2025-05-24 10:34:20
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That night, Maxime worked like a man possessed. He called his little circle of loyal board members—men who had resented Elsa’s authority for years.“You heard it from me,” he whispered into each call, voice laced with false humility and bubbling triumph. “Mr. Storm wants change. He’s given me his blessing. Elsa’s finished. I’m stepping in.”The reactions were exactly what he’d hoped for—gasps, congratulations, even a few groveling apologies for ever doubting him. Like excited goats, they rallied to his banner, buzzing with anticipation for the board meeting. Maxime barely slept, too energized by the thought of taking the crown.****The next morning, the Nova Corp boardroom was charged with tension. The long glass table gleamed under the cold LED lights, reflecting the sharp suits, guarded expressions, and half-empty coffee cups of the board members. No one was truly drinking—everyone was too busy watching everyone else.Elsa Logan sat at the head of the table, her posture faultless,
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Maxime gripped the phone tighter, every trace of arrogance melting into shaky excitement. “You… You’re him?” he repeated, voice nearly a whisper. “Mr. Storm… I didn’t realize— I mean, I had no idea you even existed.”“Oh, I exist,” Ethan said, voice steady as steel. “And I’ve been watching. Listening. Waiting.”Maxime gave a nervous laugh. “Of course, of course! I’m honored you called me personally. I can’t tell you how much I admire your vision. Nova Corp’s success—your success—is unmatched.”Ethan let a pause hang in the air before speaking again, he decided to deceive him. “I’ll be honest, Maxime. I’ve grown… disappointed. Elsa Logan isn’t performing to expectations.”Maxime’s eyes gleamed, a slow grin spreading across his face as he gripped the edge of his desk. “Disappointed, huh? I… I suspected as much. Elsa’s leadership has always been, well, flashy but shallow. Not your kind of precision. Not Nova Corp’s standard.”Ethan’s chuckle on the other end of the line was low and measu
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Alice’s heart hadn’t slowed since they left the bank.Though Richard had been publicly humiliated and the loan finally approved, she knew deep down that the real battle was still ahead.Securing funds was only one side of the coin — the deeper crisis lay within Nova Corp itself.She sat stiffly in the driver seat of her sleek black car, arms folded tight across her chest, eyes unfocused.Ethan noticed her tension instantly. He reached for the keys in her lap before she could even react.“Give me those,” he said calmly.Alice blinked. “What?”“I’m driving you home,” he said, already stepping around the car. “You’re too wound up to be behind the wheel right now.““I’m fine,” she muttered, gripping the keys tighter.He gave her a look — that unreadable, cool stare of his that always cut through the noise.“Alice. Let me drive.”She exhaled, but finally handed the keys over with a sigh. “Fine. Thank you.”“No need to thank me,” Ethan said with the faintest smirk, sliding into the driver’s
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“You thought wrong,” Ethan growled. Richard clasped his hands together, crawling forward. “Please… please, I’ll resign quietly. Just don’t press charges. I have a family—” Ethan grabbed his collar, lifting him like a ragdoll. “So did all the women you probably tried this on before. Only this time, you picked the wrong one.” Alice watched, stunned, heart still pounding in her chest. The rage, the terror—it all blurred into disbelief.Alice was stunned. Her lips parted, breath caught in her throat, as the scene unfolded like something out of a movie she was never meant to be cast in. Ethan—her calm, quiet helper—was now revealed to be someone with power so deep it could silence presidents and make wolves like Richard grovel.She had never imagined Ethan’s identity could be this mysterious and powerful.Branch President Cain adjusted his tie nervously, sweat beading along his temples. He turned to Ethan, choosing his words with caution now. “Mr. Storm… may I ask what happened here?”
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Ethan stared coldly at Richard, jaw clenched. The flashing red lights cast crimson shadows across the office, the shrill wail of the alarm echoing through the now sealed-off bank.“You really went and pressed it,” Ethan said, voice low, calm—dangerous. “Lockdown mode. Full security alert. All this… just to silence one woman?”Richard’s face twitched. Even he realized it now—he’d gone too far. But pride and panic clashed behind his eyes, and he doubled down.“You assaulted security!” he bellowed, trying to sound authoritative, though his voice cracked. “You’ll be arrested for this! And so will she! You’ve got no escape now!”Ethan slowly reached into his coat pocket.“No escape?” he echoed, pulling out a sleek, black card. He held it up, gleaming under the alarm light. “You might want to take a good look at this.”Richard squinted, brow furrowing. It was unlike any Newman Bank card he’d ever seen—matte black with a single embossed symbol and no printed numbers.“What the hell is that s
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Richard folded his hands, expression smug. “Someone’s clearly out to ruin the Morgans. Every bank knows. But Newman? We… don’t always follow orders. If I approve the loan, the risk is all on me. Unless, of course… you were willing to make it worth my while.”Alice’s jaw locked. “What the hell is this?”“A very simple transaction,” he said, leaning forward. “You put that on, and we talk. I’ll even let you choose the couch or my desk.”She recoiled a step, fury igniting in her eyes. “You’ve lost your mind.”“I’m giving you a way out,” he said, voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “Do this, and your company lives. Don’t, and you’re bankrupt by the end of the quarter.”Alice took a deep breath, fighting the rising urge to scream. Her hand tightened around her phone behind her back.Richard’s grin faltered when she suddenly raised her voice. “You said you always admired me, right? Shame. Because I always knew you were a sleazy bastard.”His face darkened. “Watch your mouth, girl.”Alice
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