The tension in the office slowly dissipated after Detective Martinez's departure, though an uncomfortable atmosphere lingered like smoke after a fire. Pervis made his way back to his assigned desk, settling into the chair with the same calm composure he'd maintained throughout the entire ordeal.Linda fidgeted at her desk, her eyes darting between her computer screen and Pervis. Finally, she cleared her throat and spoke up, her voice slightly higher than normal."I just want to say," she began, her tone carefully measured, "that I always believed you were innocent, Pervis. I never really thought you were a thief."Alicia's head turned sharply toward Linda, her expression one of pure disdain. "Is that so?""Yes!" Linda insisted, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I was just... shocked when the police came. But deep down, I knew there had to be some mistake.""Really?" Alicia's voice dripped with skepticism. "Because I distinctly remember you saying you 'never expected Pervis to be a common

The strike was so fast that Luke barely registered it before his legs buckled beneath him. One moment he was standing, reaching for Alicia with confident arrogance; the next he was on his knees on the sticky nightclub floor, gasping for air as pain exploded through his body."What—" Luke wheezed, his eyes wide with shock.Pervis stood calmly over him, his expression unchanged. "I said we're done."Luke's face cycled through shock, confusion, and then pure rage. "Do you have any idea who I am?""Luke Castellano," Pervis replied. "Small-time operator who controls a few blocks of this district. You run protection rackets, illegal gambling, and you traffic women when you think you can get away with it."Luke's eyes narrowed. "If you know all that, then you know what happens to people who cross me.""I can imagine," Pervis said mildly.With shaking hands, Luke reached for his phone. His face was still flushed with rage and humiliation as he dialed a number he clearly had on speed dial."Ge

The men parted reluctantly, creating a path to the door. Pervis placed a gentle hand on Alicia's arm and guided her toward the exit."Mr. Tyler," Luke called out as they reached the door. "I hope there are no hard feelings?"Pervis glanced back with an expression that gave away nothing. "We'll see."They walked out of the private room, down the hallway, through the crowded nightclub, and finally out into the cool night air. Alicia didn't say anything until they were a full block away from Club Velvet.Then she stopped walking and turned to face Pervis, her usual cold composure cracking completely."Thank you," she said quietly. "I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't... if you hadn't stepped in."Despite her efforts to maintain control, Pervis could see her hands shaking slightly. The woman who had seemed so unflappable in the office had been genuinely terrified."You don't need to thank me," Pervis replied."Yes, I do," Alicia insisted. "Linda abandoned me without a seco

Noah opened several social media applications and began creating anonymous accounts.By the time he was finished setting up his network, he had access to twelve different profiles, each one appearing legitimate with stolen profile pictures and fabricated personal information.Then he began his real work for the evening.His first post went up on a popular gossip forum: "Businessman Pervis Tyler caught cheating on entrepreneur wife Anna Morrison with mysterious woman named Aria Coleman. Sources say affair has been ongoing for months."The second post followed quickly on a different platform: "Breaking: Pervis Tyler allegedly using fake connection to wealthy Coleman family to pretend he's rich. Wife Anna Morrison reportedly devastated by husband's lies."He crafted each message carefully, making them just sensational enough to attract attention while maintaining enough ambiguity to avoid obvious defamation.Within minutes, he began paying for sponsored boosts, ensuring his fabricated st

Anna's phone rang shrilly, shattering the tension in the room. She glanced at the screen: Noah.She almost rejected the call, but then Noah's voice came through, weak and panicked. "Anna... please... I can't breathe...""Noah? What's wrong?" Anna's attention immediately shifted away from Pervis."My chest... it hurts so much," Noah gasped convincingly. "I think... I think something's really wrong this time. Please come...""Where are you?" Anna demanded, already standing up."St. Mary's Hospital... emergency room... please hurry..."Anna shoved her phone into her purse and turned toward the door, the divorce papers forgotten on Pervis's desk."Anna," Pervis said quietly. "You're doing it again."She paused at the door but didn't turn around. "He needs me.""He always needs you," Pervis observed. "Funny how that works."Anna wanted to respond, wanted to defend herself, but Noah's pained breathing was still echoing in her mind.She rushed out of the office without another word, leaving