Emily Algren paused for a moment, perhaps surprised by the request. "Mr. Steel, are you sure? Mr. Vesper has worked in this company for many years and has a good track record."Edward let out a long sigh. "I am very sure, Ms. Algren. He committed fraud with the construction of the hotel, which is now almost 70% complete. I heard from his son's mouth that his father will get 10 to 20 thousand dollars of profit from the construction of the hotel even though he did not contribute anything.""I understand, sir.""Fire him as soon as the evidence is gathered and make sure all procedures are followed properly." Edward spoke firmly.Emily nodded, even though Edward could not see her. "Yes, Chairman. I will look into her involvement and take care of it as soon as the evidence is gathered.""Thank you, Ms. Algren. Please also make sure that this process does not raise any suspicions or cause a big commotion in the company.""I will make sure everything goes smoothly, Mr. Steel."Edward hung up
When they heard that Viviane's father was a heritage appraiser, all the classmates in attendance were in an uproar."Let's see, how will that loser fare?""It's really going to be a day of death for Edward.""Poor Edward. He's actually a good person, but somehow a lot of friends look down on him."They thought Edward was really unlucky!Edward had met someone who was an expert in his field, wasn't this tantamount to a slap in the face?If Viviane's father, Viktor McCartney, came by any minute, wouldn't Edward be embarrassed?At this moment Roselyn was actually a little embarrassed too, and whispered to Edward, "Ed, so many friends are watching. Please don't be stubborn, otherwise you'll be embarrassed! You should just admit that it's not an expensive painting."Before coming, Edward did tell Roselyn that he bought a painting, but he said it only had a low price, and now he said it was worth tens of thousands.Roselyn was also a little unnerved by her husband's way of thinking. She fel
Edward turned to Roselyn with a gaze as warm as the sun. "Trust me when I say that I didn't buy it for that much."Roselyn frowned. "Why am I not convinced by your words, Ed?""I saw an art exhibition before I picked you up, darling." Edward tried to reassure his wife. "It turned out to be a charity auction and many works of art were on display there, one of which was that painting. I bought it quite cheaply."The frown on Roselyn's forehead did not diminish by a millimeter, but she had nothing to say to Edward again. Roselyn chose to remain silent.Meanwhile, Derek, who was sitting near Edward, really wanted to die right now.Derek said to himself, 'Oh shit! What's wrong with my life today? Looks like I forgot to read the horoscope to see my unlucky day this month. I shouldn't have left the house today,'A friend said to Derek. "Hey, Derek. Why did you lose a bet twice today to Edward?"Derek froze. He felt like vomiting blood getting a question like that.If he could dig a hole to h
After the commotion at the Johnson family's company, Edward left Tarwar Construction Company, the Johnson family's company.He had to collect his thoughts for a while before continuing on to Marcosta's company."They always look down on me, when they're the ones being tacky," Edward muttered with a snort.The luxurious BMW he was driving drove quietly down the road, bringing with it an aura of calm that was in stark contrast to the excitement he had just experienced.Last night, as Edward and Roselyn lay in bed, Edward spoke softly to Roselyn about his plans."Tomorrow afternoon I have to go out of town, to Valleria City," Edward said. "There are special building materials that can only be obtained from that city for our hotel project."Roselyn's face looked surprised at this impromptu news. "But that city is so far away, Ed." Roselyn seemed to disagree."I have no other choice, dear." Edward's face showed resignation."If I wasn't busy at my family's company, I might have come," Rose
In his spacious and elegant office, yet still characterized by the refreshing aroma of coffee, Edward sat in his chair with his gaze focused on his laptop screen. His hands move nimbly over the keyboard, composing slide after slide in perfect detail. He was preparing his short speech for the World Economic Forum. Nothing could go wrong.Moreover, He was going to be the host of Steel, who had been known as a mysterious figure."I think the words of this speech are good enough. I'll only be on stage for five minutes anyway," muttered Edward.A knock sounded on the door of his room. After Edward gave permission, the door opened slowly, the creaking sound barely audible. From behind the door came Emily Algren who entered with sure steps after closing the door again, carrying a presentation file in her hand."Chairman, these are the materials for Diana Blunt's presentation at the World Economic Forum," Emily said in a calm voice, handing the file to Edward's desk.Edward nodded and accep
Roselyn was surprised by Edward's response which she thought was excessive. "Hey, honey. Why are you so surprised like this? It's as if Jason Falcon is your enemy and Diana is the one spying for that man."Roselyn seemed to shake her head while chuckling.Edward cleared his throat softly, then tried to calm himself down from the facts he had just discovered about his concerns regarding Diana Blunt working at Marcosta's company.Edward said to himself, 'You're right, darling. The Falcon family is indeed a mortal enemy to the Marcos family because there is a grudge from the past related to my mom and Jason Falcon,'Edward chuckled, trying to match Roselyn's chuckle. "You're right. I took it too far when it had nothing to do with me.""You just don't make sense sometimes," Roselyn said."When did you hear Diana talking to Jason Falcon?" asked Edward with a calm face.Roselyn's eyes looked at her husband seriously. "I was looking for Diana who said she was going to the washroom in Dexter'
In the room of one of her bodyguards, Emily Algren stood behind several of her men who were sitting in front of the large screen that was her IT team.One of the IT team reported, "The call signal has been disconnected, Ms. Algren."Emily nodded firmly. "Good. Make sure there is no traceable signal from here. We can't take any chances."Emily pondered for a moment, thinking about her next move. "We can't let the enemy find our trail through the phone signal. Mr. Steel needs to stay safe, and so do the people behind him."Meanwhile, Edward was still trying to contact Roselyn again to no avail. He sighed heavily, feeling frustrated that there was no notification at all initially.His cell phone rang and Miss Algren's name appeared on his screen. He wondered why Miss Algren could contact him."Yes, Ms. Algren," said Edward who received a call from his confidant."Chairman, I apologize for restricting your phone access especially to the town of Riverside," Emily said which made Edward now
Back at the forum event, the host took the stage.After Diana Blunt finished her mesmerizing presentation, applause again filled the hotel's tightly secured ballroom.The host was all smiles, holding the microphone with confidence."Thank you very much, Ms. Blunt, representative of the Marcosta company, a giant company that is expanding its business, for your wonderful presentation. The global expansion plan you laid out truly illustrates Marcosta's vision and commitment to a brighter future," said the host as he nodded towards Diana, who returned the gesture with a graceful smile before leaving the stage.The host then turned his gaze to the audience, his eyes flashing with anticipation. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, we come to the highlight of the program that we have all been waiting for. Allow me to introduce the man behind this grand strategy and vision. Without further ado, let us welcome with a standing ovation, Mr. Steel!"The sound of applause boomed throughout the room, cr
A maid was seen walking towards the indoor swimming pool inside the Marcos mansion.“Young lady, here are your bathrobes,” said the maid.“Thank you,” Maria said, and exited the indoor pool.She dried her body, then exited the indoor pool area on the first floor. While walking in the corridor while playing with her cell phone, she accidentally collided with a maid until the maid fell down.“Oh, sorry,” she squealed. But suddenly she was surprised because the maid was crying. “What's wrong with you? Did something happen?”The maid just shook her head while occasionally looking at Maria. But soon she fainted.“Oh my God! Why did you faint?” squealed Maria. As her hand pulled off the mask covering the maid's face, she was instantly startled. “Roselyn?”She immediately called for a bodyguard to take Roselyn to the guest room on the first floor. He quickly carried Roselyn to the guest room, while Maria followed with a worried look on her face.After 15 minutes, a doctor arrived and immedia
Jason pulled the trigger in desperation, hoping the bullet would penetrate Edward's defenses.Edward closed his eyes as the bullet struck his body. Surprisingly, the bullet only pierced through thin air and staggered his body without any significant effect.Edward, still standing tall. Ivanov, who was about to push Edward, was now frozen in place.Edward himself was astonished that the bullet could not penetrate his body, like shooting a rock.Edward said to himself, 'This must be the power of The Arcane Codex of the Seven Heavens. Really great,'Jason was shocked and further cornered. Cold sweat ran down his forehead as he saw Edward's unwavering expression of confidence.Edward approached with calm steps, and as Jason tried to move back, Edward paralyzed him with one swift movement.“This is for my brother who you killed,” Edward said angrily. He pinned Jason against the wall and pressed him down with impressive force.“And this is for my mom's tears, and for Maria, my sister, who a
Edward, and everyone present turned their heads towards the person standing. She was Roselyn Johnson, the representative of Tarwar Construction Company.Edward's body trembled as he saw the woman he was still married to standing and staring at him. What surprised Edward was her pale face.Slowly but surely, the people present began to stand up, even until all 40 company representatives stood up.The sound of applause slowly began to be heard as the representatives sat down again. Amidst the anxiety and worry, they had high hopes for Edward.“I thank you for your trust. I will make sure that you will never regret the decision you all made,” Edward said. His heart was deeply moved.The meeting came to an end. Everyone who had come had begun to leave the hall with determination and hope for something better.After the meeting was over, Roselyn stood with an indecisive feeling. There was a sense of relief to see that many company representatives chose to support Marcosta, but on the other
Tension was in the air. On a stage, there was a long table with five chairs. Edward sat in the center. This time there were no sunglasses, masks or dim lighting.Edward stood proud and dignified as Mr. Steel. He wore a black suit that exuded firmness and power.In front of him, Marcosta's top brass, business associates, and media awaited with anticipation. This was the moment where he, as Mr. Steel, would show the world who he was and how he would lead the company that his grandpa had inherited, well.With a deep breath and a keen eye, Edward began his remarks. His voice was firm and full of conviction, every word he spoke containing a power that could not be ignored.“Today, I, whom you know as Mr. Steel, stand here not only as the principal heir to the Marcos family, but as a leader determined to maintain the honor of the family and this company. The Marcosta Company has been a symbol of excellence and integrity for decades, and I will ensure that it remains where it belongs.”Cheer
The next morning, a slow drizzle of rain fell, soaking the ground that had been prepared for Salvour Marcos' final resting place. The overcast sky seemed to mourn him, adding to the somber atmosphere that surrounded the morning. A deep sense of loss emanated from every drop of rain, as if nature also felt the departure of such a precious figure. In the midst of this sorrowful atmosphere, Salvour Marcos' body would soon be buried, leaving unforgettable memories for those left behind.Edward was still standing on the balcony of his room when Maria entered. Maria took her brother's hand and rested her head on Edward's shoulder.“Grandpa doesn't need your regrets,” Maria said, trying to revive her brother. “He needs you to stand up and show your strength. The company is in crisis and needs you to take action, Ed. And one more thing, don't keep blaming yourself.”“I know.”Robert entered after he knocked on the door first. Everyone was dressed in black this time.“We leave now for the cem
A black sedan darted quickly through the deserted streets of the Town of Riverside. The rain was falling gently, like a whisper of sorrow that enveloped the night. The drops that fell from the sky brought a sense of sadness, as if nature was mourning the passing of Salvour Marcos, the revered patriarch of the Marcos family. Every drizzle that touched the ground was as if it were the sky's tears crying for the departed figure, making the dark night even more somber and silent.Inside the car, there were three women lost in their own thoughts. Lily, who was behind the wheel, tried to remain calm, even though her heart was raging. All she had in mind was a way to reconcile Roselyn and Edward. They must not get divorced.In the slow-moving car, Roselyn sat silently with a blank look, occasionally wiping her face with a tissue, wiping away the tears that continued to flow despite her best efforts to hold them back. Her face looked pale, and inside her, there was an inner battle that nev
Edward looked in the direction of the voice. It was Maria.“I called you many times, but the operator always answered,” Maria squealed. “I remembered that you were going to see your wife, so I followed you here.”“But she didn't believe me, Maria.” Edward looked still depressed. “I had to go after her.”“No, Ed! Listen to me!”“No! I must go after Roselyn. She must see this evidence.” Edward's face was red with the pressure-filled frustration of his problems with Roselyn going crazy.“Stop dwelling on your personal problems, Ed!” Maria yelled at the top of her lungs and began to get carried away. “Snap out of it! Don't keep drowning in your own personal problems and ignore what's far more important.”Edward was in a daze. But my wife-”Soon a loud slapping sound was heard, followed by Edward's body being slammed to the floor with a bang as well.So annoyed with her brother's sudden stupid and annoying behavior, Maria slapped him hard.Edward was silent for a moment. There was a sense o
“Turn around! Get to Marcosta's company right now!” Robert ordered the driver sternly.“What's wrong, Robert?” asked a surprised Maria.Robert told her the news he had received from Emily Algren's men. The woman had even been admitted to the ICU of Elite Serenity Hospital, which was located not far from Marcosta's company building.By now, the car Robert and Maria were traveling in had arrived at Marcosta's company.“What happened? Why isn't there an escort for Miss Algren?” Robert asked in a high tone of voice due to emotion.All the security team as well as Miss Algren's bodyguards could only look down because they felt they had failed. Only one of them dared to speak because he was the one who found her lying on the floor of his office covered in blood.“So Alexander did it?” asked Robert.“Yes, sir.” The bodyguard nodded with certainty. “He was seen walking fast and did come out of the emergency exit. He said he was in a hurry and we believed him. We thought there was an intruder.
Currently at the Marcosta company, the clock was only 11pm.A black Porsche Panamera, which all employees knew belonged to Alexander Marcos, was seen entering the company yard and stopped in front of the company lobby.“Good afternoon, Mr. Alex,” greeted the security guard at the lobby.“Good afternoon,” Alex replied in a friendly manner. It was uncharacteristic.The security guard was surprised, but ignored him.Alex continued to walk into the Marcosta company building with seemingly calm steps, even though the trembling inside him continued to haunt him.He still remembered Jason Falcon's threat that was still ringing clearly in his mind, making his every step heavy.Alex walked with his heart saying, 'I have to finish this right now,'Alex kept convincing himself that what he was about to do was right. The safety of his wife and children was his top priority.'I can't imagine what Jason would do to me and my family. Ah, damn it! Why didn't I think about the consequences of joining