Somewhere above them, another shot cracked, then another which was controlled, spaced, and deliberate.The person who was shooting knew what he was actually doing.“Boss, stay down! You'll be hit” Isaac gasped.Blood spread fast across the pavement, dark and unreal under the streetlights. Kendrick pressed his hand against Isaac’s chest, feeling the wet heat, the frantic, failing flutter beneath his palm.“I’m here,” Kendrick said, his voice too steady, too calm for what he was seeing. “I’ve got you. Stay with me. You aren't permitted to die. That's an order.”Isaac’s eyes flicked toward him. He did not panic, neither did he fear. He just… resigned.“It was planned, sir. They were waiting for us,” Isaac whispered.Then his gaze shifted past Kendrick’s shoulder.“No… watch out sir” The fourth shot came from a different angle. It struck the woman across the street. She had been running toward the sound, phone in hand, confusion written across her face. The bullet took her high in the ch

The city waited for Kendrick Hale to lose his mind. People expected him to be shouting, throwing accusations. They expected him to have a public breakdown. Something loud enough to feed the news cycle for weeks. After all, someone had tried to kill him in broad daylight. His bodyguard was dead. An innocent woman had taken a stray bullet and never made it home.This was the moment men usually snapped.But Kendrick didn’t.No press conference followed. No emotional statement. No lawsuit filed. Reporters camped outside his offices and private residence, cameras ready, microphones raised. They waited for him to storm out or crack under the weight of it all.Nothing happened.Inside the Hale estate, the air felt heavy. It felt too quiet.Adrian finally broke it. “You could at least say something,” he said carefully. “Even a short statement.”Kendrick sat in front of a large screen. The footage of the attack was paused at the exact moment the gun went off. His bodyguard stepped forward lik

By the fifth day, Kendrick was bleeding support. Old allies stopped answering calls. Sponsors released vague statements. The phrase ‘step aside’ appeared everywhere.Adrian confronted him late that night. “The board members are pushing you out.”“I know.”“They don't have such rights ,” Adrian said. “You're the owner of the company. I don't think they have every right.”Kendrick rubbed his eyes. “Truth moves slower than lies, but I promise you that we will get to the bottom of this and find out who is responsible .”On the seventh day, the breakthrough came. Independent labs confirmed it. The poison was introduced after production. Hale systems had been compromised.Kendrick was cleared.Publicly.The media shifted tone. Headlines softened. Apologies were issued quietly. Some investors returned, but no one was arrested.Bernard went free again .The board reconvened.One member cleared his throat. “While Mr. Hale has been cleared, the damage remains.”Bernard spoke gently. “Perhaps s

Bernard sat on a chair in an abandoned warehouse. “Sir, please forgive us. We didn't know. It was a carefully laid plan to lure us away.” the goons Bernard hired to intersect Kendrick cried out.“That is the reason I paid you heavily to think ahead but you didn't and now, you'll be punished.” Then he stood up. “Break their legs so that they don't walk again,” then he turned away.“What do you plan to do now father? We weren't able to get Kendrick down from his position,” Steven said.“I'm thinking of something. I'll let you know when I've thought of something. For now, I want those fools to feel my wrath.”“Are we going to release them when we're done?” Clinton asked.“Yes. Do you have a problem with that?” Steven was quick to reply. Clinton just smirked, turning his attention to Bernard.“Don't you think if we keep too many people around, it would come back and bite us in the ass?”“What do you mean? Speak clearly. I don't think I have the patience to understand your nonsense.” Bern

Bernard sat on a chair in an abandoned warehouse. “Sir, please forgive us. We didn't know. It was a carefully laid plan to lure us away.” the goons Bernard hired to intersect Kendrick cried out.“That is the reason I paid you heavily to think ahead but you didn't and now, you'll be punished.” Then he stood up. “Break their legs so that they don't walk again,” then he turned away.“What do you plan to do now father? We weren't able to get Kendrick down from his position,” Steven said.“I'm thinking of something. I'll let you know when I've thought of something. For now, I want those fools to feel my wrath.”“Are we going to release them when we're done?” Clinton asked.“Yes. Do you have a problem with that?” Steven was quick to reply. Clinton just smirked, turning his attention to Bernard.“Don't you think if we keep too many people around, it would come back and bite us in the ass?”“What do you mean? Speak clearly. I don't think I have the patience to understand your nonsense.” Bern