"The press release was strategically timed to tarnish our reputation and disqualify us from the upcoming competition, which determines the number one company in the city and comes with significant benefits," Mr. Dan explained.As the realization of how serious the situation was, the room became quiet. Alex's mind raced with the possible ramifications of the claims for their company's future as well as the pressing necessity to refute the false narrative.Following what Mr. Dan had said, a board member turned to Alex with a grave expression.With a worried tone, he said, "So, what are we going to do about this, sir?" Another board member raised his voice in agreement, emphasizing how urgent the matter was: "We can't let this slide."Another voice, clearly frustrated, said, "It will ruin our reputation and jeopardize all our hard work to get to this level." Alex weighed their words for a minute, realizing that he had a heavy burden of responsibility for the company's future. He was aw
"Thank you, Elsa," Mr. Tate responded with a sly smile."I knew I could count on you." Elsa Reeves stated, feeling impressed "Since Alex couldn't surrender the company to us, let's see what becomes of Tate Industries after they lose their chance of competing in the ongoing project," Elsa stated firmly, her voice dripping with determination.Mr. Tate chuckled maliciously, savoring the thought of their plan coming to fruition. "Indeed, Elsa. We'll watch as their hard work unravels before their eyes.”*******Alex arrived home after leaving Flora's apartment and immediately headed inside. He reached for his phone to contact John, the communication officer of Tate Industries.“Hello John, I’m sorry to call this late.”“Good evening boss. Calling late is not a problem at all.” John admitted, sensing it must be a matter of urgency for Alex to have called“It is about the false accusation on Tate Industries.” Alex statedJohn, already aware of the scandal due to his active social media pres
Upon arrival at the office, John felt a surge of determination and nervous energy. He knew the stakes were high and that he had to prove Tate Industries' integrity beyond any doubt.With a deep breath, he stood close to Alex, his heart pounded as he spread out a meticulously organized array of documents and evidence across the table.Every component served as evidence of his diligence and the business's dedication to transparency. As John started to deliver his findings, his voice quivered a little bit, speaking with a mixture of conviction and worry.John said, "Mr. Alex, Mr. Dan, I need you to see this," his eyes meeting theirs to emphasize how urgent the matter was. "I have meticulously recorded each and every transaction. This is the evidence we require to refute those false accusations."He watched their faces closely, hoping to see a glimmer of understanding and support. The room was thick with tension, but as John continued to explain, a sense of resolve filled the space. He kn
Elsa sat at her desk and rhythmically tapped her fingers on the shiny oak table. The stakes were higher than ever, and she could feel the stress in her muscles. Now that Mr. Peter Tate's plan had failed, it was imperative that she move decisively."Are you still there, Elsa?" Over the phone, Mr. Peter's voice crackled with a mix of frustration and fear.Elsa calmly and measuredly said, "Yes, Peter, I'm here," concealing the tempest that was building inside of her. "I'll have to use my own plan since your part of the plan didn't work out."Mr. Tate let out a deep sigh. "Are you certain? That carries risk.Elsa squinted her eyes. "There's nothing more we can do, risky or not. We must act quickly before things spiral out of control.“Alright, Elsa. Do what you need to do. Just be careful,” Mr. Tate conceded, a note of resignation in his voice.“I always am,” she replied, ending the call. She leaned back in her chair, her mind racing through the intricacies of her plan. She couldn’t affor
Alex left with mixed feelings. He felt as though he was leaving unresolved business behind him as he boarded the plane.He made an effort to ignore thoughts of Amelia and the office in favor of concentrating on Nathan's wedding and the happiness it would bring.Meanwhile, back in the city, Cora's plan was put into action. Amelia went about her day at the office, as she had no idea that she was in danger. She ignored the gloomy clouds forming all around her.Lucy knew exactly what needed to be done because Cora had given her clear directions.Lucy subtly manipulated Amelia’s workload, piling on tasks and creating minor crises that only Amelia could resolve.Each urgent request was designed to delay her departure, ensuring that she stayed late at the office.Amelia, unaware of the scheme, worked diligently, her brow furrowed with concentration. She didn’t notice the passing hours until it was far too late.As the office emptied out, Lucy discreetly kept an eye on the clock, knowing that
Still on transit, Alex glanced at his phone and noted the time. He could already feel the day fading away because it was already noon. There was a tight, quiet feeling inside the car, despite the bustling midday activity of the city outside the window.Alex turned his gaze towards Amelia, who was sat next to him. He could see the wear and tear the events of the day had done on her from the sight in her eyes. He said, "You must be hungry," to shatter the quiet. "Maybe I should take you to my apartment? I can order in a nice meal for us to eat, and you also need a shower." His tone was gentle but firm, conveying both his concern and his determination to take care of herAmelia looked up at him, relief and tiredness mixed together in her eyes. She agreed and nodded, her eyes softening a little. "That sounds good," she said in a low voice that was almost audible above a whisper.Alex felt a weight of obligation descend over him upon witnessing her agreement. He leaned forward to talk to t
The investigator, Detective Benson was working on a serious assignment. The paper he was holding was merely one of several that they had gathered from Mr. Walmart's home office at the time of the incident.Benson could still clearly recall the incident where he had discovered Mr. Walmart's body lying lifeless and the eerie picture of Amelia, his daughter, sobbing uncontrollably at the horrific scene.Benson turned the pages of the file, each one adding a new level of intricacy to the search. He found a picture hidden amid the documents, a picture of Mr. Walmart and another man, Mr. Nick, standing next to each other in close proximity.Their expressions were serious, suggesting a familiarity that went beyond mere colleagues. It was evident they had worked closely together at Walmart's Industries.Intrigued, Benson scrutinized the photograph, looking for any clues it might offer. He noted the date and location printed on the back—taken during a corporate event held just months before.T
Though the morning was unusually calm, the air at Tate Industries seemed charged today. Noon was always a busy time.With a force that shattered the glass, Cora wrenched the door open and made her way directly to Alex's office. Her heels clicked sharply on the smooth floor as she moved quickly.She ignored the greetings from any employees she passed, concentrating only on getting where she was going. Her resolute gait conveyed a lot, and the employees glanced at one other, sensing a storm coming.Upon reaching Alex's office, Cora knocked twice on Alex's office door. Without waiting for a response, she stormed in, the door thudding against the wall.Gazing up at her, Alex's countenance darkened as he saw her, absorbed in a series of paperwork on his desk. He was incensed; Cora had gone too far too often."Cora, what the hell do you think you're doing here!?" Alex's voice was a barely controlled hoarse growl."Well, it's fortunate that you came."“I am warning you,” Alex said, his tone
The vast, exquisite estate served as the perfect setting for the lavish wedding of Alex and Amelia. The event was held in a verdant yard with beautiful white and blush flower arrangements.Nathan and his spouse, who traveled from a distance, were among the loved ones, friends, and employees present.A string quartet's gentle strains accompanied Amelia as she walked down a rose-petal-filled aisle in a stunning couture gown with elaborate lace embellishments.Alex waited at the altar with love and anticipation in his eyes as he looked stunning in a fitted tuxedo.The reception was held in a large ballroom with tables adorned with exquisite china and glittering cutlery and lit by crystal chandeliers that created a pleasant glow.Following a five-course gourmet dinner, guests danced in a gorgeously lighted patio under the stars.The coordinator, whose job had been taken because he had refused to comply with Elsa's requests, contacted Alex at the ceremony's conclusion and gave him some sur
"Amelia is doing great. She's stable, and the doctors are making sure everything goes smoothly. We won't know much more for a while, but she's handling it well thus far,” the nurse said.With a sigh of relief, Flora's shoulders eased. "We really appreciate you informing us of this."The nurse nodded. “I’ll keep you updated on her progress. Feel free to wait here, and I’ll come to get you once there’s more news.”Alex and Flora resumed their seats, their minds slightly eased but still filled with anticipation. They chatted quietly, trying to distract themselves from the nervous energy that lingered.Hours seemed to pass quickly as they continued to wait. Finally, the nurse returned, her expression filled with positive news. “You can see Amelia now. She has asked for both of you to come in.”The nurse led Alex and Flora through the hospital hallways until they arrived at the delivery room.They were met with the sight of Amelia who appeared relieved yet exhausted, and they saw her holdi
Three days after, as the sun dipped toward the horizon, casting a golden hue over the city, Alex sent a message to Amelia: he had a surprise for her. The excitement in his text was palpable, and Amelia’s curiosity piqued as she went about her work for the day.During the end of work, Alex waited for her to tidy up her things, and when she was done, she strode to where his car was parked.Alex smiled warmly to welcome her when he sighted her walking towards him. As she arrived at the car, he stepped outside and gave her a warm hug and thereafter, he asked, "Do you trust me?" his mischievous and genuine eyes sparkling."Of course I do," Amelia answered, her smile expressing her confidence in him. “Good,” Alex said, pulling out a soft blindfold. “I’m going to need you to wear this for a bit while I drive you to our destination.”Amelia chuckled and agreed, her excitement evident. “Sure, go ahead. I’m ready for this surprise!”With the blindfold gently placed over her eyes, Alex took her
Upon arrival, Alex’s access proved invaluable. He guided the team through security and into the estate. The officers, led by Agent Smith and Detective Benson, approached Elsa Reeves’ mansion with determination.As they made their way inside, the securities and bodyguards reacted with alarm as they saw Alex bringing in officers into the mansion.They moved to confront the intruders, but Alex quickly intervened, instructing them to back off. The commotion caused by the confrontation created a distraction, allowing Elsa to make her way to the living room.As Elsa arrived, her expression one of surprise, she asked, “What is going on here?”Detective Benson stepped forward, holding up the warrant. “Elsa Reeves, you are under arrest for your involvement in the false allegations and the fake business proposal deal with Walmart Industries. Please come with us for questioning.”The officers moved in, and Elsa Reeves, though initially resistant, had no choice but to comply. As she was led away,
Finally, the day of the meeting had arrived, and everyone on the team—including Amelia and Alex—knew how important it was. They carried on with their day, constantly reminding themselves of the meeting's time and place.Mr. Nick stayed back at the hotel to get ready for the 6 PM meeting because he didn't have any work obligations that day.The anticipation increased as the morning became into midday. In the midst of this tension, Mr. Nick was called by Detective Benson, who already had his number."Hello, Mr. Nick," Detective Benson greeted, his voice carrying a hint of urgency. "I hope I'm not disturbing you. I need to know if you still have the evidence from the investigation on Elsa Reeves. It's critical for our case."Mr. Nick paused, his mind flashing back to the painstaking hours he had spent gathering that evidence.He knew how vital it was, not just for the case but for justice to prevail. "Yes, I still have everything," he replied, his voice steady. "I've kept it all safe, kn
Mr. Nick took a deep breath, the weight of the revelation heavy in the air. He looked at Amelia, his expression serious, ready to finally unveil the truth.“It was Elsa Reeves,” Mr. Nick revealedAlex's face twisted in frustration, his brows furrowing deeply as his grip tightened on the steering wheel. His neck veins widened as he gave a shout, "Damn it!" His voice echoed in the confined space of the car.His fury was so intense that he smacked his finger into the steering wheel, despite the searing pain.His nostrils flared and his breathing quickened as he attempted to regain control, but the anger that was already blazing fiercely inside of him seemed to get stronger, his thoughts a whirlwind of hatred and helplessness.Following his reaction, Detective Benson, who was seated close to Alex, gave him a calming tap on the shoulder to help him regain his composure.Mr. Nick continued, "One fateful day at the office, while I was having a casual chat with Mr. Walmart, his phone rang," h
“Amelia!”Mr. Nick screamed Amelia’s name, his expression a pure blank of disbelief. His eyes widened with shock, his usually composed demeanor shattered by the unexpected sight before him.With a tone that blended nostalgia and shock, Mr. Nick said, "I didn't think I'd ever see you again."His gaze remained on Amelia as though attempting to make sense of the situation, his eyes suddenly softer and slightly emotional."Why do I have a feeling that this was a set up?" he questioned, turning to face Alex with a raised eyebrow.With a knowing gleam in his eyes, Alex grinned. "It's true that I really wanted to show you the document, but primarily, I wanted you to meet with Amelia alongside."Mr. Nick's face softened, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He muttered no words, but the relief and curiosity in his eyes spoke volumes. His gaze shifted to Detective Benson, who was seated beside Amelia."Hello sir," Mr. Nick pleaded, his voice gentle yet urgent, "could you come over to th
Following their conversation, Alex turned and walked out of the bar, leaving Flora with a renewed sense of purpose and a heart full of gratitude.He got into his car and rode straight to the office, his mind racing on whether or not to expect any situation awaiting him. Upon his arrival, he was greeted by his employees which he responded to and he headed straight to his office.When Alex arrived at the floor of his office, he walked towards Maxwell's office. "Maxwell," he called out as he entered, "can you remind me of the time of my appointments today and how many people I'll be meeting with?"Maxwell looked up from his desk, consulting his schedule. "You have just two appointments today, sir. One at 2PM and the other at 4PM."Alex nodded thoughtfully. "I'll need you to move the 4PM appointment forward because I need to leave the office by 4PM to prepare for an event tonight.""Okay, sir, I'll do just that," Maxwell responded promptly.A few hours later, the 2PM appointment arrived a
As Alex arrived, Cora, who was sitting still, muttered, "I don't want to speak with you, Alex."Alex felt sad; he never wanted it to come this far, but her continuous threats to Amelia had made him do so.He asked a few questions about her well-being, but Cora ignored him and channeled her energy into emotional blackmail.Alex ignored her tactics and asked how she had managed to get that image of himself and Amelia.Cora laughed maliciously, and thereafter she answered, "The day our engagement was called off, because I still loved you, I felt the need to keep an eye on you."She paused, and then continued, "So, the next day, I used my spare keys to get into your apartment and installed a hidden camera in your bedroom. From time to time, I would check the footage to see if you were with someone else. That night, after witnessing you both together, I watched the video on my PC, where the camera was wirelessly connected, and took a picture of it."Alex was taken aback. He couldn't believ