Alex had been sitting at the table for what felt like an eternity, nursing a cup of coffee and checking his watch for what felt like the hundredth time. He was waiting for Williams to arrive for their meeting, and he was starting to get anxious. Just as he was thinking of walking out and rescheduling for another time, he saw Elisa and Mark approaching him.His first instinct was to get up and leave, to avoid the confrontation that was sure to come. But then he remembered the promise he had made to himself - he wasn't a coward, and he wouldn't let Mark's bullying drive him away. So he sat back down in his seat.As Mark began to taunt him, Alex kept his gaze on Elisa, wondering why she was so quiet. She usually joined in with Mark's mockery, but today she seemed subdued, her eyes fixed on the floor. Alex's eyes narrowed, trying to read her expression. Was she feeling guilty about something? Or was she just bored with Mark's antics?Mark's words were like a steady drumbeat, wearing Alex d
Alex is tempted to plead Elisa's case, to ask Williams to consider giving her a chance despite her behavior. He thinks about how much she wants to be a star, how much she's willing to do to get there. But then he remembers the way she's treated him, he she's locked and belittled him. He recalls the pain she's caused him, the hurt she's inflicted. And he changes his mind. He decides not to plead her case, not to ask Williams to give her a chance.Immediately they enter the car , Williams turns to Alex feeling bad and apologetic. "Alex, I'm so sorry I'm late. I was stuck in traffic due to a terrible car crash on the highway. It was a mess. I tried to get here as soon as I could."Alex's eyes widen as Williams recounts the accident. "What happened?" he asks, concerned.Williams takes a seat, still catching his breath. "It was a multi-car pileup. I was stuck behind a truck that had overturned. The police were trying to clear the road, but it took forever. I was worried I'd be even later th
Mrs. Sanders proceeds to mock him, a sly smile spreading across her face. "Well, well, well. Look what we have here. My good-for-nothing son-in-law, Alex. The man who couldn't even keep my daughter happy."She turns to her friends, who are watching the exchange with interest. "You know, ladies, this is the man who Elisa was foolish enough to marry. But she soon realized her mistake and dumped him. And can you blame her?"Mrs. Sanders' voice drips with venom as she continues to mock Alex. "I mean, just look at him. He's got no vision, no direction, no purpose in life. He's just a drifter, a waste of space. No wonder Elisa left him."Her friends nod in agreement, their faces filled with disdain. "Yes, poor Elisa," one of them says. "She deserved so much better than this loser."Alex sighs in anger, but he refuses to give Mrs. Sanders the satisfaction of seeing him react. He stands tall, his eyes fixed on her, as she continues to mock him."And now, look at him," Mrs. Sanders says, her vo
Mrs. Sanders, still trying to get under Alex's skin, sneers at him. "I'm sure you begged your boss to lend you this car, didn't you, Alex? I mean, there's no way you could afford a car like this on your own."Alex tries to protest, but before he can say anything, the driver intervenes. "Actually, the car belongs to my boss," he says, trying to come to Alex's rescue.But Mrs. Sanders and the others misinterpret his words. "Ahah! I knew it!" Mrs. Sanders exclaims. "You're just a charity case, Alex. Your boss feels sorry for you, so he lends you his car."The others start to snicker and nod in agreement. "Yeah, that's probably it," one of them says. "I mean, why else would someone like Alex be driving a car like this?"Alex driver tries to correct them, but they're not listening. "No, that's not what I meant," the driver tries to explain. But the damage is done. Mrs. Sanders and the others are convinced that Alex is just a poor, pathetic soul who can't even afford his own car. They conti
Elisa's phone rang, breaking the silence in Mark's living room. She hesitated for a moment before answering, hoping it wasn't another call from Williams or someone else from Whitemoon."Hello?" she said, trying to sound cheerful."Elisa, darling, it's Mom," her mother's voice said on the other end of the line. "I have some news to tell you. You won't believe what happened today."Elisa rolled her eyes, already knowing where this was going. "What is it, Mom?""Well, I was at lunch with the girls today, and you know how they can be. Anyway, Alex was there, and let's just say he didn't exactly make a good impression."Elisa's eyes narrowed, her grip on the phone tightening. "What do you mean?"Her mother hesitated, clearly enjoying the drama of the situation. "Well, he was trying to show off, as usual, and ended up getting ridiculed by everyone. Even James, Bonnie's son-in-law, recognized him from Whitemoon and started making jokes about him being Williams' lapdog."Elisa's eyes widened,
As Elisa and Mark walked into the Whitemoon building, they were headed straight for the elevators to go up to Williams' office. But before they could even reach the elevators, they ran into Alex walking out of the lobby.Elisa's eyes narrowed as she saw Alex, and she couldn't resist bringing up his humiliation from the previous day. "Well, well, well. Look who's here. The laughing stock of the town."Alex stood silently, his eyes fixed on Elisa, but he didn't say a word.Elisa continued, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I heard all about your little incident at lunch yesterday. How my mother and her friends tore you apart. Oh, Alex, you must have been so embarrassed."Mark stood beside Elisa, his eyes fixed on Alex, but he didn't say anything either.Elisa kept going, her words cutting deep. "I mean, seriously, Alex. You tried to pretend like you were important, like you were someone to be reckoned with. But really, you're just a joke. A joke that everyone sees right through."Alex's
William's face reddened with anger as he listened to Mark and Elisa's harsh words towards Alex. "I can't punish Alex," William said firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument. "As much as I understand your frustration, Mark and Elisa, I just can't take disciplinary action against him. He's a key player on our team, and his contributions are invaluable. I won't risk losing him over a personal conflict."Williams couldn't believe the way they were speaking to Alex, and he wanted to shut them up. But just as he was about to speak again, Alex gave him a subtle sign to stay quiet.Alex's eyes flicked towards William, and he raised an eyebrow slightly. It was a small gesture, but William understood it perfectly. He bit back his words and stayed silent, his anger simmering just below the surface."I can't sanction Alex," William said finally, his voice tight with restraint. "He's a valued member of our team, and I won't punish him for something that's not his fault."Mark and Elisa exchan
After Elisa and Mark leave, Williams invite Alex to his office so they could talk.William leaned back in his chair, his mind wondering as he regarded Alex. "You know, Alex, I've been thinking about something," he said, his voice casual.Alex raised an eyebrow, his expression curious. "What's that?"William leaned forward, his elbows on the desk. "Why haven't you spoken up about your ownership of the company? You're the majority shareholder, Alex. You have the power to make or break us. So why the silence?"Alex laughed, a low, husky sound. "Oh, William. You know me too well."William's eyes narrowed. "I thought I did. But this...this is something else. You're not exactly known for your predictably, Alex. So I have no idea why you're doing thus"Alex shrugged, his smile still playing on his lips. "I know. But this is different. I want it to be like this."William's expression turned skeptical. "Why? You're not exactly the type to shy away from the spotlight."Alex leaned back in his ch