42 Leslie's fury burned like a wildfire as she stormed into the lobby of Werner's villa. Her footsteps echoed with each stride, her jaw clenched and her fists tight at her sides. She couldn't let Ray get away with stealing the contract, not after all the hard work she had put in to secure it. "It
43 As Leslie stood there, her anger boiling beneath the surface, she watched as her family showered Ray with praise and adulation. Lord Werner's smile seemed to grow wider with every word of praise he bestowed upon his favored grandson. "Ray, my boy," Lord Werner exclaimed, his voice filled with p
44 Leslie's frustration boiled over as she followed Darius out of the room, her mind buzzing with indignation. She couldn't believe they would dismiss her so easily, but Dariu's unwavering support gave her a glimmer of hope. As they walked down the hallway, Leslie couldn't help but ask, "Why did y
45 The next day, Leslie arrived alone at the grand hotel, its opulent facade gleaming in the morning sun. The sign above the entrance read "The Grand Regency Hotel,". She didn't want to bother Darius by asking him to come with her at the conference. She hesitated for a moment, taking in the impos
46 Leslie's heart fluttered with relief as Darius's gentle touch on her shoulder pulled her from the depths of despair. She turned to him, her eyes wide with astonishment and gratitude. "Darius, you... you brought the invitations?" she exclaimed, her voice filled with awe. Darius nodded, a warm sm
47 Darius's expression remained calm and composed as he faced Ray, his eyes steady and unwavering. "That's none of your concern, Ray," he replied coolly, his voice tinged with authority. Ray's fists clenched at his sides as he glared at Darius, his chest heaving with exertion. "You have no right t
48 As the guard approached once more, Leslie felt her heart pounding in her chest, a mix of fear and frustration coursing through her veins. She glanced at Darius, seeking reassurance in his calm demeanor, and found it in the firm squeeze of his hand. Ray's smirk grew wider, his eyes alight with t
49 The guard took the invitations from Darius with a nod of thanks before turning his attention to Leslie, his eyes scrutinizing her carefully. "And you, miss?" he asked, Leslie's hands trembled slightly as she reluctantly retrieved her invitation from her purse. "This is ridiculous," she muttere
Olivia only had eyes for Darius. She greeted him with a radiant smile and pulled him into a warm hug. "Darius, it's wonderful to see you again! I'm so glad you could make it."Her kindness toward Darius, when others had once scorned her, was not lost on those present.Darius warmly returned Olivia’s
Darius said calmly to Jason, "I have nothing to prove to small minds like yours. My keys, if you please."Sensing that Darius wasn't getting riled up, Jason gripped the keys tighter, sneering. "Admit what we all know deep down—you’re not living the high life, poor boy." Laughter echoed around them.
285But before Darius could respond, he noticed Jason approach with Brianna on his arm. Jason’s face was twisted in a sneer as he eyed Darius, clearly irritated by the attention he was receiving."Pretending to be rich now, are we, Darius?" Jason said in a mocking tone. Darius could see the jealousy
284As Darius West stepped into Chez Michel, the warm greeting from the maître d' momentarily eased his tension. "Good evening, sir. May I have the name for your reservation?""Darius West. I'm here for Miss Olivia Donna's party," he replied, keeping his voice steady despite the flutter of nerves in
283Few hours after Sanchez left, Darius' phone rang. Glancing at the screen, he saw it was his old friend Eric calling. He answered with a calm tone, despite the whirlwind of thoughts still brewing in his mind."Hello, Eric. What's up?" Darius said, leaning back in his chair."Darius, mate! Great n
282The next day, Darius woke up feeling the weight of last night's conversation with Max still lingering in his mind. His body ached slightly from the tension, but there was no time to dwell on it. After a quick, cold shower to shake off the fatigue, he dressed in his usual sleek, understated suit, his mind already racing through the tasks ahead.Stepping into his Eclipse, he gripped the steering wheel tightly, the engine purring beneath him as he drove toward the office. The city blurred by, but his thoughts were sharp. Jason’s plan, Max’s betrayal—it all simmered under the surface, waiting for the right moment to strike back.Once inside his office, the cool, modern interior did little to settle his nerves. He tossed his briefcase on the desk and immediately reached for the phone, dialing Mr. Sanchez’s number. The line rang only once before it was answered."Good morning, young master," Mr. Sanchez’s voice greeted, calm and professional as always.Darius didn’t waste time with pleas
"I don’t want any part of this," Max’s voice cracked through the phone, clearly strained. "That’s why I’m calling you. I’m out. Whatever Jason’s planning, I want no involvement. I just thought you should know."Darius stopped pacing, his brows furrowing as suspicion bubbled inside him. "You’re sudde
280Darius stormed into the villa, his mind racing as he dialed Eric's number. The phone rang twice before Eric's voice answered, sounding strained."Darius? What's up?""What’s up?" Darius repeated, his voice hard. "Why didn’t you tell me you fought Jason tonight? Are you okay?"Eric exhaled sharpl
279Just as Darius was pulling into his driveway, his phone rang again, cutting through the silence. Without glancing at the caller ID, he picked up, already anticipating Brianna's voice on the other end. His frustration boiled over immediately."What now, Brianna?" he barked into the phone, his gri