Kai's eyes lit up with dark satisfaction as he glanced down at the screen, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth."Oh, speaking of the devil," he muttered, almost gleefully, before turning his attention back toward William with renewed arrogance. "Just look who's calling. You know, William, you should really enjoy this moment while it lasts, because once I answer this call, everything changes. Just know that you're absolutely done for."Without waiting for a response, he pressed the phone against his ear, his posture straightening with anticipated triumph as he prepared to hear the reassuring voice of someone powerful enough to erase this entire disastrous night from existence.But before he could even utter a single word, a different voice spoke first, calm, formal, and devastatingly final."Good evening," the butler to Mr. Zachariah said smoothly. "I'm calling to inform you that Mr. Zachariah has officially and permanently severed all ties with you. He has instructed me to mak

Hearing Kai's words, William's expression remained utterly unmoved, his voice carrying a chilling coldness that made Kai's already fragile composure waver further."Do I look like I care?" William said flatly, his tone laced with quiet menace. "You're stalling, Kai. And trust me, stalling right now is the last thing you want to be doing. Now start talking before I change my mind about restraining myself. Before I decide to do something truly disgusting to you right here, right now."Despite the throbbing pain still radiating from his shattered teeth, despite the blood coating his lips and dripping steadily down his chin, Kai forced a faint, calculated smile onto his face, his mind already committed to the deception he intended to weave."Fine," he said, his voice slightly slurred from his injury. "Mr. Zachariah is a man of considerable influence, considerable power. You've actually seen him before, William, though you probably didn't realize it at the time. Remember the party Mr. Bush

Inside the spacious conference room, an impressive assembly of CEOs and top-ranking executives representing the country's most prominent automobile manufacturers sat rigidly around an enormous, polished mahogany table, their collective irritation and impatience radiating palpably throughout the room. Representatives from Chevrolet, Bugatti, and numerous other influential automobile brands exchanged frustrated glances repeatedly, muttering irritated complaints amongst themselves as the minutes continued ticking away without any sign of the meeting's official commencement."What exactly is keeping this new owner of Mercedes and Ferrari?" one visibly irritated executive representing Chevrolet demanded loudly, his voice dripping with barely concealed disdain and impatience. "Does he genuinely believe the rest of us possess unlimited time, simply available whenever it suits his personal convenience? We've been sitting here for quite some time now, patiently awaiting his grand, seemingly un

He paused briefly, meeting Mr. Black's steady gaze directly, his own expression calm yet unmistakably resolute."But let me be equally direct and clear with you, Mr. Black. Whoever, or whatever, stands behind my success, that information remains entirely my own business. It's simply none of your concern, regardless of how influential or established you might currently be within this industry."William's tone remained calm, though his words carried unmistakable finality, leaving no room for further negotiation regarding the sensitive information Mr. Black clearly sought.However, sensing an opportunity within the tense silence that followed, William leaned forward slightly, his expression shifting subtly into calculated negotiation."However," he continued smoothly, "let's consider making this into a mutually beneficial arrangement instead. If I were willing to reveal exactly who or what has been backing my recent success, would you be willing, in return, to sell fifty percent ownershi

Mr. Black turned toward the window, watching faint reflections from the corridor lights."No. The best way to destroy someone like William is to poison the public's perception of him. Set him up. Ruin the image before the empire hardens around it. Once the masses decide a man is guilty, corrupt, immoral, abusive, or dangerous, they do the rest of the work for you. Investors become cautious. Partners become hesitant. The media becomes rabid. Public sympathy vanishes. Every alliance he has begins to crack under pressure."A small, cold smile touched his face."We know how emotional people are. We know how quickly public opinion turns. We know how easy it is to weaponize outrage. So we use that. We use their emotions against him."On the other end, Zachariah was quiet for a moment, considering.Then he spoke."Fine," he said. "No problem. Begin the process."His tone remained calm, but his meaning was absolute."You can start setting him up from your end. Build the narrative carefully. M