Jeremy’s expression changed, and I saw a hint of concern in his eyes. “Are you sure you really want to hear the bad news?” He asked, and Joe looked at him with a glare. “Stop asking questions and just lay it on me!” Joe said in a bold tone. Jeremy was hesitant, and my patience was wearing thin. “Jeremy!” Joe called out, and Jeremy adjusted a bit due to the tone of my voice. "Alright,” he began. “The bad news is that the media’s picked up on Rosie’s stunt yesterday at the company. It’s gaining traction, and people are starting to ask questions. Investors are getting nervous, and we’ve received a few emails from concerned partners." Jeremy took a step forward as he continued to speak. “The man who was supposed to meet up with us for the business deal—he canceled,” he said in a low tone. Joe, seated behind his desk, adjusted himself forward. His brow furrowed in confusion. “Canceled? What do you mean?” “He doesn’t want to talk about the proposal anymore. He called in earlier t
Joe's eyes were still fixed on the screen as Rosie spilled out more words. “Joe came to my house to threaten me, to silence me,” Rosie continued in a saddened tone. “But I will not be silenced. I deserve justice, and I will get it.” Her voice cracked just slightly as she spoke up. "This isn’t just for me. This is for every woman who's been pushed around, told to be quiet, or forced to live in fear because a man thought he had the upper hand." She looked into the camera with a piercing gaze. "I want other women to join me, to stand up and claim the justice they deserve. Nothing will stop me." Joe felt his heart pounding as Rosie’s accusations took a darker turn. Rosie leaned forward in the video, and a calm look took over her face. “I have more to say about Joe,” she continued, her voice lowering to an almost whisper. "When we were together before he left me, he snuck into my father’s study and stole important business documents. That was filled with ideas and plans that my fathe
“Are you insane?” Mr Adam shouted as Joe walked out of the estate the following day. “This plan is the only way out,” Joe said in a low tone as one of the maids passed by him. “There are other ways to approach this!” Mr Adam said in a firm voice. “What do you expect me to do? Silence her with money, Rosie’s father is freaking rich. She’s not going to want my money. The only way I can stop her is by doing this.” Mr. Adam furrowed his brows. “So you think kidnapping her would actually stop her? Aren’t you thinking about the consequences that comes with it, what if the media finds out?” “I'm going to be too careful, " Joe said, getting into the car. There’s no need to worry.” Mr Adam didn’t look convinced by Joe’s words, but he didn’t say anything after that. Joe started his car, zooming off immediately. His eyes were focused as he navigated the city streets, eventually pulling up at the diner Timothy had mentioned. As he entered, Joe could feel eyes on him. People whispered an
“So, you need someone taken care of?” Ben asked bluntly, turning to look at Joe and Timothy, who were walking behind him. His eyes were on Joe, and Joe saw this as his cue to respond. “Not exactly taken care of,” Joe replied, feeling the weight of Ben’s stare. “Just... managed. I want you to make sure she knows she’s overstepped.” Ben’s lips curled into a smirk. “Right. The ex-girlfriend, huh?” Joe glanced at Timothy, who shrugged. “Ben’s a man who likes to stay informed.” Joe took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully. “She’s been spreading lies. She is doing everything she can to ruin me. I need her... discouraged. But I don’t want it to come back to me.” Ben crossed his arms, eyeing Joe thoughtfully. “Discouraged. Alright. I’ll see what I can do. But there’s a price.” Joe nodded. “Money isn’t an issue.” Ben raised an eyebrow. “Good. Then we’re on the same page.” Ben turned to look at Timothy. “You know what to do.” Timothy nodded, and after that, they turned to lea
Joe stepped into his office the next morning. As he made his way inside, he was greeted by Jeremy, who had a sad look on his face."Morning, sir," Jeremy said as he moved closer to Joe.Joe sighed. “Don’t tell me something terrible happened this morning.”Jeremy took a deep breath. "We lost an investor this morning—one of the big ones," he explained. "The board wants to discuss how we're going to manage this... they’re waiting for you in the boardroom."Joe nodded, setting his briefcase down before making his way toward the boardroom. As he entered, he was greeted by a line of faces—some anxious, some outright disapproving."Joe, we've been expecting you," Mr. Maxwell said, gesturing toward an empty seat at the table."I'm aware," Joe responded, taking a seat as the board members exchanged glancesJoe took his place at the head of the table, glancing around as the others settled.Mr. Maxwell cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Thank you all for coming on such short notice. We h
Joe felt his stomach twist as he pulled up downtown. He stepped out of his car, glancing around to ensure he wasn’t being watched, as he took a step forward. He saw Timothy standing by his car at the entrance “What happened?” Joe asked. Timothy glanced around, lowering his voice as he spoke. “Walk with me,” he said. Timothy directed Joe down a path as they moved farther. Their footsteps echoed against the dusty concrete. Timothy paused in front of a building when he stepped in; he led Joe to a room where Ben was pacing angrily, his face twisted with rage. Two of Ben’s men stood nearby, visibly injured. One was nursing a swollen arm, the other with a bruise on his cheek. Ben stopped mid-pace when he saw Joe, and his gaze darkened. “You!” Ben snarled, pointing an accusing finger at Joe before charging over to grab Joe by his tie. Joe stumbled backward, his collar pulling tight around his neck as Ben's grip tightened. “Hey!” Timothy shouted, stepping forward and placing a
“What are you doing here?” Joe asked. The anger in his tone couldn’t be missed. Rosie’s face lit up with a mocking smile as she leaned forward, placing her legs on the corner of the desk. "I came to pay you a little visit," she replied, some seconds later flashing Joe a warm smile. "I also came to tell you to watch your back, " she added in a firm voice. "Get out of my office, Rosie!" he barked at the sound of her words. Rosie didn’t flinch. Instead, she lifted her chin defiantly and crossed her arms. "Don’t shout at me, Joe," she said with a mock pout. "I’m only here to visit. It’s not like I’m planning to stay forever." During that moment she moved her feet from the Desk and stood on her feet. She didn’t stop until she was standing right in front of his desk, arms crossed. Joe’s jaw clenched as he brushed past her. He reached for the phone on his desk to call security. Before he could dial, Rosie raised a hand, stopping him. "If you go ahead and call security," she said s
“These are company records,” Joe said, more to himself than anyone else, his tone growing louder with each sentence. “Here, look at this.”Mr Adam said, handing him a document. Joe read through it, and the shocking look on his face only grew. “They indicate that Jack’s company is involved in drug trafficking, and Rosie—Rosie is part of her father’s illegal business. Her signature is here...and so is her brother Brandon’s!” “All these documents belong to Jack Duch!” Joe said slowly. Joe looked up at Mr. Adam, who stood quietly across from him. "How did you get these?" Joe asked, narrowing his eyes. He knew Mr. Adam had connections, but this level of information—it was surprising. Mr. Adam shrugged, keeping his tone calm. "I have my ways, Joe. I placed a call and got in contact with people who dislike Jack’s business practices as much as we do." Joe took a moment to process it all. Then, a sly grin spread across his face as he realized the implications. "If we release this to
“You’re going to be our eyes and ears,” John said flatly, as he flickered his gun about. “You’ll let us know every move the Sanchez gang makes before they make it. Got it?” The man’s eyes widened in panic. “I can’t do that! If they find out—if they even suspect—I’m dead! My family’s dead!” John didn’t flinch. He lowered the gun slightly, only to press it firmly against the man’s chest. “If you don’t do what I’m telling you, you’ll be dead a lot sooner.” The man froze, trembling under the cold weight of John’s words. “It’s better you just kill me now,” he said hoarsely, his voice cracking. John sighed, the frustration was very clear in his voice. “You’re not thinking straight. This isn’t just about you anymore. It’s about your family and your life.”The man didn’t say a thing, and John leaned forward. “Don’t you get it! We are offering you an opportunity here.”“That doesn’t sound like an opportunity.” The man said in a flat tone. “Just kill me like I said before.”“For the lo
The car rolled to a quiet stop, its headlights cutting through the darkness of the neighborhood. Rusty buildings lined the empty streets. The silence was unnerving, broken only by the occasional shuffle of rats scurrying through the debris. Joe sat in the passenger seat, his brows furrowed as he stared out at the scene in front of him. “This doesn’t look safe,” Joe muttered under his breath. “Are you sure we’re in the right place?” John, sitting behind the wheel, didn’t look half as worried. He leaned back in his seat, a small smirk playing on his lips. “What, are you scared?” he teased. Joe shot him an annoyed look. “I feel like I’ve walked into the lion’s den. Don’t you think we’re being a little reckless?” John waved off the concern with a hand. “Relax, Joe. Nothing’s going to happen. Besides, if you’re scared, you can stay in the car. Hide out here while I do all the work.” Joe narrowed his eyes. “I’m not staying in the car. That’s not happening.” John chuckled
Joe stared at the screen, as his hands moved swiftly across his screen. Once the message was sent he turned to John. “Done!” John smiled. “Good!” “What do we do now?” Joe asked. “We wait for his reply.” John said, in a low tone. John sighed, staring at the open sky. Him and John didn’t say anything, for what felt like minutes until John decided to break the silence. “Any messages?” Joe pulled out his phone which he had kept in his pocket. The dim light from his phone screen illuminated his face as he stared at the message he had sent to Victor minutes ago. Victor hadn’t replied the text and Joe informed John about it. “We would just have to wait a little.” John said. Minutes passed. Then half an hour. Still no reply. Joe sighed and tossed his phone into his pocket , rubbing his temples. “Any word yet?” John’s voice rose. Joe shook his head, glancing up at him. “No. Nothing.” John folded his arms, leaning forward , before speaking. “Well, you texted him. That’s a fir
“So, where exactly are we going?” Joe asked, in a firm tone John kept his eyes on the road, gripping the wheel confidently. “You’ll see.” Joe frowned slightly, shifting in his seat. “You’ve been driving for almost an hour, John. You took the wheel like you had somewhere specific in mind.” John smirked faintly but didn’t look at him. “I do.” “And where is that?” Joe pressed, turning his head toward him. John’s jaw twitched as though he was mulling over his response. “Just wait and see how.” Joe let out a small, tired laugh. “I don’t think I have that patient.” “Well, too bad,” John said firmly. “It looks like you’re going to have to acquire a bit of patience today.” Joe shook his head, staring back out the window. “This is worse than standing in line for ice-cream.” “What a nice way to describe this moment,” John said in a corky tone and Joe wasn’t buying his corkiness in fact he didn’t like it, but he didn’t say anything. The car kept rolling, and it felt like they were dri
When Joe rounded the corner, the sight that greeted him stopped him in his tracks. Mr. Adam was there, sleeves rolled up, fists bloodied. Two men—beaten to a pulp—were slumped against the wall, barely conscious. Mr. Adam’s face was a storm of fury as he grabbed one of them by the collar and hoisted him up, delivering another brutal punch to his ribs. The man cried out, while his companion looked on with fear in his eyes. “Mr. Adam!” Joe shouted, stepping forward. “That’s enough!” Mr. Adam didn’t look up, his chest heaving as he pinned the man against the wall with one arm. “Stay out of this, Joe,” he growled. “I’m not done.” Joe, undeterred, moved closer. “I said enough!Look at them! They’re done. You’re going to kill them if you keep this up.” Mr. Adam finally turned his head toward Joe. “Maybe that’s what they deserve.” Joe stood his ground, his voice was firm as he spoke. “They’re just pawns, Adam. This isn’t going to solve anything.” Mr. Adam released the man, who dropp
The days leading up to the launch party for Joe’s new corporation were filled with relentless work, late nights, and endless planning. The fact that things had been stable contributed to making Joe’s planning easier. There were no threats, no near misses, and no weird messages. Life, for a brief moment, felt… calm. This made Joe feel relaxed. A day before the launch, Joe and John drove to the new corp’s headquarters to finalize preparations. The building itself was modern and striking—sleek lines of glass and steel that gleamed in the sunlight. As Joe stepped out of the car, his gaze swept across the building, and a rare smile tugged at his lips. John stood beside him, hands in his pockets, and observed Joe’s quiet pride. “You know,” John began, breaking the silence, “your father would be proud.” Joe turned to him, a small laugh escaping. “You think so?” “Yeah,” John said sincerely. “Not just proud, Joe—he’d be impressed. You’re doing something he never could. You’re tur
The day of John’s mother’s remembrance was quiet and intimate, just as John had wanted. The house was transformed into a warm and welcoming space with simple decorations—a few family photographs, candles, and flowers placed strategically around the living room. Lady Penelope was among the first to arrive, dressed elegantly in a navy blue dress. She greeted John with a tight hug, expressing her condolences. “I told you she was the best of the best.” Lady Penelope said after freeing John from her hug. Her eyes were on Joe, who immediately understood what she was talking about. “Madeline did a good job.” He said. “I’m really happy that things turned out well.” John looked between the two. “I’m lost here.” “Lady Penelope had referred me to the event planner who decorated the house.” Joe said. Without hesitation John thanked Lady Penelope, who waved off his thanks letting him know she was just helping. When John and lady Penelope stepped inside, Joe stood at the entrance, ensurin
Joe wandered aimlessly through the house the next day each room feeling more suffocating than the last. He shuffled through the house, aimlessly moving from one room to the next. He felt restless, like he couldn't find a place where he could sit still. His thoughts kept circling back to everything that had happened—his father, the gang, Hannah, the endless pressure. The walls of the house felt like they were closing in on him. As he walked into the study, something caught his eye. Tucked in the corner of the room, almost hidden beneath a pile of books, was a scarf. It was a soft, pale blue fabric. He recognized it immediately as Hannah’s. His heart lurched in his chest. He stood there for a moment, staring at it, and then the weight of it seemed to drop on him. His mind flashed back to all the time they spent together, the conversations, the moments that seemed to matter. But that was over now. He had to let go. "Roland!" Joe called out, his voice rough. Roland appeared almos
The day started like any other for Joe, with him arriving at the office early to tackle a packed schedule. He greeted Jeremy, and moved through the lobby, his focus already on the list of meetings he had ahead. But as he approached his office, his steps slowed. Something was out of place—a box sat on the floor right in front of his door. Joe frowned. Packages weren’t unusual, but this one was different. It was unmarked, plain brown, with no indication of where it came from. His instincts kicked in, a chill creeping down his spine. "Jeremy!" he called out in a sharp voice. Jeremy appeared almost instantly, confusion etched on his face. "Yes, Mr. Whitmore?" "What is this?" Joe pointed at the box. Jeremy looked at it, puzzled. "I don’t know. It wasn’t there when I got here." Joe’s unease deepened. "Has anyone checked this? Who delivered it?" "I’ll check with security," Jeremy said quickly, already pulling out his phone. Joe debated waiting but decided against it. He cr