They froze, both with their hands trembling, their face twisted with conflicted instinct. Mr. Bryan’s shoulder shook. “Please,” he breathed. “We can find some way… payment, leverage…”Jacob laughed, a quick one that didn’t reach his eyes. “What would you give to him that could make him let us go?” he attacked his father. “Or do you plan to give him my head? Is that what you wish to pay him with?”Harrison sat up slowly, he let his eyes sweep the room to the family photographs on the mantel, there really was no picture of them and Neil together, their younger son was really what he had told him earlier, an overlooked son who Mr. Bryan doesn’t care about.Harrison returned his gaze to them. “You could tell me everything, or you could continue playing.”“Playing?” Jacob snapped. “You don’t understand us.”“You’re right,” Harrison said lazily. “I don’t. but I’ve had enough of your type. Men who assume they can manufacture disasters and then buy a fix. Men who think morality is a negotiati

Neil rolled his eyes. “But then,” Neil continued, ignoring Jacob. “What I could never say out loud was how I had tried to prove you father. I had to prove that you had a heart. I had to prove that you could be made to pay. I was tired of being the family’s black glove.”He ran his hand through his head and glared at his father. “I was tired of being the one who wiped up your messes. I wanted to see you kneel, to see you look small father. Don’t pretend you don’t understand there’s a man inside you who desires worship. Tonight, you got to taste what it is to be the one who begs.”Jacob’s eyes darkened, he had just realized Neil was the one who caused the provocation. “You set the whole thing in motion.” Jacob said, his eyes darkened, red with anger. “You tricked us, you used us.”Neil laughed, although it didn’t reach his eyes. “Used?” he scoffed. “Maybe, or maybe I used what you offered willingly. You always thought you were the predator. But you were the lamb. You were a commodity. I

Neil slammed his forehead against the floor, his body trembled, and tears stung his eyes as he pressed his palms flat. “Mr. Harrison,” Neil chocked out, his voice hoarse. “this subordinate has no second thought.”“Say it again, out loud.” Harrison said quietly, his gaze flickering to the stunned Jacob and Mr. Bryan, he wants them to listen.“I swear.” Neil’s words were muffled, but clear. “I have no second thoughts. Whatever you decide to do to them, I will support it. I will obey, I will…” He stopped as a new wave of sobbing threatened to cut him off.Harrison watched him for a long time, then he reached down and tilted Neil’s chin up with one finger. “Look at me,” he ordered.Neil lifted his eyes, they were wet, the color of someone who had slept too little. “I’m looking.” he whispered.“You swear loyalty?” Harrison asked, voice plain.“I swear,” Neil said. “I swear on my life. I will be loyal to you for life.” His hands remained folded on the floor.Harrison’s mouth softened, and h

“Are you certain about this?” Mia asked, her fingers drummed the edge of the conference table as she glanced at Anna who was in charge of the Sales department in Torres Enterprise.“Absolutely,” Anna, Janet spy nodded. She sat across Mia, she was with the sales department and sales reports spread on the table next to her. “Golden Harbor import, they’re reputable, and have a long history in textiles. They are interested in cooperating with Torres Enterprise. This contract could triple our quarterly revenue, securing it would be beneficial for the company.”“Golden Harbor?” Mia repeated, contemplating about the company. “I haven’t seen their logo on any of the pitches, why now?” she raised her brows with concern.“They restructured,” Anna answered, she held Mia’s eyes. “There is a new management, and they’re looking for fresh suppliers. They wanted to meet directly. They prefer a closed room negotiation. There is good security at the hotel, and everything’s above board.”“You vetted the

“That’s shameful,” Mia said, jaw working. The more she tried to keep herself steady, the more the room tilted.“You won’t take them?” Janet’s mouth twisted. “You refuse dignity? You prefer starving?”“I refuse your charity,” Mia said. “I refused to be your entertainment, I refuse to let you turn me into a spectacle.”“You are a spectacle.” David said, leaning back. “This entire industry is theater, you either play your role or you’re swept aside, you know that.”Mia shot him a glare. “I know how to run a company without selling myself.” She snapped at him, then turned to Janet. “You’re ready to humiliate me to get a contract, doesn’t that show how little you carry yourself?”“Humiliation?” Janet laughed. “Oh come on Mia, you’ve been using lesser currencies forever, why not learn to spend humiliation wisely.”“This is monstrous,” Mia said. “You can’t…”“I already did.” Janet said simply. She glanced at her spy Anna, she had plotted this scheme, instructing Anna to give Mia the false in