Lewis sat in his small, empty room, his mind was racing with frustration and anger. He had been pacing back and forth for what felt like hours, trying to come up with a new plan. It felt like his world had crumbled as nothing seemed to be working out for them.Ella’s sudden change of heart had caught them off guard, and now it seemed like the plan he and his father had carefully formulated was crumbling before his eyes. How could she betray them like this? How could she choose to be loyal to Harvey, of all people, after everything they had done for her?Finally, unable to stand being cooped up any longer, Lewis grabbed his jacket and headed outside. He needed fresh air, and perhaps some distance from his thoughts would help him see things more clearly. As he stepped out into the small courtyard of the run-down building they called home, he noticed his father, Mr. Michael, sitting on an old, weather-beaten bench. His father looked just as troubled as Lewis felt, also lost in his own th
Mr. Michael had always prided himself on being a man of action, someone who didn’t wait for things to happen but made them happen. Maybe that was what also led him to the condition he was in now. But as the days went by and he struggled to find a way to reach Dante, he felt that usual feeling of control slipping away. He wouldn't lose Dante too, he was his last hope. The man had the connections and the influence needed to pull off the kind of plan he had in mind. As an insider in Stephenson’s cooperation, it would be that golden opportunity they were seeking. But getting to Dante was proving to be more difficult than he had expected. It wasn’t like the old days when Mr. Michael had clout and a network of people who owed him favors. Now, he was just another man down on his luck, scraping by, hoping to catch a break. His first effort was to try and reach Dante directly, but every attempt was met with a dead end. The phone numbers he had for Dante were either disconnected or went straigh
Harvey Stephenson had always known that the Stephenson Group was in desperate need to grow higher. His father had built the company from the ground up, establishing it as a giant in the industry.However, over the years, the once-respected corporation had begun to falter. Nepotism, corruption, and inefficiency had taken root, trying to tarnish the company’s reputation and hindering its growth. Now, it was up to Harvey to revive the company to its former glory. With the help of Professor Jason, who has always been there for him, and Dante Smith, whom he also trusted and had worked with his father.Harvey decided to restructure the Stephenson Group. It was a daunting job to do but he was willing to set his standards. The growth was necessary for the survival and success of the company.The first thing in Harvey’s plan was to identify and remove the employees who had secured their positions through unlawful means. Dante was believed to be smart and paid attention to details. He helped Ha
Michael sat on the edge of the worn-out bed in the cramped apartment he now called home. Looking very sad and troubled.The peeling paint on the walls and the flickering bulb overhead only helped to remind him of how far he had fallen. He sighed deeply, running a hand through his disheveled hair. His mind was a tangled mess of all his failed plans and hopelessness. Nothing seemed to work anymore. Everything he had once known, every bit of comfort and security, had been stripped away. Those he had brought out from the gutters to help him make money had all been elevated and had moved on with their lives.The door screeched open, and his wife walked in. Her eyes were red from crying, and she looked as though the weight of the world was pressing down on her shoulders. She was once a woman, full of life and style, but now she was a shadow of her former self. Living in poverty had taken its toll on her. She had missed her only daughter too. Life seemed to lose its meaning in her life.Mich
Michael sat slumped in his worn-out chair, staring blankly at the wall. His mind was a swirling mess of frustration and despair. Everything he had once worked for was now gone, stripped away by Harvey’s unforgiving heart. Although he didn't blame him entirely. They asked why Harvey had treated them the way he had done.It felt as though life was playing a cruel joke on him, leaving him with nothing but memories of what he had lost. His phone, which was just on the table beside him, suddenly rang. The shrill sound cut through his thoughts, jolting him back to reality. Michael glanced at the screen—a number he didn’t recognize. For a moment, he hesitated, not sure whether to answer it or not.He didn’t have the energy to deal with any more bad news or scam calls. But something inside urged him to pick up, so he reluctantly pressed the answer button. “Hello?” Michael’s voice was tired, almost sounding like a whisper. There was a brief pause on the other end, then a voice he hadn’t heard
All the plans, all the methods to at least get food for his family had come to nothing, and even the person he had trusted to come through for him seemed to disappoint him and now he found himself on the brink of hopelessness. Beside him, Lewis was silent and was lost in his own thoughts.They had tried everything, but it seemed like the universe had also conspired against them and didn't want to forgive them. Every door they had tried to open had been slammed shut in their faces. Mr. Michael could feel the weight of his family’s expectations of him pressing down on him, and it was suffocating.The money they had stolen so far from Harvey before had barely made a dent in their growing list of needs.Then suddenly, his phone buzzed suddenly, breaking the heavy silence. “Hello?” Michael’s voice sounded reluctant and weary. He wasn't even in the mood to answer any calls.“Mr. Anderson, it’s Dante,” came the familiar voice on the other end, his tone was hushed as if he was speaking in se
Mr. Micheal and his family made their way down the long, sterile hallway of the hospital. Inhaling the scent of antiseptics and some of the nurses running up and down.As they walked, they started becoming nervous, not knowing what to expect. The last time they saw Gracia she wasn't in a good state of mind and they feared it would be worse.They were there to see Garcia, but none of them were prepared for what they might find.When they finally reached her room, Michael hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open. He had braced himself for the worst, but nothing could have prepared him for the sight that met his eyes. Garcia lay in the bed, looking like a mere shadow of the woman she once was. Her skin was pale, almost translucent, and her eyes were sunken, staring blankly at the ceiling. She looked fragile as if the slightest touch might break her.Her mother gasped at the sight of her daughter, bringing a hand to her mouth as tears welled up in her eyes. She had known that Ga
Mr. Michael sat at the small kitchen table, staring intently at his phone, waiting for the notification. It had become a routine now, always waiting for Dante to inform him that another transfer had been successfully made. That was the only news he just wanted to hear.He was really anxious and almost thinking that he wasn't going to deliver as usual. The faint sounds of Gracia coughing lightly in the next room, gave him a steady reminder of why they were doing this. Eventually, the moment he had been waiting for. His phone buzzed, and Michael quickly snatched it up. His eyes scanned the message, and a smile spread across his face as he saw the amount: another ten thousand dollars, transferred without a hitch."We did it again," Michael said, his voice filled with relief and excitement as he turned to Lewis, who was sitting across from him. Lewis leaned in, his eyes lighted up. "How much did we get this time, Dad? I hope he made an effort this time.""Another ten thousand." Michael rep