Simon walked out of Ashcombe Manor without looking back. The cool night air replaced the warmth of the ballroom, and the noise of applause faded behind the heavy wooden doors. Inside, the celebration continued, but outside, the estate felt quiet again. He adjusted his coat, took out his phone, and started walking toward the front gate.Back inside the ballroom, the conversations had changed completely. Nobody cared about Nathan's departure anymore. Every group seemed to be discussing the same man.A middle-aged businessman looked around the room before asking, “Who is Simon Gallagher? Has anyone here actually met him before tonight?”An older donor shook his head slowly. “Never. I know most of the important families in Betford, but I have never heard that name.”A woman holding a glass of sparkling water frowned. “Then how does someone unknown purchase Ashcombe Manor without hesitation?”A banker beside her answered quietly, “That is exactly why everyone in this room is suddenly inte

“Should I request his employment file? I could ensure that he is sacked right away”“Not yet,” Simon replied. “Today is about observation.”Two female analysts stood across the next corridor, blocking most of the passage while discussing a private dinner. They saw Simon approaching but he made no attempt to move. One of the females wore an Internal Operations badge, while the other worked in Risk Assessment.Simon stopped a few feet away. “Excuse me. May I pass?”The first woman looked at the cleaning cart and frowned. “There is a service corridor behind you.”“That route is closed for electrical repairs,” Simon said.The second woman glanced at him from his cap to his shoes. “Then wait until we are finished.”“We are discussing something important,” the first woman added, although they had been arguing about which restaurant had the better wine list. “Maintenance workers should not interrupt professional staff.”Simon rested both hands on the cart. “You are standing in the middle of