, everyone," Patrick said, his voice clear and strong. "I've called this urgent meeting to discuss the future of Genius Group. I ask those present to take their seats, and our media team to arrange a Zoom call for those unable to join us here today."The room buzzed with whispers and curious glances. Who was this man, and why was he speaking with such authority?Just then, Andrew stepped forward, a determined look on his face. "Before we begin," he said, his voice ringing out across the room, "I have an important announcement to make. This is Patrick, the new owner and heir of Genius Group."Gasps and murmurs erupted around the room. The board of directors, seated at the far end, stared in shock, their faces pale."But...but this can'
Andrew signaled to Patrick, who was standing by the door, to retrieve the box of files. Patrick offered a slight bow and turned to leave, his movements fluid and confident.As soon as Patrick was out of the room, one of the elderly men spoke up, his voice dripping with skepticism. "I don't know, Andrew, you don't look like the Genius himself. You don't have his eyes, his nose, his jawline... you're not even similar!"The room filled with murmurs of agreement and disagreement.One of the men, a portly gentleman with a thick mustache, nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes, I see what he means. The Genius had a distinctive look, and Andrew here doesn't quite match it."But another man, a slender woman with glasses, countered, "But that's not necessarily true. Children don't always look exactly like their parents. And Andrew has the same birthmark as Genius, doesn't he?"A third man, a gruff-looking individual with a scowl, spoke up. "Birthmarks can be faked, my dear. I'm not convinced."A soft-sp
Andrew turned to face the intruder, wondering what nonsense was going on. "Who are you?" he demanded, trying to keep his voice steady.The man smiled, a cold, calculating smile that sent shivers down Andrew's spine. "I am Alec Blac," he said, throwing a deadly stare at Andrew.What!? Andrew spat in shock. His eyes widened further, his mind racing with the implications of what standing face to face with Alec could be. Alec Blac? The notorious Mafia boss that Patrick had warned him about? What was he doing here? Andrew knew that Alec had come here, then someone had informed him which meant that there was more war to fight than he thought. He stared at Alec and found himself getting rid of any iota of fear in him. If he needed to get this, he needed to throw fear into the gutters. Alec's eyes seemed to bore into Andrew's soul, as if daring him to challenge him. Andrew felt a like a heavy weight was placed on his shoulders and he knew he had to muster up the courage to face this man."
Alec's smirk grew wider as he gazed at the men, his eyes glinting with a sinister intensity. "You won't love being on my bad side," he warned, his voice low and menacing.He paused, surveying the room with a calculating gaze. "I'm offering you a last chance," he said, his tone dripping with condescension. "Who's with me?"The room fell silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the men. Some of them exchanged nervous glances, their faces pale with fear.Then, Alec's voice boomed through the room, louder and more threatening. "WHO IS ON MY SIDE?"Some of the men hesitated, their hands trembling as they raised them. Reginald, of course, was among them, his smile smug and self-satisfied.Andrew's stomach turned as he watched the scene unfold. He couldn't believe that these men were caving in to Alec's intimidation.As he scanned the room, Andrew saw that there were more hands up for Alec than before. His heart sank, his mind racing with the implications.Alec's smile grew wider, his e
Alec's fingers flew across the phone's keypad as he dialed Reginald's number. He waited impatiently for the other man to answer, his mind racing with anticipation. As soon as he answered, Alex’s voice growled through the phone."Reginald," Alec said, his voice firm and authoritative. "Meet me at our usual spot. Don't keep me waiting."He hung up the phone without waiting for a response, his eyes already scanning the room as he planned his next move.As he paced back and forth in his apartment, Alec's thoughts turned to Andrew and the Genius Group of Companies. He couldn't let Andrew win, couldn't let him take control of the company that was rightfully his. Offcourse it was his, directly or indirectly—or so he thought."Andrew's father must pay for what he did to my father," Alec muttered to himself, his voice filled with anger. "And the only way to do that is to render his son useless."Alec's eyes narrowed, his thoughts consumed by a deep-seated anger. He couldn't forgive Andrew's fa
As the driver navigated the vehicle through the winding roads, Patrick began to speak in a solemn tone. "Young master, your father was a strong man, a true leader. To rule his empire, you must be just as strong, if not stronger." Andrew listened intently, his eyes locked onto Patrick's, as he absorbed every word. He knew that Patrick was right; the world of business was cutthroat, and only the strongest survived. As Patrick continued to speak, Andrew's mind flashed back to his childhood, to memories of his father's strict guidance. He remembered the time he was engrossed in a video game, lost in a virtual world of fantasy and adventure. His father had stormed into the room, his face stern and disapproving. "Andrew, what are you doing?" his father had thundered, his voice echoing off the walls. "You should be reading your books, not wasting your time on frivolous games!" Andrew's face had fallen, his eyes cast downward in shame. He knew his father was right, but he couldn't help
As they drove down the winding highway, the driver's voice crackled. "Sir, I think we're being followed."Andrew's head jerked up, his eyes snapping towards the rearview mirror as if magnetized by an unseen force. His gaze locked onto the reflection of a black sleek car, its windows tinted like dark sunglasses, tailing them with an unnerving precision. For a fleeting moment, Andrew's eyes widened in alarm, his pupils dilating as his mind processed the threat."Speed up," Andrew ordered, his voice low and firm, but laced with a hint of urgency. His words tumbled out with a sense of command, he was slightly scared but he knew this was no time for fear at all. As the driver floored it, the car surged forward, its engine roaring to life like an awakened beast. Andrew's heart raced in tandem, pounding against his ribcage like a drumline. His eyes remained fixed on the rearview mirror, his gaze burning with intensity.But the black car refused to be shaken off, its engine purring smoothly
Reginald stood trembling before Alec, his gaze fixed on the polished marble floor as he braced himself for the impending storm. Alec's face was a deep crimson, his eyes blazing with fury, and his fists clenched so tightly they seemed to tremble."You failed me, Reginald," Alec spat, his voice dripping with venom, each word laced with disgust. "You had one task: double-cross Andrew and Patrick, snatch Patrick from under their noses, and now...now we're back to square one, worse off than when we started."Reginald swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing nervously. "I apologize, Alec. Our driver proved to be a formidable opponent. They outsmarted us, and we lost them in the chase."Alec's anger boiled over, and he slammed his fist onto the sleek, black wooden table, making Reginald flinch. The sound echoed through the room like a crack of thunder. "Excuses!" Alec bellowed. "I don't pay you to make excuses. I pay you for results, for outcomes that change the game."Reginald took a cautio