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
Beauty was ecstatic in her office when she saw the notification on her phone. Jacob finished the work, and the document was prepared. She glanced over the modifications as soon as she opened the file. Now, the financial reports were manipulated to show falling profitability and rising liabilities, creating the impression that the business was about to fail. .When Beauty closed the document, her lips turned into a menacing smile. She would show this proof to the investors the following day, observing as the doubt and fear germinated. She would become the dominant force when and Sebastian, and Prime Enterprise collapsed, taking advantage of the power vacuum that would follow. The only thing left to do was await the meeting.***Prime Enterprise's grand conference room, with its polished mahogany table, sleek modern lighting, and large windows providing a panoramic view of the city skyline, was the setting for the start of the investor meeting. However, the atmosphere was far from cal
Sebastian was stunned by the fabricated figures that were staring back at him, and he stood motionless. The once cautiously hopeful murmurs in the room were quickly becoming more and more audible, creating a low hum. Gradually, the investors expressed their annoyance, their expressions twisted with malice and deceit."This is completely unacceptable!" exclaimed the investor with silver hair, his voice slicing through the din like a dagger. Sebastian was unable to resist the intensity of his penetrating gaze and could only swallow nervously. "Prime Enterprise was presented as a secure and successful business, but the evidence that we have here indicates that it is in danger of failing. This is the height of deception!"Around the table, there was a chorus of agreements as the investors, who were now very animated, raised their voices and made a lot of accusations. "Were you expecting that we would not see?" A man with a gravelly, low voice among them snarled intensely. "Do you honestl
Senior Prime Enterprise officials, who had watched the catastrophe silently, started whispering to one another while the room was still buzzing from the investors' departure. They were clearly confused and shocked, and their hushed discussions revealed how difficult it was for them all to understand how things had fallen apart so quickly. "I am baffled as to how this could have occurred," muttered a senior manager, his brow furrowed in serious concern. "The figures were stable just a few weeks ago. How could things have gone so wrong so quickly?""It does not add up," a second senior executive said, a hint of doubt in his voice. "I have been reviewing the finances every day, and nothing indicated that we might be in this much trouble. It seems almost like the numbers have been altered by someone.""Tampered with?" inquired a third executive, his voice hinting at disbelief. "Who would dare? And above all, why? This could ruin us!"The senior members of the company continued to specul
Jude walked quickly down Prime Enterprise's lengthy hallway, leaving an empty trail behind him. The worried look on his face vanished as soon as he was out of sight, to be replaced by a cunning, content smile. As he got closer to the isolated, poorly lit parking lot where a sleek black car was waiting for him, he reached into his pocket and took out his phone, typing a brief message.Jude managed to get a glimpse of Ms. Beauty's calculating and piercing eyes as the car window rolled down slightly. Leaning back in her seat, she read Jude's message, her face lit softly by the interior car lights.Her tone was tinged with icy humor as she inquired, "So, how did it go?"Jude put his phone back in his pocket with a sly smile. "Exactly as we had hoped, Miss Beauty. The board is completely disorganized, and the investors were incensed. They do not know what hit them."Beauty smiled sinisterly, her lips curling. "Well done. Very good. I knew that their panic would keep them from asking you al