Michael sat at the head of the long mahogany table inside the PresLead Group’s boardroom. The leather chair he rested on felt firmer than anything he had used before, not because of its make, but because of the weight of responsibility it carried. This was his first day as acting board chairman, and though the atmosphere in the room was heavy with curiosity, expectation, and quiet skepticism, Michael’s face carried calmness.Around him sat the company’s top executives: men and women who had given decades of their lives to PresLead Group. Some of them wore expressions of relief, perhaps happy to see fresh energy injected into the leadership. Others shifted uncomfortably in their seats, whispering behind files or glancing at one another as if to measure how long Michael would last. His sudden rise unsettled them.One of the older board members cleared his throat. “Mr. Ainsley, you are welcome,” he said slowly, his tone polite but guarded. “We hope your time here will reflect positiv

Days later after their release, Sophia and Victoria stood by the window of the small serviced apartment where they were staying. Sunlight spread across the street below, people moved with purpose, and traffic hummed. Freedom should have felt lighter than air. Instead, it pressed on their chests like a weight.Sophia rested her palm against the glass. “Do you feel free?” she asked without turning.Victoria’s answer was quiet. “Not really. It feels like everyone is still watching.”They dressed in silence and tried to behave like normal people. Sophia arranged the few clothes they owned, fixed her hair with care, and applied soft makeup. Victoria tied her scarf and folded the extra blanket. The small acts steadied them for a while.By midmorning, Sophia opened her phone and scrolled through contacts. Some names sparked warm memories: business partners, social acquaintances, people who once applauded when she entered a room. She began with a safe message: 'Hello, hope you’re well. I’

The news broke early in the morning, and by noon, the entire business community was buzzing. A financial report of PresLead Group had leaked to the press, painting a grim picture of instability and internal challenges. By the time Michael stepped into his office, his phone was vibrating nonstop with calls from investors, journalists, and even old associates wanting to confirm if the company was truly in crisis.The CEO of PresLead Group stormed into Michael’s office before he could even take off his coat. His face was tight with frustration, his voice raised. “Michael, this is exactly what I warned you about. You cannot come in as acting chairman and already have the media turning against us. This report makes it look like we are collapsing under your watch.”Michael stood calmly, his hands in his pockets, listening without interruption. His assistant, standing by the side, tried to ease the tension but Michael raised a hand, signaling her to remain quiet. When the CEO finally p

Bohemia sat in his office, his jaw tightened and his fingers tapping restlessly on the table. The sting of defeat at PresLead Group still burned in his chest. Everywhere he turned, Michael’s name was on people’s lips. Michael the reformer. Michael the man of integrity. Michael the rising star. The more he heard it, the more his anger grew. He poured himself a glass of water, gulped it quickly, and slammed the cup on the table.He needed a way to cut Michael down. He could not sit and watch him soar while his own name drifted into ridicule. After pacing the room for minutes, he picked up his phone and dialed Sophia. His voice carried urgency.“Sophia, we need to meet. There are matters we must talk about, important matters that concern both of us.”Sophia was surprised by the call. For a moment she hesitated, wondering whether to agree or ignore him. But something in her heart pushed her to accept. Later that evening, they met in a quiet restaurant where few people could interrup

The prison walls were cold, both in touch and in spirit. Martha sat on her small bed, her back pressed against the rough wall, staring into nothing as voices floated in the air around her. Some women laughed, others argued, a few sang quietly to themselves. But her mind was far from the noise.News had a way of traveling faster than air, even in a place where freedom was chained. Martha had heard whispers about her daughters. About the trouble that was brewing outside. Sophia and Victoria were no longer in prison, but it seemed the world outside was another prison of its own. And then there was Michael. His name was always in the mix. She had even caught the sound of Bohemia’s name as some of the inmates discussed. That was enough for her to know that the battle she had fought was not truly over.She tried to keep her face hard whenever the others watched her. The Martha they knew was a woman who never bowed, never showed weakness. But when the cell door shut for the night, when