THE RETURN Of the LEGENDARY KING of WAR

006: I Want Him Gone

Valencia remains confidently sure the vote will fall in her favor, just as it always has. Men like Diego enjoy suffering; even when she approached him with an offer to collaborate, he outrightly rejected her without pause.

If he chooses poverty, that's his burden. But for her? She chooses power. And that's why she does whatever it takes. Besides, a good number of directors in this room already wear her leash. So there's no chance in hell that she's losing.

Even though Mr Diego knows the odds are against him, he still agrees to the vote. He believes that one day, justice would be served to Valencia.

The vote starts and in no time, it comes to an end. But to his greatest surprise, it is almost a draw, something that hasn't happened before.

But then, his surprise turns into loss when his eyes catch Valencia's triumphant smirk.

“I already told you Mr Diego.” Valencia says. “If I wasn't leading well, why did I have so many votes?” she asks daringly, challenging him and making a mental note to frustrate this man after today.

Inside the car, Andrew watches everything as it unfolds, his fury rising to a spilling point. He brings out his phone and types a message.

In the boardroom, Mr Diego clenches his fists, jaws tight. “Only one person, and the vote will become a draw!”

“And where is the person?!” Valencia's voice cut through the room, sharp and rising. Her chair screeches against the marble as she pushes to her feet, fury flashing in her eyes.

The door suddenly bursts open without warning, striking the wall with a startling thud, followed by a deep menacing voice!

“I am.”

Whispers immediately die down, conversation stops mid sentence. Chairs stop creaking and even the clock ticking on the wall seems to pause!

Valencia's eyes widens for a breath, just a second, as Andrew steps in.

Measured strides and dark eyes that cut deeper than steel, his imposing figure causes a silence, so heavy it wraps around every throat in the room. The temperature drops to zero, not physically, but perceptibly.

His gaze sweeps across the boardroom, slow and exacting, like a man counting bodies on a bloody battlefield. No one dared to meet his eyes. Not for long.

He wears authority like a second skin and everything about him says one thing; I've come to reclaim what you thought was forgotten. The weight of his return presses down like a frost before a storm.

Valencia opens her mouth to speak, but it comes out as a whisper, unlike the tone she used just moments ago. “W-who are you?” She tries to swallow, but it seems the spit is afraid of this man too, her heart thudding like it's on fire.

‘She hasn't seen this man before. So seriously, who is he?’ she thinks, something she can only do now, since this stranger's aura presses her to the point of being crushed.

Andrew's gaze snaps towards her direction again, and her legs give way from the aura his eyes emitted and she involuntarily falls back onto the seat.

“Who am I?” Andrew asks icily, tilting his head a little to the left. “I thought you wanted another board member?”

Valencia tries to regain her voice, but it's hard. But she somehow manages to. She's been racking her brain but she doesn't recognize where she's seen this man. So she tries to act tough.

“L-look, I don't know who you are…” she pauses to swallow, “but you are not supposed to be here,” she tries to act tough but even she herself can't feel it, but she still presses further. “So use the exit,” she says pointing towards the opened door.

“And where is security by the way?” By this time, she has regained a bit of her composure. “Allowing any kind of man to walk not only into the building, but into the boardroom. Don't they fear that they'll be fired?”

‘Maybe Mr Diego hired someone to play the role of a board member? All for what? To remove me?’ Valencia thinks. Her thoughts make her more bold when she speaks next.

“Better leave now before I call the security on you. You don't want to be embarrassed when they shamelessly drag you out of here.”

The man still doesn't flinch or utter any words. ‘Treating her like a fool?’ she smirks. ‘then she will teach him a lesson.’ She has dealt with people more imposing than he is, so he's only going to be a piece of cake.

Seething, she reaches for the intercom with trembling fingers.

“Security! Now!” She barks. Her voice is cracking as she presses the button twice, like they would summon more courage than she has.

Few seconds later, footsteps thunder outside and within moments, two broad shouldered guards in black uniforms storm into the room. Their eyes flicker briefly to Valencia for instruction.

Valencia points to Andrew and they follow her gaze only for their confidence to drain.

The man she is pointing at only stares, but why is his stare sapping their strength off their body?

The stare is icily unwavering, heavier than judgment that freezes them mid stride. The broader one of them opens his mouth, but not a word escapes. The other hand hovers near his belt, suddenly unsure if he should reach for a weapon, or retreat entirely.

Andrew's gaze slices into them like a silent command, one that goes beyond rank or authority. It's a kind of power they're not trained to counter.

Valencia's eyes dart from the frozen guards to Andrew, her breath picking up as unease gnaws at her polished pride.

“Damn fools!” She curses under her breath, grabbing her phone from her chanel bag before dialing a number with trembling but quick fingers.

She speaks immediately the line connects, not allowing the other person to say a word. “It's me. Get up here. Now. Someone just walked in pretending to be a board member. I want him gone.”