“Commissioner Maxwell, what are you talking about? Didn’t you say that you got Mark out already?” Grace demanded, frowning as she turned fully to face him.Maxwell stepped closer and said solemnly, “Madam Ainsworth, after I received your call about Andrew, some of my men found Mark and the police details I attached to him.”The commissioner quickly stepped forward and laid a couple of pictures on the oak table before Eleanor.She picked one up, and so did Grace Ainsworth, who could clearly see the image already.It was a police officer who had been cut severely in different parts of his body. They examined picture after picture showing different police officers until they came to a gruesome photograph.It was the body of a man who lay face down on the ground with his back completely covered with countless blade marks. The spot where he lay was surrounded by coagulated blood, but that wasn’t the worst of it.The worst was the last picture, which caused an expression of displeasure to

"What are you talking about?" Serena was genuinely confused as she looked from her mother's face to Rosalie.Rosalie quickly explained, "It's all over the news. He was found outside the police precinct in a pool of blood. Someone had beaten him to death."There was a smug look on her face as she revealed this.Richard wheeled forward to tell Serena. "That's not accurate. I heard he was cut severely until he bled to death. Even his hands were cut off. He must have been involved with a dangerous gang in Brooklyn Heights.""Isn't he supposed to be in jail?" A deep frown was etched on Serena's face as she asked.Mark had called for forgiveness earlier that night, but she had cursed him out and blocked his number.Hearing about his death this way totally came as a surprise.Elijah just cleared his throat and said, "Don't you think it's the best way to answer for his crimes? Who knows—Anthony Lancaster could be next in line to die. People die every day."If Serena hadn't called him tonight,

The second guard’s gaze slid over Elijah in a slow and insulting manner, as though memorizing every cheap thread he wore—from the worn green hoodie to the washed-out jeans and the old branded sneakers that had clearly survived more than one rainy season.The man sneered with a look of disdain. “You seriously think you can enter Crescent Technologies dressed like that?” he scoffed. “Where’s your clearance?”Elijah opened his mouth and tried to explain to them. “I don’t ha—”“You don’t have it, of course you don’t!” the first guard interrupted before he could finish, throwing his hands up. “God, what is wrong with people these days? You think this is a shopping mall?” He stomped.The second shut the gate halfway and leaned in, his breath smelling of cheap energy drink. “If you don't know, Crescent Technologies is the top technology research facility in Brooklyn Heights. Do you think riffraff like you walk in here for sightseeing?”They were just getting started.“Look at him,” the talle

The guards stared at Elijah for a few seconds after he ended the call, and then they burst into laughter again, which was much louder, harsher, and more mocking than before.“Did you all hear that?” one guard gasped between fits of laughter, clutching his stomach. “This lunatic said he’s the CEO—CEO of our Crescent Technologies! I didn't know he was a clown.”Another wiped tears from his eyes. “Does he even know what Crescent Technologies is? Does he know the giants who’ve sat in that seat? And he...” the guard pointed at Elijah’s old-brand sneakers, “...thinks he can just stroll in off the street and call himself CEO?”A third scoffed loudly. “Hmph! Imagine a guy dressed like that… calling for Madam Falkner as though she’s his housemaid. He must have eaten rotten food overnight to be hallucinating this much.”They all nodded vigorously, the air thick with disdain and amusement.“Does he know who Madam Falkner is?”“Does he know what she has built for this company?”“The innovations s

Instant whispers began to travel through the crowd, as they couldn't believe their eyes.This couldn't be true... It couldn't be what they were thinking, right?“Is that… really him? Madam Falkner just called him ‘boss.’ Even the enforcer is showing him respect.”“The new CEO? Are you sure about that?”“The one the founder said would make Crescent Technologies unshakeable?”“But he looks—he looks like some ordinary guy…”“The founder himself came a few days ago to prepare the building for the new CEO’s arrival… that means—that means we’re finished. If he's the new CEO, are we not doomed?”“This is bad… really bad… Heaven save us… The vice president just bowed. Madam Falkner just bowed!”Dozens felt their throats close and didn't dare mutter anything, while others felt their knees wobble, regretting being on duty that day.But Elijah Langston didn’t even spare them a look. His calm gaze rested only on Nancy Falkner, who was in front of him.“You don’t have to go this far,” Elijah said