282The next day, Darius woke up feeling the weight of last night's conversation with Max still lingering in his mind. His body ached slightly from the tension, but there was no time to dwell on it. After a quick, cold shower to shake off the fatigue, he dressed in his usual sleek, understated suit, his mind already racing through the tasks ahead.Stepping into his Eclipse, he gripped the steering wheel tightly, the engine purring beneath him as he drove toward the office. The city blurred by, but his thoughts were sharp. Jason’s plan, Max’s betrayal—it all simmered under the surface, waiting for the right moment to strike back.Once inside his office, the cool, modern interior did little to settle his nerves. He tossed his briefcase on the desk and immediately reached for the phone, dialing Mr. Sanchez’s number. The line rang only once before it was answered."Good morning, young master," Mr. Sanchez’s voice greeted, calm and professional as always.Darius didn’t waste time with pleas

284As Darius West stepped into Chez Michel, the warm greeting from the maître d' momentarily eased his tension. "Good evening, sir. May I have the name for your reservation?""Darius West. I'm here for Miss Olivia Donna's party," he replied, keeping his voice steady despite the flutter of nerves in

Darius said calmly to Jason, "I have nothing to prove to small minds like yours. My keys, if you please."Sensing that Darius wasn't getting riled up, Jason gripped the keys tighter, sneering. "Admit what we all know deep down—you’re not living the high life, poor boy." Laughter echoed around them.

288Jason clenched his fists as murmurs filled the room. Olivia Hernandez—CEO of Romano Global? The very same girl they had dismissed as a nobody in school?Brianna leaned in toward Jason, her voice sharp with disbelief. “This has to be a joke. Her? The Olivia we used to—”“Shut up,” Jason snapped u