Another workday began as the sun was just coming up, bathing Prime Enterprise in a warm glow. There was the usual morning buzz about the office, with people rushing to their desks, phones ringing, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. But tensions were there, simmering beneath the surface, particularly in light of the day before.With the weight of the ongoing investigation bearing down on him, Sebastian arrived early at his office. The previous night, he did not get much sleep because his mind was constantly racing with ideas about the sabotage and what Juan, the IT specialist, had privately revealed to him. Though she had not said much to him, the expression in her eyes told him enough to be very cautious because something was not right.Meanwhile, Beauty was engaged in her usual cunning in another area of the building. Her well-groomed fingers were tapping the glossy surface of her desk as she sat in her office. She would had the ideal chance to advance her plan
There was a lot of tension in the boardroom, and everyone's anxiety was practically exploding in the air. Despite the heavy charge looming over him, Sebastian stood tall and met William Prime's gaze as the police drew nearer to place handcuffs on him.The boardroom door slammed open, creating a loud bang that reverberated throughout the room, just as the officer extended his hand to grasp the icy metal around his wrists. A man wearing a sharply tailored suit stood at the entrance, commanding attention from everyone. The senior board members were immediately impressed by his presence and instantly recognized him by name.The man entered the room with a confident gait and said, "Don Carten, Sebastian's lawyer."The officers exchanged glances and paused before one of them finally spoke. "Mr. Carten, we are currently carrying out an arrest. You can raise your concerns at the station if you have any."Don Carten, though, remained unmoved. His gaze narrowed as he concentrated on the lead o
A low murmur of disbelief and unease filled the boardroom as the senior members attempted to make sense of what they had just seen. They were all taken aback by the revelation, struggling to accept that dishonesty and treachery had rocked the foundation of their business. Pale and uncertain faces replaced those that had once exuded confidence and authority. Unable to look their peers in the eye, a few of them lowered their eyes in shame.William Prime did not move as he tried to piece together the meaning of what they had just witnessed. The conspiracy's depth was astounding, and it was painful to realize that it had occurred right in front of them. The only indication that something was wrong inside him was the faint tapping of his fingers on the table.With a relaxed posture and alert eyes, Sebastian stood silently and observed the reactions taking place in the room. Though he had known this moment would arrive, he had still not quite prepared for the sight of it. As Don Carten had
"Yes," Daniel frantically nodded, his terrified eyes wide. "She... she instructed me to sabotage the paperwork and make sure the president was held accountable for everything. The entire situation, including the arrest, was orchestrated by her. I was just following her orders."Everyone in the room was left speechless as the shock of Daniel's confession descended upon them. Now that the truth was known, there were more questions than answers. What was the extent of Ms. Beauty's influence? And now that her part in this plot was known, what would happen?The officer turned to William Prime with a serious expression, having almost arrested Sebastian. "Ms. Beauty needs to be brought in so we can question her." His tone made it impossible to argue with what he said.With his thoughts still spinning from the revelation, William nodded slowly. "Yes, without a doubt," he said in a quiet voice. "Do what you have to do."Abigail was signaled by the officer to call Ms. Beauty to the boardroom, b
She quickly gathered herself and put on a cool, indifferent face to hide her fear. She was shaken, but she would not show it to anyone. She just needed to maintain her composure and deny everything in order to continue controlling the story, regardless of what had happened.With a voice as icy as the board members' glares, the officer who had spoken to Abigail earlier called her outright, "Ms. Beauty." "Please have a seat."After a brief moment of hesitation, Ms. Beauty nodded and moved elegantly to the designated chair. Her thoughts whirled with potential ways to make the situation work in her favor as she forced a smile as she sat down.Her tone was light as she asked, "What is going on?" as though it were a simple question.The officer did not provide an immediate response. Rather, he grabbed the tabletop remote control and hit a button. The identical video footage that had just been shown for the board was displayed on the big flat-screen TV that was mounted on the wall, a sight t
The senior board members, who had been closely observing the interaction, started whispering to each other as a result of Ms. Beauty's composed manner. As silent discussions and nods of agreement filled the room, their doubts about Daniel's charges intensified.Mr. Harrigton, a senior member known for his pragmatism and composure, cleared his throat and raised his hand. "Let us examine the available facts," he said in a composed yet commanding tone. "Ms. Beauty has worked for this organization for a long time. She has consistently acted with integrity and professionalism. This is a desperate man attempting to pull himself up by bringing others down with him. This is not uncommon in situations like these."Nodding in agreement was Mrs. Turner, another board member, who was noted for her keen intellect and meticulous nature. She confidently stated, "I have worked with Ms. Beauty on numerous projects." "She has consistently been open, honest, and thorough. Given her past, it is difficu
When Abigail turned to head out the door, she saw Don Carten standing there, staring at her. His customary detached demeanor had vanished, giving way to a subdued worry that Abigail had never noticed before.He stopped her in her tracks and called out, "Abigail." She faced him, preparing herself for the inevitable conversation she could feel coming."Don," she said, attempting to sound impartial even though she could feel her discomfort. With deliberate steps, he walked toward her, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her expression. His voice was low enough to keep their conversation private as he questioned, "What did you make of all that?"Reluctant to speak to Don, Abigail was not unsure of her ideas; rather, it was because she was not comfortable expressing them. "It was unexpected," she finally replied, carefully selecting her words. "I am still not convinced Daniel acted alone, even though his actions were reckless."Don nodded, obviously interested. "And, Ms. Beauty? Do
The Prime estate, with its expansive grounds tucked away among immaculate gardens, emanated a sense of classic elegance. Long shadows were cast over the grand halls of the mansion as the day turned into the evening thanks to its large windows capturing the last of the sunlight. There, Sebastian and William Prime sat in the grand living room with its walls covered in priceless artwork and the enticing smell of old wood. With a thoughtful expression, William swirled the amber liquid in his glass of bourbon. "Sebastian," he said in a measured tone, "this whole thing with Daniel, it does not make sense." Daniel was not able to plan something this complex on his own, as we both know.”With a focused expression on his face, Sebastian nodded. With all of the day's stress bearing down on him, he reclined in his seat. "I concur. Even though Daniel was never very careful, something feels off about this. As if he were being manipulated or pushed into a corner."As William took a sip of his bev