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
Beauty leaned back in her luxurious leather chair, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest, and she stared out the big window of her Prime Enterprise HR office. The expansive cityscape in the background should have been soothing, but her thoughts were anything but. She could not help but notice the name "Sebastian" as it gnawed away at her. His stubbornness had become an annoyance in her otherwise perfect plans, and the more he resisted, the more she wanted him to crumble."Sebastian," she whispered to herself, a bitter sneer curling her lips. "You may believe that you are unbreakable, but everyone has weaknesses. You will be sorry you ever crossed me when I find yours."Beauty was unwilling to exercise caution in spite of the growing evidence against Jacob Ben. She felt untouchable because of her conceit and sense of superiority, which impaired her judgment. She was no stranger to plotting, having worked on much grander projects. Sebastian was just another hurdle to be overc
Jude, his heart pounding, ran back to the door with the folder in hand. Trying to blend in, he quietly closed the door behind him and headed back to Beauty's office. The corridors appeared to go on forever in front of him, with each step resounding in his ears like a gunshot.Upon arriving at Beauty's office, he found her waiting for him with an incomprehensible expression. Without saying anything, Jude gave Beauty the folder, which Beauty accepted.Jude's hand trembled slightly as he turned over the folder, showing signs of nervousness. With a relaxed and unreadable expression, Beauty accepted the document with a casual authority. She remained silent for a while, simply turning the pages with a skilled eye to make sure everything was in its proper place."Well done, Jude," she finally said, her tone clipped but with a sense of accomplishment. "I was certain I could rely on you."Jude released a breath he had been holding unaware. "Thank you, Ms. Beauty." I—""Enough!" she interrupted