2025-03-17 19:07:27
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365. A Ray Of Sunshine
The video of Van’s announcement had gone viral overnight.Over five million views in twenty four hours. Dozens of op eds from business analysts. A trending hashtag: #LegacyUnmasked.Some praised him for his transparency and courage. Others accused him of destroying the Everest name. A few even called for his resignation, claiming he had embarrassed the board and destabilized the company.But Van stood firm.He spent the next forty eight hours in nonstop meetings— clarifying reports, answering calls from regulators, and reassuring jittery investors. He barely slept, surviving on strong black coffee and Ivy’s quiet touch when he finally returned home each night.His assistant noted that she had never seen him like this. Focused. Steady. But also… free.“Sir,” she said gently on the third morning after the announcement, “you’re bleeding.”Van glanced down. He had cut his palm while adjusting the edge of a binder. It was a shallow nick, but it left a thin trail of red across the white pap
364. The Battle Ahead
Van sat in his office the next morning, the anonymous message from the night before still fresh in his mind.“You think you’ve won, but we’re just getting started.”He had seen many threats in his time— corporate saboteurs, boardroom betrayals, scandalous exposés— but this one was different. It wasn’t just a threat to his career.It was personal.The message had come from an untraceable number, routed through two international servers, leaving his security team spinning. Whoever sent it knew how to stay hidden.His assistant brought in his morning espresso, unusually quiet. She set it on his desk, along with the early reports.“No updates yet?” Van asked, voice low.“No, sir. But cybersecurity’s monitoring everything.” She hesitated, then added, “And the media’s starting to speculate.”“Let them.”She lingered by the door. “There’s something else. The chairman of Triarch Investments called. They’re asking whether you’ll be stepping down.”Van didn’t flinch. “Tell them no.”“Understood
363. Peace Within The Storm
The morning air carried the scent of fresh dew and blooming lavender from the back garden. For the first time in days, the city sky was clear —a soft blue spread wide above the Everest estate. The light filtered through tall windows and spilled onto the polished floors like gold dust.Van stood in the kitchen in a navy henley shirt and linen pants, barefoot, hair still damp from the shower. He stirred a pot of oatmeal on the stove with one hand while balancing Leona on his opposite hip.She was watching him with wide, curious eyes, her tiny hand latched onto the collar of his shirt.“You’re going to be a morning person, aren’t you?” he muttered playfully.Leona gurgled in response.Ivy entered just as he finished serving breakfast for the twins.“You didn’t have to do all that,” she said, smiling as she walked over and pressed a kiss to his cheek.“I needed something quiet,” Van replied. “And I thought we could all use a slower start.”The twins came racing into the kitchen moments la
362. Build From The Past
Van knew something was wrong the moment he entered his office Monday morning.The front desk staff barely looked at him. Two department heads who usually greeted him with warmth avoided his eyes. And when his assistant handed him the morning summary, her fingers trembled slightly.He read the top line and froze.“Leaked Documents Suggest Long Term Financial Misconduct Tied to Everest Holdings.”It had begun.“Source?” he asked.“No confirmation yet,” She said. “But whoever leaked it… they knew exactly what to release.”Van’s heart pounded as he scanned the summary. The documents were real. Years old reports showing questionable transfers under his father’s name. Several tied to campaign funding in foreign accounts. The report was vague enough not to indict Van personally —but damaging enough to create a storm.“They’re painting us all with the same brush,” he muttered.“That’s not the worst part,” She added, her face grim. “Andrew just gave a statement to the press.”Van slowly lifted
361. The Aftermath Of Courage
The press conference had ended hours ago, but the storm was just beginning.By the time Van returned to his office, his phone had already flooded with calls, texts, emails. Some were congratulatory— quiet pats on the back from those who’d long suspected something was wrong. Others were… less friendly.One board member threatened resignation. Another accused him of betrayal. Anonymous social media accounts started whispering about skeletons and scandals. A few even hinted that Van’s father hadn’t acted alone.Van stood in his office, tie loosened, shirt collar open. He stared out at the gray sky with the phone still buzzing in his hand.He had expected backlash. But not like this.His assistant stepped in quietly. “Sir, the phones haven’t stopped. Channel 8 wants a live interview. The Tribune just released an article about it — favorable, surprisingly. And your mother called three times. She said… and I quote… ‘You’re either about to change the world or destroy what’s left of us.’”Van
360. Rooftop And A Conference
The Westmont building had been abandoned for years.Once a symbol of high rise ambition, the skeletal structure now loomed over the edge of the city like a forgotten ghost. Its scaffolding was rusted, its elevators inoperable, and its name had long since been scraped from the marble lobby wall. Yet tonight, it would serve as the setting for a conversation that might alter the course of Van’s life.He arrived just before midnight, dressed in a simple dark coat and boots. No entourage. No driver. Just him and the city, veiled in fog.The security gate had been left open —deliberately, no doubt. He pushed through, boots crunching softly on gravel and broken glass. The building was quiet except for the wind moaning between the steel girders.Van climbed thirteen flights of cracked concrete stairs before reaching the roof.Andrew was already there.He stood near the edge, hands in the pockets of his long coat, his posture casual. But Van knew better. His brother was never casual about anyt
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