Morning at Havenwood Estate.KRINGGG!!! KRINGGG!!! TAK!Greg's consciousness reluctantly emerged from the depths of sleep as his alarm blared. He fumbled for his phone, his hand eventually finding its way to the dismiss button. Slowly, he raised the device, squinting at the blinding screen. It proudly displayed the time, and the sight of "8 a.m." sent a jolt of realization through him. He needed to prepare for another day at Behav.An audible groan escaped Greg's lips as he shifted into his cozy bed. The morning laziness clung to him, refusing to let go. His stomach, on the other hand, churned with discontent, serving as an unwelcome reminder of the drinks he'd indulged in the previous night, all thanks to Dylan's bet."Why did I even accept that bet, knowing I'd have to face the office today…" Greg pondered, his thoughts trailing off into the realm of regrets.After lingering beneath the covers for a while longer, Greg finally summoned the determination to extricate himself from the
The bus trundled along the city streets, its rattling noises filling the space along with the hushed conversations of its passengers. At first, Greg had been planning to move from his current spot since the person sitting next to him seemed to forget about personal space, their elbow repeatedly brushing against him. He frowned, growing increasingly annoyed by the intrusion into his personal space.However, just as he was about to shift away, his intention changed abruptly as he heard those words."But seriously, I don't understand... How could a person be so cruel to murder an elderly that live alone in an apartment?" .Greg immediately stopped in his tracks as soon as he heard those words. 'A murder?' he thought, his curiosity piqued. He decided to stop and eavesdrop on their conversation.“I don’t know, but you see these days, there are so many crazy people out there. A lot of sick people always seem to love to murder old folks who live alone in apartments…” "I know about that, bu
One hour and five minutes had passed, and the executive meeting room remained eerily empty. Greg, seated at the long polished table, couldn't help but frown in frustration. He glanced at his phone watch, the digital display mocking him with the passage of each precious minute.‘It’s already been one hour and five minutes but how come no one came?’ Greg muttered, his irritation was palpable as he drummed his fingers on the mahogany table. Even all of his tasks including asking his subordinate were already done which was enough to show how long he had been waiting here!"At least, if the executives couldn't come, they could write a letter or send a message, like what Bradley did a few minutes ago," Greg mused, his voice dripping with annoyance. Bradley's message had stated that he couldn't attend due to a head injury and doctor's orders to rest. Greg could understand that situation, but this prolonged absence from everyone else puzzled him.Greg couldn't fathom how the entire cadre of
Greg cursed under his breath as he saw the numerous reporters run toward them, thanks to that reporter now he and Rika became the center of attention!Not wanting to waste any more time, Greg turned toward Rika’s direction, and without asking, he grabbed her hand, saying, "Quick, follow me. We must hide now," and with that, they both ran away, leaving the old apartment building.***DRAP! DRAP! DRAP!As Greg and Rika disappeared into the labyrinthine streets of the city, the reporters remained in pursuit, their voices filled with determination."Where did they go?" one reporter exclaimed, scanning the area frantically. "I believe the executives ran this way... But I don't see them."Another reporter chimed in, her tone anxious, "I don't know, but we better find them fast! It will be such a shame if we lose a big scoop from executives who have acquaintance with the suspect executive—"Yet another voice interrupted, this time with a note of excitement, "Hey, guys! There's a resident who
The commotion outside the minimarket had reached a fever pitch. Reporters huddled together, exchanging whispers and dubious glances. Among them, one reporter in particular stood at the fringes, gazing at the unfolding spectacle with a hint of skepticism."Hey... Are you sure that those executives are running here?" he whispered to his fellow reporters, casting a dubious eye on the unremarkable surroundings.His companions seemed equally uncertain. "I don't know... but the residents were sure that the executives were headed this way. Could it be some kind of trick?" one of them mumbled, casting a dubious look at the minimarket, the uninterested shopkeeper, and a group of elderly women who seemed utterly unconcerned with the unfolding drama."Hey, guys! Why are you all still here?!" piped up another reporter, breaking into the hushed conversation. "Let's go to the old apartment! The executive is there now!"A puzzled expression crossed the first reporter's face as he heard his fellow's
“Tsk! Stupid people! Why do you all make my job as police more tiring?! My salary was even lower than you, and those stupid dogg* reporters!"***Greg's expression contorted into a mixture of disbelief and annoyance as he watched the police officer berate them. The officer's words were beyond unprofessional, and his actions in throwing away the license made Greg doubt that his job was to serve citizens.‘What the f*ck is wrong with this guy,' Greg mused, his irritation was palpable as he looked at the police officer.Rika, too, was shocked as she witnessed what the police officer had just done. For years, she had worked as an assistant director at Behav, she never thought that one day, she would encounter a situation where someone would crumple an official letter just to hassle her!It was more unfathomable to her that such unprofessional behavior could come from a police officer, someone who should be working for the good of the country!After a moment of blinking rapidly to clear h
The police officer's face flushed with anger, his eyes narrowing into furious slits as he processed Greg's words. "A skirt...? A donut body?" The officer's internal monologue seethed with frustration. He glanced down at his own protruding stomach, a testament to years of neglect in favor of a desk job. His fury erupted as he bellowed! "What are you meaning by those?" the police officer asked, his voice quivering with anger. "Are you trying to body shame me? Don't you realize who you're seeking problems with?! Do you want to know who's going to wear skirt after this, huh?!!" he screamed, pressing hard the word 'skirt' in the end. Greg, however, remained remarkably unfazed by the officer's outburst. He met the officer's fiery gaze with a cold, determined stare. "How about you?" Greg's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Do you think it’s okay for you to crumple an official letter like that and even ask for Rika’s body in such a manner? You know, no matter how 'high' your position is, you st
As soon as the lieutenant heard Dylan's words, he immediately strode toward the entrance hallway. Fury coursed through him. How could one of his officers dare to mess with someone like Greg?!‘F*ck, I’m in so much trouble... How could one of my men dare to crumple an official letter and even mess with GVR?! Is he trying to dig my grave?’ he thought, his steps quickening. He acknowledged the salutes from officers he passed on his way, his mind racing.He couldn’t help but regret not asking Dylan for more details about the offending police officer's appearance. Panic had clouded his judgment earlier, but now it was too late to rectify that mistake. All he knew was that the officer was stationed at the entrance."But since he says that it was the officer who guided the entrance. Is it possible that it was Jim? Ugh… now I'm starting to regret asking him to guard the entrance… At first, I thought it was a good idea to give him that position since he’s pretty rude, and the reporter surely w
At The Faith's Company.The imposing wooden door of Charles Faith's office had a distinct rhythm as it received three sharp knocks, echoing through the hushed corridor."Come in."The door swung open, and his impeccably dressed secretary entered with a respectful bow. She carried a folder and a map, her demeanor exuding professionalism."Good morning, Mr. Faith," she greeted. "I just wanted to inform you that the Faith Company's market is experiencing rapid growth. The score was higher than last month, and the number held a new sales record for our company, so our marketing team decided to set a higher score so that we can achieve higher success. Charles Faith, seated behind his polished mahogany desk, was engrossed in reviewing a stack of documents. He glanced up from his work, intrigued by the news."Oh really? Is that so?" he inquired, his piercing gaze focused on the secretary. Then, with a calculated curiosity, he asked, "And how is Von Ritcher doing? Have we surpassed them, and
Months had passed since the chilling night at Bluebell Inn, and the air of uncertainty still clung to Greg. The events that unfolded during the banquet remained etched in his memory, and the questions surrounding Griffin and Behav's secrets continued to haunt him. [Breaking news flashed on the screen, interrupting the usual morning routine. "In a shocking turn of events, it has been months since the youngest heir of Von Ritcher, Griffin Von Ritcher, died mysteriously of poisoning and now, another blow has struck the Von Ritcher family as one of their main subsidiary companies, Behav, has been revealed to have been hiding a significant secret. The company was linked to the water disposal incident from Bluebell years ago, a scandal that has sent shockwaves through the corporate world and---"PIP!] "Another day, and the news seems unending, huh?" Greg mused as he stared at the blank screen. CKLEK!“Hey, Greg. Sorry for bothering you, but I just want to remind you that minutes from n
Greg's thoughts swirled with uncertainty, the weight of the situation heavy on his shoulders. And just as he was wrestling with the question of how to navigate the unexpected presence of Griffin and Mara, a sudden knock at the door disrupted his contemplation. It was one of Bluebell Inn's servants."Good afternoon," the inn servant began, "I'm sorry for bothering you, but I wanted to remind you that the banquet is now available, and you are welcome to join if you wish."Greg nodded, acknowledging the information. "Thank you. We'll head to the banquet shortly."As the servant left, Dylan turned to Greg. "Looks like the banquet is already open. Shall we go now?" he asked, and Greg nodded."Sure. Let’s head to the banquet," he said.+++TIME SKIPAs they had arrived at the banquet, the room was already full with the executives.The room was adorned with elegant decorations, giving it the air of an official gathering rather than a simple dinner."Wow... the banquet is quite full," Dylan
As Greg continued to ponder the familiarity of the bag, Alan's voice abruptly brought him back to the present.“Hey, Greg. I’ve been searching for you everywhere," Alan said with a friendly smile. "We need to get inside the lab building. Everyone's already gathered inside since Mr. Smith has already arrived.""Alright, I'll come in," Greg said, as he followed Alan.Inside the Old Behav Lab Building...Greg stepped into the old Behav lab building and found that everyone had already gathered inside. The room buzzed with whispered conversations as the executives engaged in hushed discussions. There was a certain nostalgia in the air, a reminder that many of them had started their careers in this old abandoned lab when they were young scholars. Some of the executives were reminiscing about the past, discussing their memories of working in this very building."Everyone must be feeling nostalgic, considering it's been a long time since they set foot in here," Greg mused as he observed thei
The morning sun bathed the Bluebell Inn in warm, golden light as the executives of Behav Industries enjoyed a grand breakfast. As everyone was eating, Greg, who was sitting on the corner couldn't help but observe Jason, who was now sitting at a table, laughing heartily with Bradley. It was a stark contrast to his furious demeanor just the day before. "Hm, that was weird, how come Jason suddenly changed his mind in one day? Wasn't he still angry yesterday?" Greg mused as he silently drank his coffee."Is Bradley perhaps saying something to him? He must have said something to Jason since he was still mad yesterday. "What did Bradley say that managed to change Jason's mind in one da—” "Hoh, newbie, so you're joining our trip to the lab, huh? What did you say to Karel that made him suddenly let you? You didn't tell what Dr.Lou tells right?" Greg, who heard someone call his name, shifted his gaze and he immediately met with Alan's smiley face. Returning his smile, Greg said, "Nah
Greg now stared in disbelief at the sight before him. Under the bed, there was…“Dylan?” Greg exclaimed, his voice betraying his astonishment as he looked at his subordinate who grinned mischievously before slowly getting up from his hiding place."Hey, Greg," Dylan greeted with a smirk. "Phew, I was relieved to no longer be down there. It's pretty dirty under the bed."Greg scoffed, still bewildered by Dylan's sudden appearance. "Weren't you just out with your belongings minutes ago?"Dylan chuckled as he brushed off some dust from his clothes. “Well, about that… Let’s just say, I didn’t really go out since I was kinda curious about what you and Karel are about to discuss so I decided to eavesdrop for a while before going back to Maria and the teen room,” said Dylan, making Greg roll his eyes.“Anyway, Greg, about Karel’s question…” Dylan's grin faded, and his expression turned serious. "It was strange, don't you think? Like, why would he suddenly ask about Bradley and forgiveness? I
BRAK!The suite room's door swung open, and Karel stepped inside, his eyes scanning the spacious and luxurious surroundings. "Oh, so this is the room, huh? It's pretty big," Karel remarked as he began placing his belongings on the floor. "It's almost as big as the city's hotel suite room. Bluebell Inn should try to advertise more about this place. It'll definitely elevate their income."Greg followed Karel into the room, placing Karel's other belongings beside his own. "Well, yeah, I agree with you. Bluebell should try to advertise this place more" Greg replied, keeping his tone casual. 'Tsk, how come he and Dylan had the same thought?' Greg mused.Karel continued his assessment of the room. "And also, I think they need to fix the connection too. You know, even though this is an inn based in nature, this world is already modern, so Wi-Fi and a good connection have become primary needs, just like food and drink."“Yeah, I agree with you,” Greg briefly said.As they settled into the ro
Karel sighed as he heard what the receptionist said, his mind racing to find a solution to his predicament. "Hmm… So the only option that's available is just an extra bed, huh?" Karel said, a hint of frustration in his voice. The receptionist nodded, her eyes sympathetic.“Yes, sir, the only option available right now is the extra bed. But don’t worry, even though you'll be sleeping on an extra bed, we will give you a free breakfast as our apology for any discomfort you might experience—”As the receptionist talked about the inn's apologetic service, Karel, on the other hand, fell silent as he contemplated this option. Sharing a room with the executives wasn't his idea of a peaceful night's sleep given his personality as a picky person who had zero tolerance to someone else's habit."Hm… who should I sleep with? Alan and Mr. Anderson, or Dr. Lou?" Karel thought as pondered about the sleeping candidate. "It will be troublesome if I sleep with Alan and Mr. Anderson remembering how talka
"I know that exposing the lab and Bradley's activities will tarnish the company's reputation, but seriously, destroying Behav... Should we really just stay silent and let them do it?"***The tension in the room was palpable as Greg and Dylan exchanged thoughts about the executives' plan to expose Behav. Greg's brow furrowed as he considered Dylan's words, the weight of their conversation sinking in before saying, "Well, yeah. I guess so...?" Greg said, raising an eyebrow. "I mean...Why should we stop them? Just like what you said, by exposing the company, it will automatically tarnish its reputation. So what's the difference with letting the executives do that instead? Won't it be good since it didn't dirty our hands?"Greg asked, and Dylan nodded thoughtfully as he acknowledged the validity of Greg's points."Well, you're not wrong about that," Dylan admitted before continuing, "However, our purpose is different from theirs Greg. Our purpose in revealing Behav's illicit activities