In a dimly lit room fraught with tension, Marcus Lee paced back and forth. His accomplices, including David Cheng, sat nervously around a large table cluttered with documents."This is a disaster! An absolute disaster!" Marcus Lee exclaimed, his agitation evident."Come on, Marcus, don't start blaming me now. We all agreed to this, remember?" David Cheng defended himself."Agreed, yes! But you, David, have taken way more than your fair share! We had a plan, a carefully calculated plan, and you blew it!" Marcus Lee accused.Linsey Clare, another member of the group, chimed in."Marcus is right, David. We were supposed to stick to the agreed-upon amounts. Now the numbers don't add up, and the auditors are getting closer," she said, visibly worried.Harold Steal, the fourth member, interjected with a hint of desperation."We need to figure out how to cover this up. The money trail will lead straight to us if we're not careful," he said, frustrated."And it's all because of David's greed!
In the corner of the police station's detention area, Drake sat in silence. His lawyer and Aunt Beck were there, handling all the necessary paperwork and legal proceedings on his behalf. He felt utterly helpless, still reeling from the shock and adrenaline of the situation.The police station was a chaotic scene, swarming with reporters, camera crews, and curious onlookers. The air was filled with a cacophony of voices, camera shutters clicking, and news vans parked outside. Drake's photo, superimposed over headlines that read "DearBeck Co. owner accused of embezzlement," dominated the news coverage. It was a stark and unwelcome contrast to the successful businessman he had been just hours ago."Drake, are you alright?" Aunt Beck asked, her concern evident."Aunt, I'm sorry," Drake replied with a trembling voice. "Because of me, your company's name has been ruined.""What name? DearBeck was nothing before your investment, so don't blame yourself," Aunt Beck reassured him."But, Aunt,
Drake Chwe sat precariously close to the edge of the building, the wind ruffling his hair and coat as he gazed down. The onlookers below wore expressions of shock and concern."Mr. Chwe, please don't do this. Let's talk about it," a rescuer said softly, his voice filled with concern as he approached Drake cautiously."Wait, wait, it's not what you think," Drake exclaimed. He abruptly stood up, causing everyone to gasp in fear. The rescuer maintained a safe distance as he approached Drake slowly, trying to reach out and engage in a conversation."We know that you have been accused. We already know that you didn't do it. Ending your life is not a good thing," the rescuer said, attempting to reason with Drake.Drake froze for a moment. He was speechless, realizing how everyone had misunderstood his presence near the edge of the building."It's not like they will believe me if I say I am here to offer a tribute," he thought to himself."Think of your family, Mr. Chwe. They need you, and t
In the city hall's lobby, Drake observed Aunt Beck and his lawyer, both looking anxious as they conversed with the police officers."What's going on, Aunt Beck?" he asked."They only managed to apprehend Marcus Lee. The others have already left the country, and tracking them down will be incredibly difficult," Aunt Beck explained, frustration evident in her voice."Can money not help find them?" Drake inquired, prompting everyone in the vicinity to exchange uncertain glances."What do you mean, sir?" one of the police officers asked."I can offer a cash reward to help catch them. Ten million dollars per head should be sufficient," Drake proposed, his determination evident.The police officers were taken aback by the generous offer but quickly recovered."Well, it could certainly help, sir. We will make a public announcement for you," one of the officers responded."Thank you, sir," Drake said as the police officers left in a hurry.As Drake, Aunt Beck, and their lawyer awaited the tri
As soon as Drake got home, he checked the tribute system to see what this sudden change was all about."There's never been a 'level' here before. Why did this thing suddenly pop up?" Drake muttered to himself. He tapped the level bar repeatedly, which now showed he was at level one. The top of the window status used to be empty, but now it was filled with symbols he didn't recognize."Hmm, I can still withdraw my coins without a problem," Drake confirmed after trying to exchange his coins for bills. "The marketplace looks the same, so what's the deal with this 'level up' thing?"Drake ran his hand through his hair in frustration. There didn't seem to be any imminent danger with this new feature, but he couldn't help feeling uneasy, especially since he had no idea what the goal was."What happens when I level up? What triggers this leveling up?" He continued to question the system, but it remained silent."Hey, could you at least give me a tutorial?"Ding!Drake's heart practically jum
After leaving a generous $10,000 tip at the salon, Drake strolled through the mall, still unaware of the remarkable transformation in his appearance. Years of enduring torment from his colleagues and struggling through poverty had caused him to forget that he possessed the same good looks as his pretty sister.He couldn't help but feel somewhat awkward and self-conscious, not fully realizing the extent of the makeover he had undergone. Passersby on the mall couldn't resist turning their heads and sneaking glances at Drake's new look.As Drake made his way through the department store, the reactions from people around him became increasingly noticeable. Whispers, gasps, and double takes followed in his wake.A passerby, awestruck, said to a friend, "Did you see that guy? He's like a movie star or something.""Is he a model? He looks good even in those unfashionable clothes," another replied, staring."Well, he's in the department store. He's probably here to get better clothes.""I won
Drake was bewildered by the revelation that his ex-girlfriend, Merlyn, was at the meeting location. He had not expected to cross paths with her during his business trip to Canman. The mention of her name left him stunned and filled with mixed emotions."Why do you look surprised, Mr. Chwe?" CEO Havier asked.Drake cleared his throat before calmly responding, "I'm sorry about that. I think there might be a misunderstanding regarding Merlyn Spenser's presence. Anyway, it is true that I know her, but she's not my girlfriend.""Is that so? This is embarrassing; we let someone in without proper verification," CEO Havier said, casting a disapproving glance at his secretary, silently questioning why such an oversight had occurred."We did verify her identification, sir. She has a DearBeck Co. ID and a portfolio in hand," the secretary hastily explained, trying to defend their actions."She did?" Drake asked, perplexed. "Could you please give me some time to speak with her before proceeding w
Whenever Zanjo White introduced himself as the "next owner" of Gracestone Trading Corporation, it would typically raise eyebrows due to his confidence, especially when the current chairman of the corporation was still in good health. Zanjo expected a similar reaction from Drake, but to his surprise, Drake seemed more concerned about Zanjo's surname than the way he introduced himself."White? Is that your surname?" Drake inquired, trying to recall why the name felt so familiar."Yes, I'm Zanjo White," he confirmed."Where have I heard that surname before? It sounds so familiar," Drake mused aloud, ignoring Zanjo's extended hand."Gracestone is owned by Whites. We have a well-known surname here in Canman," Zanjo explained, giving up on the handshake with Drake."No, I'm certain I've met someone with the last name White. Ah! Zack! Zack White, do you know him?" Drake asked."I don't," Zanjo replied immediately, though his facial expression contorted at the same time."Really?" Drake press