The applause echoed through Ashcombe Manor long after Lady Eleanor lowered her hands. Guests continued clapping as they looked toward Simon, and many of them smiled with genuine admiration. The man they had dismissed for most of the evening had become the center of every conversation.Nathan slowly lowered his hands. His palms burned, but the pain was nothing compared to the humiliation inside his chest. Just minutes earlier, people had surrounded him, laughing at his jokes and praising his generosity. Now no one even looked in his direction.Before Nathan could collect himself, several guests walked toward Simon.Harold Winslow reached him first and offered a respectful handshake."Mr. Gallagher," Harold said with a warm smile, "it has been many years since I have admired a young man this much. Your generosity deserves every bit of respect in this room."Simon accepted the handshake politely."You are too kind," he replied. "I only supported a worthy cause."Richard Ashford stepped

Simon Gallagher who was the chairman of Arranguare Gold Consortium entered his own headquarters through the delivery entrance, dressed as a janitor.Simon pushed a grey cleaning cart through the narrow service corridor while delivery workers moved around him without a second glance. His long black hair was hidden beneath a faded maintenance cap, and the loose grey uniform made him look thinner than he was. Cheap work shoes covered his feet, while a plastic identification card hung from his chest.SAMUEL GALE — TEMPORARY MAINTENANCE STAFF.The name had been Marcus Levan’s idea.A mop rested against one side of the cart. Bottles of cleaning liquid, folded cloths, rubber gloves, and a half-filled bucket made the disguise complete. Simon’s phone lay beneath a packet of waste bags, while a small wireless earpiece remained hidden under his hair.Marcus’s voice entered his ear as Simon passed a maintenance supervisor who barely looked at his identification card. “Your profile is active in

“Are you making an official introduction?” “And if I do so?”Marcus did not answer immediately. When he finally spoke, his tone was unusually firm. ““Then I must advise against this,” Marcus said. His voice carried more concern than before."Every pair of eyes in this company will be fixed on you instead of the investigation. Edgar will stop thinking like a guilty man and start thinking like a hunted one. That gives him time to destroy evidence and warn anyone connected to him. We have waited years to uncover this network. I do not want us to lose that advantage in a single morning.”“By the way, Lord Gally was very clear about your security arrangement. Your identity is supposed to remain protected until we know how far this network extends.”“I remember what my grandfather expected.”“Edgar may have allies in Security, Legal Affairs, Internal Audit, and possibly the board,” Marcus continued. “If you appear publicly, everyone connected to him will know the investigation has reached

Simon hesitated long enough for Edgar Sloan to mistake his silence for fear. Around them, the Finance employees watched with tense faces, waiting to see whether the cleaner would obey or create another problem. The dirty water remained between Edgar’s polished shoes and the cleaning cart, while the sharp smell of disinfectant mixed with the heat of the crowded office.Edgar raised his voice. “I asked you a question. Are you deaf, or do you simply enjoy wasting the time of important people?”Simon lowered his phone and slid it into his pocket. He kept his shoulders slightly bent, maintaining the appearance of a worker who knew he had no authority. “I was told to carry out an important clean-up here, sir. The new chairman is expected to inspect the Finance Department very soon.”Edgar glanced at the employees gathered nearby. His anger shifted into embarrassment when he realised they were all waiting for his response. “I know why the chairman is coming. I do not need a cleaner explaini

Julian Crest was only a few steps from the north archive exit when a cleaning cart rolled directly into his path. He stopped so suddenly that the black briefcase struck his knee. His frightened eyes moved from the cart to the janitor holding it, and his fingers tightened around the leather handle.Simon kept his shoulders bent beneath the grey uniform. “I am sorry, sir. There is water on the floor ahead,” he said, pointing towards the yellow warning sign he had placed near the exit. “It will only take me a moment to finish cleaning.”Julian looked over his shoulder towards Edgar’s glass office he just came out from. “I cannot wait here. Move the cart and let me pass,” he said, but his voice lacked the authority his words demanded. Sweat had already formed across his forehead despite the cold air flowing through the corridor.Simon lowered the mop and pushed the dirty water towards the exit. “The floor is slippery, sir. If you fall while carrying something important, your boss may blam