Bearing the searing pain on her cheeks, Genesis squeezed a smile for Ryken. “Chief Commander Santigo, your goal is to help Kaze. “In that case, can we just forget about the whole thing?” Genesis wanted to end things and leave the place quickly. She got nothing done today, and to top it off, she got embarrassed. She just wanted to get out of there.“Forget about the whole thing?” Ryken said curtly, “You won’t forget the whole thing if I’m not here today. “Didn’t you set Mr. Lee up as the primary suspect for the explosion? What if you go after him once I’m out of the room?” Genesis grimaced. The thought had crossed her mind. Once Ryken was gone, she could kill Kaze under the charge of resisting arrest. Ryken might make a big fuss about it, but what was done would be done. Kaze would be dead, and there was no way around it. “You got the wrong idea about me, Chief Commander Santigo. I’m not that type of person.” Genesis said with an apologetic smile, “I have always
“Do you think an apology will cut it?” Ryken asked with a blank face. Miya gritted her teeth and moved her knees to face Kaze. She said, “You have my word that St. Mary’s will be yours. I won’t go back on my word again. “Please ask Chief Commander Santigo to let me and my family off the hook. Please!” Kaze said callously, “Anyone can talk a big game. I’ll believe you when you sign the equity transfer contract.” “Fine. I’ll put my name on the document now.” Grasping on the lifeline, Miya told her sidekick to prepare the document. Kaze’s gaze fell on Genesis. “What about you? How do you plan on making things right for me?” With Ryken narrowing his eyes at her, Genesis gritted her teeth and replied, “The case of the dust explosion is officially closed.” “Case closed? That’s just empty talk.” Kaze smiled offhandedly. Gnashing her teeth, Genesis raised her firearm at Bengla. Since Kaze did not stop her, she pulled the trigger without hesitation. “Bang!” The bullet h
Not taking Kaze’s demand lying down, Genesis said with a smirk, “Come on. Show me how you’re going to do it.”“I gave you a chance. You didn’t want it, so don’t blame me for what’s to come.” Kaze shook his head. Without another word, he approached Genesis. Genesis did not expect Kaze to follow through. With a grimace, she raised her gun. “Try me, Kaze. Are you faster than my gun?” “Crack!” Immediately, Kaze reached out to grab Genesis’ arm.Before Genesis could pull the trigger, Kaze gave a squeeze and snapped her arm in half. “Crack!”A sickening fracture echoed as Genesis cried out in agony. Kaze swiftly snatched the gun from her grasp and slapped her hard in the face. “Thud!” Knocked off her feet, Genesis slammed into a wall and crashed to the ground in anguish. “Lee…” It took a struggle for Genesis to lift her discolored face. She widened her bloodshot eyes and looked at Kaze in terror. She was surprised by Kaze’s strength. Genesis had undergone the Tiger’s
With Genesis’ brutal ending fresh in her mind, Miya was terrified of Kaze. Revenge was the last thing on her mind right now. Kaze glanced at the contract before dumping it on the side. He said indifferently, “Go back and tell that guy that I have never done anything to him, so he better stay away from me. “Otherwise, I don’t mind reducing the number of the so-called Riverbank Seven.” Dread washed over Miya. Still, she nodded subserviently without another word. She could not commit to either side, so she said nothing. “Get lost.” Kaze waved his arm, driving Miya and her crew away. “Let’s go.” Ryken nodded at Kaze before leaving with two members of the Flying Dragons. Kaze, Kent, and Welson found themselves in the trashed office. Since someone else would take care of the cleanup, Kaze and Kent went outside. Kaze said with a smile, “Thank you for your help, Mayor Synder. You came all the way to lend a hand.”“Don’t be a stranger to me, Kaze. I didn’t do much. Chief
“Alright. If Hunter starts something, I have your back, Kaze.” Kent said, “But I hope you won’t let this sidetrack you. Sanwell Finances and its network is the greater threat. “I’m pleading to you because Riverbank’s future is at stake.” Kent looked at Kaze earnestly. When Kent first became mayor, he was ambitious to do something for the public by addressing the issues with Sanwell Finances. However, he quickly realized that there was only so much he could do as mayor. Devastatingly, none of the local entities were on Kent’s side. Though the Yaphets had expressed their support, they did not do much to show it. In fact, the family was divided on the matter. Welson belonged to one of the few Yaphets who championed behind Kent. The opposing family members were indifferent to the whole thing. Kent had almost given up hope. There had been multiple assassination attempts, and Kent nearly died from poison. His daughter almost lost her life too. Kaze then showed up and
“Bring Buffy home now, Jude. Punish her in accordance with the family rules.“Spare no expenses and resources to kill Kaze too.“If you can’t do it, I’ll have the Krads do it.“I can’t stand to see him alive. He’ll be the death of me before I die of my illness.” Despite Faith’s effort to keep her composure, she got riled up at the mention of Kaze and Buffy. Since marrying Jude, Faith ran the household. Buffy would not dream of defying Faith. However, the dynamics changed the minute Kaze showed up. With Kaze’s help, Buffy had the nerve to dominate Faith. Faith was too proud to allow that to happen. Jude said with a wry smile, “Do you think I don’t want to, Faith? I spent 100 million dollars to get Alfonso here with the intention of disposing of him once he has served his purpose. No one can accuse us of anything since we didn’t do anything directly.“But we have underestimated Kaze. “He knocked Alfonso out with one hit. What am I supposed to do? “Before meeting with
Jude was cold-blooded, saying things that should not come from a father. This was Jude’s true colors. He had always been a self-serving hypocrite who would sacrifice anyone for his personal gain and power.“You’re the best, Jude. Hahaha. “Since your precious daughter loves Kaze, the lovebirds can die as a couple. “Argh…” Amused, Faith smiled smugly. However, the smile on her face became stiff as she crashed back into bed. Something was off with Faith. Her expression was as stiff as a doll’s. Her once-animated hands now moved mechanically while clawing at Jude. The arrogance disappeared in Faith’s eyes as terror washed over her. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she cried with her last bit of strength, “Save me, Jude! “Beg Kaze! Give him everything! “Do it now! I don’t want to die!” … “Kaze.” As Kaze walked out of the precinct, a Maybach pulled up, and Dayton got out to open the door for Kaze. Without another word, Kaze sat in the back and turned to Buff
“Stop the chatter!” Jude jolted back to reality as Holfman and Kaze chatted. He drew close eagerly. “Please examine Faith, Kaze. “She was sleeping fine from last night to an hour ago. Her vital signs were stable. “But she suddenly stiffened up after she woke up and had a brief conversation with me. The last time, she had control over half of her body, but she can barely speak now.“Strange enough, she had a seizure, and a smile remained plastered on her face. Her facial muscles seem paralyzed. “I’m worried that she would be brain-dead at this rate,” Jude said with bloodshot eyes.The deputy chief of the Viper’s Den South River State Branch had been through a lot. However, nothing drained him like Faith’s illness. His ex-wife, Tulip, was in a coma for over a decade. Her life was put on hold in a nursing home. Jude understood the ordeal too well. He did not want to see Faith in such a state. Most importantly, Jude would lose his tie to the Krads if Faith was brain-dea
Aloysius looked at the business venture at hand with a mix of emotions. Jet was supposed to make a comeback with the project, but the defeat was a huge slap to his face. “Can I ask whether Kaze was behind this?” Aloysius braced himself to ask the question. Even though Aloysius had an inkling, he feared receiving confirmation of his suspicion. “Chairman Lee helped me. If Jet hadn’t hurt my mother, I wouldn’t have rushed back to take his place. “He did this to himself,” Snow said blatantly. “How did you know about the island project? We have been discreet about it.” Aloysius was eager to find out. The question would burn on his mind unless he got some answers. “You can’t keep anything from the Viper’s Den, but this is the end of the matter. If you’re interested in the project, I can put you in charge of it.” Snow could not be bothered to explain herself. Aloysius played it smart. He had been carrying out Snow’s orders without a hitch. Snow was happy to honor her prom
“Tell them that the company is expecting funding, and all the projects will be launched in a few days. Everything will be back on track. It’s a good thing that the higher management is gone. We will be opening the positions for internal employees to apply.” Snow got the right solution to handle the situation. She had to give these employees hope to gain their dedication in return. Aloysius was surprised. “Who would pour money in when our finances are in a mess?” Having worked with Jet, Aloysius had a good understanding of the company’s ins and outs. Several business ventures were up in the air, and the company was bleeding money. Even with a relaunch, these projects would not bring in much of a profit. Most importantly, the relaunch had to be backed up by some funding. The business got a loan from the Viper’s Den. If payment was not made in time, the company’s shares would be used to make up for the loss. The whole thing spelled trouble. Snow just joined the company.
“This is the financial report you submitted today. Any intern can do a better job than you.” Snow mocked Jack. She was disappointed in his performance. A finance director who could not even get his basics right should not be working in finance in the first place. “Who do you think you are, doing this to us?” The others are only out to save their own asses. They did not sympathize with Jack. “I’m sure you are well aware of what you have done.” “You’re on your phone all day at work. You put your daily expenses on the company card, and we’re talking about tens of thousands of dollars a month. You only bought stuff for your personal use. “Let’s not forget about you. Your so-called business trips are to take your mistress out for expensive hotel stays and vacations.” Snow looked at each one of them while detailing their deeds. She shamed them in public, utterly humiliating them. “Why were these allowed before? Why are you stopping these practices now? If you can change
“No, Ms. Frost. I can do it,” Aloysius said right away. He did not want to miss out on a good opportunity. “I gave you a chance. It’s up to you to seize it.” Snow looked at them with a smile. “I’ll get right to it, Ms. Frost.” The HR manager nodded and took off. He had to prepare the paperwork. Those in upper management were on a higher pay grade with a cut of the shares. Following a termination, the HR manager had to calculate the final pay. There had to be a valid reason for the discharge from duties too. Though things were a little complicated, the HR manager was experienced in this aspect. The only issue was that the staff involved were not the low-ranking employees. They held high positions. Despite his unrest, Aloysius did not wear his heart on his sleeve. He had a good read of the situation. Snow was impartial in carrying out business. Those who contributed to the company would stay while the ones who bled the business dry would be sacked. Anyone would p
Sure enough, the mean would gather around the individual at their fall from grace. It was sad to grasp this reality. “I promise you to have everything in order. Don’t worry. You will get a nice promotion.” Snow knew when to give her employee encouragement. Only then would Aloysius feel motivated to work. Aloysius departed in dejection, but Snow did not mind it at all. He served the wrong person. Snow took on the leadership role the same day Jet left. Since she assumed the responsibilities without much experience, the employees did not take her seriously. The people doing the grunt work felt nothing toward the change of leadership. The upper management may experience shifts, but they were still obliged to finish their usual tasks. The only thing they hoped for was to be paid more for their overtime. Following the change of leadership, some leaders may receive a promotion or be transferred out. The employees at the bottom of the pyramid wondered if they could compet
Despite her unease, Snow trusted that Jet would not have the chance to hurt her. Hence, she put the matter aside. The dynamic shift within the Frosts caught the eye of elite families across the business world. They kicked Jet while he was down. Some even tried to get a piece of the pie. However, most of them stayed on the sidelines, observing. A fallen giant was still a giant. Even if these families were greedy, they had to assess the situation before moving in. These businesspeople were skeptical about Snow taking Jet’s place. They did not know what Snow was made of. Consequently, they tried to approach her. Snow had been kept busy in the office, dealing with the problems left behind by Jet. She worked late into the night every day. While being buried deep in paperwork, Snow refused to meet anyone. She had lived in Butterworth before, so she had peers from school and friends around. Snow’s sudden return caught many off guard. Everyone wanted to get close to he
If Jet had detected the problems early on, he could have prevented things from escalating. Yet now, everything was too late. Jet did not regret his actions, though. “Just sign this, Jet. At this rate, the shares will drop beyond the point of redemption,” Talon said. The Frosts were terrified at the stock market’s dropping numbers. They did not have time to lose. “I will sign the papers. I lost.” Jet did not want to give in just yet. However, he had to comply with the family elders’ pleas. Snow was relieved. The contract was quickly drawn up, and Jet signed the papers to give up the proprietorship. “Relax. I won’t do you wrong.” Snow made a promise. At least, Jet would still have a home to go back to. “Don’t get too cocky. I didn’t lose to you. I lost to Kaze.” Jet knew that he would face much resistance if his rival were Snow. It was a shame that he was up against Kaze, a strong and mysterious man. “Just sign the papers. I will take over the family empire, and
“Don’t project your filth on everyone else.” Snow was angry, but she knew that she had to keep her head cool. By jumping straight to defense mode, Snow would give others the wrong idea. She had been there before. Kaze sat still without a word. He furrowed his brows in annoyance when Jet painted his relationship with Snow dirty. “I’m not here for the drama.” Kaze looked at Talon. The senior members of the Frosts should back down before Kaze did something about it. “Who do you think you are? This is a family meeting. Why are you getting involved?“If you are unrelated to Snow, you shouldn’t be here in the first place.” Jet took out his anger on Kaze. Kaze was not part of the family anyway, so Jet did not have to consider his feelings. “Watch yourself, Jet. He’s a visitor.” Talon was smart enough to read the room. Despite the air of mystery shrouding Kaze, he managed to screw with most of Jet’s business ventures. The Frosts stood to lose more by crossing Kaze. Ta
Following Snow’s lead, Kaze entered a big conference room. The centerpiece of the conference room was a long, solid wood table, drawing out an air of solemnity. Various notable and valuable paintings hung on the wall. The expansive floor-to-ceiling window brought light into the room. Sunlight bounced off the window that displayed a picturesque view outside. “There you are.” Jet had been waiting. With the pair slowly making their way in, Jet could not hide the rage in his eyes. “Long time no see, Jet,” Snow greeted him and pulled a chair for Kaze. “It’ll take a bit of time, Chairman Lee. The senior members of my family are on their way.” Snow contacted the family elders while getting to the venue. Jet had not produced much results lately, and the Frosts were utterly humiliated. Since Jet would soon be replaced, the senior members of the family wanted to be kept in the loop. These family members had their own ideas. However, they would be happy to appoint the lea