Darren entered his private office, the heavy mahogany door clicking shut as Julian trailed close behind him. Slipping off his tailored suit jacket, Darren hung it on the coat stand before approaching his desk and sinking into the leather seat.“We lost the vote,” Darren said. His voice was calm, but a distinct lace of hatred vibrated beneath the surface.“Just this time," Julian replied, slamming his palm against his forehead.“We must have underestimated him "“How did they secure evidence strong enough to freeze the motion?" Darren's eyes narrowed as he looked at his brother. "I thought you ensured every digital trace was locked down.”Julian let out a heavy sigh, shifting uncomfortably. “Brother… I was just as surprised. They must have dug deep.”Darren’s grip tightened against the edge of the polished center desk, his knuckles tensing.“What do we do next?” Julian asked, taking the seat opposite his brother.“Nothing. For now.”Julian scrunched his brows, leaning closer across the

He stood far from the gate of her house, hidden behind the low hedge that bordered the neighbor’s yard. The sun was lowering, casting long shadows across the pavement. He watched his sister play alone, he small figure moving in the yard like a quiet memory trying to find its place again.His heart skipped.She looked so peaceful. The Apexium pest seemed far away from her, as if the world had drawn a circle around her and kept the danger outside.He took a step and it felt heavy, like the ground was trying to hold him back.'If I visit her, will her peaceful life become havoc?' he thought.The question pressed against his chest. He had promised himself he would stay away until the problems were cleared. Until the truth was safe. Until no one could use her to hurt him.But watching her now, something in him broke.He braced himself and approached her.“Hey, Ashley!” he called with a smile, trying to make it light.She looked up and saw him a few fee

***A week passed.For the first time since inheriting Apexium, Jayden’s life settled into an almost predictable routine.There were no emergency board meetings.No unexpected, urgent summons from Rodriguez.No provocative counter-moves from Darren or Julian.The silence should have comforted him. Instead, it made him entirely uneasy.Every single morning, he woke up expecting his phone to ring with another catastrophic crisis. Every time the screen remained dark, he found himself checking it anyway.It was strange how quickly a person could grow profoundly suspicious of peace.***Each morning began quietly inside his private villa.Breakfast had become one of the rare moments he genuinely enjoyed. The massive dining hall, once intimidatingly empty, slowly transformed into a space where he could clear his head and gather his thoughts before a long day of learning.Some mornings he

***The sleek black car stopped in the car park of a place inscribed Apexium Hospitality Group. Rodriguez and Jayden came off the Rolls Royce. Then Rodriguez led Jayden inside the Grand Meridian Hotel. The building rose high against the sky. Its exterior gleamed under the afternoon sun. Jayden took in the sight step by step. "This was once the most profitable of the subsidiaries." Rodriguez said. He pointed slightly at the building. Jayden's eyes narrowed. His eyes roamed round the buildings that stood very tall. A luxury hotel. Well decorated. Massive cars lined the entrance area. Everything about the exterior screamed wealth and success. The immaculate grounds and elegant architecture made it hard to believe the company was losing money Jayden felt a spark of hope. Perhaps the situation was not as dire as the board had claimed. "With the buildings there should not be a problem. It does not look bankrupt." Jayden said. His eyes did not leave the tallest building in the

He rolled up his sleeves, then tied an apron around his waist. Andrew watched every movement without saying a word. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "We will find out whether your hands remember." For a brief moment no one spoke. Rodriguez watched quietly from the doorway. His arms folded across his chest. Cole stood beside him shifting his weight uneasily. Andrew studied Jayden for several seconds. There was no mockery in his eyes anymore. Only curiosity. Finally he spoke. "So..." He glanced at the neatly folded suit jacket resting on the counter. "You really intend to step into my kitchen?" Jayden met his gaze. "I do." Andrew gave a small nod. "If that is your decision then understand something first." He stepped closer. "The moment you walk past this line..." He