Franklin was having breakfast with a coffee cup that had gone cold, and a laptop blinking with unread emails. The day had been long, and he was already feeling drained.Just as he reached for the coffee cup, his phone buzzed on the desk. He glanced at the screen. It was an unknown number.He hesitated for a moment, then picked it up. “Hello, this is Franklin Miles,” he said in his usual calm tone.“Franklin, it’s Jake. Daisy’s brother,” a nervous voice came through the line.Franklin frowned, sitting up straighter. Jake? Daisy’s brother? This was unexpected. “Jake? Why are you calling me? Is everything okay?”There was a pause on the other end, and Franklin could hear Jake take a deep breath before speaking again. “No, everything is not okay. I need to tell you something important—about Daisy.”Franklin’s chest tightened. “What about Daisy?”Jake’s voice was shaky but firm. “She’s lying to you, Franklin. About the baby. It’s not yours.”Franklin froze, the words hitting him like a pun

Franklin sat at his desk, staring at the laptop in front of him. His office was quiet, but his mind wasn’t. The things Jake had told him about Daisy’s plan and now his worries about Miles' Empire wouldn’t let him rest. He ran his hand through his hair, leaned back in his chair, and picked up his phone. It was time to act.“Conor, come to my office,” Franklin said after Conor picked up.A few minutes later, Conor entered. He was dressed casually but moved with the ease of someone always on guard. “What’s up, boss?” he asked, sitting down.Franklin leaned forward. “We have a problem. I installed surveillance cameras in critical areas of the headquarters—quietly, without anyone knowing. I need you and Mr. Hughes to check if they’re working properly. Don’t let anyone suspect what you’re doing. I have a feeling something's going on.”Conor nodded, his brows furrowed. “You think someone’s trying to mess with things there?”“I do,” Franklin said. “And I want proof before we act. These camera

The executives sat frozen, each man consumed by anger or fear. Papers lay scattered across the table, evidence of the evil scheme Bill had stirred. He stood at the head of the table, his presence commanding, his eyes scanning the room like a hawk.Franklin Miles, seated in a secret room around the corner, watched everything unfold with a tight jaw. Something about the whole ordeal didn’t sit right with him, but he kept his expression neutral. He glanced at Conor, who was standing by the wall with his arms crossed. The two exchanged a subtle look before Franklin’s gaze returned to the table. He had other plans to figure out what was really going on, and those plans required patience.Bill tapped the table lightly with his fingers, the sound breaking the uncomfortable silence. “Gentlemen,” he said, his voice calm yet piercing, “it’s clear we have a serious issue here. Investors like me don’t appreciate seeing their money vanish into thin air.”Lee leaned forward, his face pale. “I didn’

The Insider stood at the center of everyone’s attention, his face calm but his eyes darting nervously around the room.Franklin watched him closely, noting every twitch, every sign of unease.The room was still except for the quiet hum of the laptop, which had just finished playing the damning CCTV footage.“I don’t know who this person you’re talking about is,” the Insider said, his voice steady but with a hint of defensiveness. “You’ve got the wrong man. I’m Paul. I work in logistics. Check with my team—they’ll tell you.”Franklin narrowed his eyes, his fingers tightening on the edge of the table. Paul? Is that the best he could come up with?Conor exchanged a glance with Franklin, then stepped forward, his arms crossed over his chest. “Paul, huh? If you’re so innocent, then how do you explain the fingerprints on the server equipment? They match yours.”The Insider shrugged, trying to look unconcerned. “It’s not uncommon to have similar fingerprints in large companies. Maybe someone

Franklin's hands were folded in front of him. The room was filled with a few people that had been there for hours.Conor had just left, taking the responsibility of tracking the Insider. Now, it was time for Franklin to make the next move.He glanced at the faces of Vera, Deborah, Mr. Hughes, and Ashley. The group was waiting for him to speak.Franklin inhaled deeply, gathering his thoughts before speaking.“I’ve made a decision,” he said quietly, his voice carrying an undercurrent of urgency. “We’re locking down the building. I want everyone out. No one gets in or out until we’ve figured this out. We can’t afford to take any more chances. If we’re going to settle this, we need complete control.”Vera, always the first to act when things got serious, nodded immediately. “Understood. I’ll see to that. details. Everyone will be escorted out, and we’ll make sure the perimeter is secure.”Deborah didn’t say anything, but Franklin could see the gears turning in her mind. She, too, knew the