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Chapter 31: A New Rival for Clyde
Last Updated:
2024-12-18 19:49:19
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In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 32: Violet's Friend Returns
The West mansion hummed with silent activity, yet Violet sat in her room, thumbing through an old book without really reading it. Her mind had been wandering to the various twists her life had recently taken. When the sound of her phone vibrating broke the silence, she looked at the screen and smiled wryly. It was Olivia, her best friend.Olivia: "Hey, I'm in town again. Mind if I stop by?"Violet: "Of course not. Come over. I could use some company."About an hour later, the ringing of the doorbell sounded through the mansion. Violet greeted Olivia with a warm hug at the door. Olivia's beaming energy was just the contrast needed against the building tension in Violet's life."Don't tell me this place is starting to bore you already," Olivia teased as they walked toward the sitting room."You have no idea," Violet replied with a dry chuckle, gesturing for Olivia to sit.Olivia plopped down on the plush couch, her eyes scanning the luxurious space. "It's still surreal seeing you in a p
Last Updated : 2024-12-18In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 33: Ruthless Ambition: Sharon and Eva
Sharon sat in the darkened study of her plush estate, the dancing tangerine from the fireplace casting shadowy silhouettes on her face. Her manicured nails tapped against the glass of wine in her hand as she went deep into her thoughts. Opposite her, Eva lay on the leather sofa, scanning through her tablet with an expression of resolve. Here were two women bound by ambition, greed, and a voracious appetite for power.Mother, we can't waste any more time," Eva said, her voice cutting through the silence. Firm and laced with frustration, her tone brooked no argument. "Clyde's growing influence in the company makes it harder for us to maneuver. We need to act now."Sharon leaned back in her chair, the corners of her lips tugging upwards in a smirk. "Patience, my darling. These things take precision. One wrong move and we risk losing everything.Eva frowned, throwing her tablet onto the coffee table. "And what about Violet? She's become a problem. Clyde's obsession with protecting her is
Last Updated : 2024-12-19In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 34: Violet's Visit to Richard
The soft morning rays filtered through the curtain and drapes of her bedroom as Violet stood by the window lost in thought, clinging firmly onto the edge of the sill as her mind went deep down into the chasm of unrest for Richard. She wanted to see Richard from the time Clyde told her about the progress of his improvement; there was something inside of her that, unfamiliar with all kinds of hesitation, wouldn't let her proceed forward.At last, she had reached her decision.Violet picked her coat out of the closet and put it on. While tying the belt, her gaze met the reflection staring from the mirror. In the brown depths of her eyes lay resolve, yet with it danced a spark of guilt. "He's done so much for me," she said, low to herself. "The least I can do is check on him."As Violet stepped out of her room, she nearly bumped into Clyde, who was on his way out.“Going somewhere?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.“To see Richard,” she said firmly. “I’ve been meaning to visit him for days n
Last Updated : 2024-12-19In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 35: Hidden Betrayals: Sharon's Secret Partner
The woman sat in the dimly lit office, her fingers drumming impatiently on the mahogany desk.Thick tension hung in the air as her lips arced into a sly smile when the door creaked open. Ashadowed figure stepped inside, closing the door softly behind him."Do you have it?" Sharon's voice cut like a razor in the silence. The figure, a man in his latefifties with salt-and-pepper hair, nodded and handed her a thin folder. Charles Abbott, one ofClyde’s most trusted board members, smirked as Sharon opened the folder.“It wasn’t easy,” Charles said, his voice low. “Clyde’s tight with the company’s internal records,but I’ve managed to extract details about upcoming projects. This information could shift theboard’s loyalty if used correctly.” Sharon's eyes gleamed as she flipped through the pages. "Thisis perfect. With this, we'll make Clyde look incompetent, and the shareholders will have nochoice but to side with me." Charles leaned against the desk, an arrogant smirk on his face. "B
Last Updated : 2024-12-23In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 36 Tony's Obsession Escalates: The Kidnapping Plot
Violet's life had begun to feel like a fleeting glimpse of calm amid a brewing storm. After weeksof tense encounters with Tony and whispers of his escalating obsession, she hoped she hadseen the worst of him. Yet, deep down, she knew that Tony wasn't the kind of man to let go soeasily.A Sudden DisappearanceIt was one of those ordinary days when Violet had planned on spending the afternoon quietly,catching up on some work, and finally managing to visit Richard at the hospital. Clyde was busyattending a meeting, and for once, Violet felt safe. But as she walked toward her car, her phonebuzzed with a message from an unknown number."We need to talk. It's about your parents."Her heart skipped a beat. This had to be another ploy by Julian or someone connected with him.Against her better judgment, Violet replied:"Who is this?"The response was immediate: "Meet me at the old pier. Alone. If you want answers."Suspicious but intrigued, Violet decided to go. She left a note for Clyd
Last Updated : 2024-12-23In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 37: Clyde's Family Drama: A Hidden Sibling Appears
The tension at the West estate was palpable. With Richard still recovering in the hospital andSharon's schemes bubbled beneath the surface, and Clyde barely had a moment to catch hisbreath. Yet, the universe seemed intent on delivering one more twist to his already chaotic life.It had started rather quietly that evening when Clyde was studying some of his company files inthe study. A knock came, disrupting him from his target of focus. Before he could get out anacknowledgment, his assistant pushed the door open, coming across as uncomfortable."Mr. West," the assistant tried, "somebody is waiting for you. He said he was related toyou."Clyde raised an eyebrow. "What are you saying? Who is it?The assistant hesitated and then stepped aside to reveal a young man in his late twenties. Hissharp features and piercing blue eyes uncannily resembled Richard West during his youngerdays."My name is Lucas," the man said, stepping forward confidently. "Lucas West. I believe we needto ta
Last Updated : 2024-12-23In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 38: Doctor's Report: Richard's Critical Condition
The air in the hospital waiting room was thick with tension. Clyde sat with his elbows on hisknees, head buried in his hands. Violet sat next to him, ever the calming presence, her handplaced reassuringly on his back. The atmosphere was tense-Sharon had been noticeablyabsent, and the family's internal strife had only served to weigh all the more heavily on Clyde'sshoulders.The moment the doctor entered, Clyde and Violet stood up. Dr. Lawson was a middle-aged manwith a kind face but a stern expression, and the file he carried in his hand looked ominously thick."Mr. West," Dr. Lawson started, his voice calm but firm, "we need to talk about your father'scondition."The Grim DiagnosisClyde nodded, his jaw tightening as he prepared for the worst. "Go ahead, Doctor," he said.Dr. Lawson opened the file and began explaining. "Your father's condition has aggravated. Hisheart is under tremendous strain, and medications are no longer capable of handling thatpressure. And very soon, i
Last Updated : 2024-12-23In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 39: West Media Company Drama:
A Rival TakeoverWith Sharon plotting behind the scenes and Clyde struggling to hold things together, tensions inWest Media had already been high. But no one saw the latest threat coming in the form of ahostile takeover by an unrecognized new player on the business scene.It came with an early morning announcement during a scheduled board meeting. Clyde sat atthe head of the table, his usual composed self replaced by a somewhat edgy shuffle of papers.Sharon sat to his left, her perfectly polished smile masking her inner turmoil. The boardmembers murmured amongst themselves, exchanging anxious glances.The meeting was disrupted when the head of legal affairs, Mr. Talbot, entered the room with agrim expression and an envelope in hand.“Mr. West,” Talbot said, sliding the envelope toward Clyde. “You’ll want to see this immediately.Clyde opened the envelope, and his eyes scanned the papers inside. The room fell silent as thetension became palpable. Finally, Clyde spoke, his voice
Last Updated : 2024-12-23
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In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 70: Olivia escape
Her eyes darted from one corner to the next. The adrenaline coursed through her veins, andevery instinct screamed at her to keep moving, to find an escape before anyone noticed shewas gone. But as she reached the end of the corridor, her hopes began to falter.The door she had been heading toward, the one that she had thought might be her salvation,was locked—just like the others. Her fingers fumbled with the handle, desperate, and she pulledon it again, then tried to force it open. It was no use.Frustration surged through her, and for a moment, she wanted to scream, to give up. But shecouldn’t afford that. Not now.She looked around, trying to assess her surroundings. The hallway was eerily silent. There wereno guards in sight, but that didn’t mean she was safe. She needed to think quickly.Her mind raced. There had to be another way out. Perhaps there was a window or another doorhidden somewhere. She couldn’t let herself get trapped now, not when she was so close.As she tur
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 69: Voilet recovery
Mathew’s expression darkened slightly, a hint of sadness flickering in his eyes. "That’s mydaughter," he said softly, taking the photo from Eva’s hands. "She’s been missing for severalyears now."Eva’s heart clenched. "Missing? What happened?"Mathew sighed deeply, his gaze fixed on the picture. "It’s a long story, but I’ve recently comeback to find her. That's why I’m here.”Eva reached out and laid a comforting hand on his arm. "I'm so sorry, Mathew. If there'sanything I can do to help, please let me know."Mathew gave her a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Eva. Your support means more than youknow."Violet continued to recover until the doctors were able to discharge her from the hospital. Clydewas always there by her side, seeing to it that she had everything she needed. As they cameout of the hospital, Violet inhaled deeply of the fresh air, feeling free and relieved.Upon arrival, the staff welcomed Violet with warmth; Clyde helped her settle down, and as theywere walk
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 68: Leo Levine re
These days in the hospital soon became endless, all filled with physical pain and emotionalturmoil. The fall had not taken from Violet any more than a broken arm, but much morepriceless a loss that floated in the air around her. The nurses were in and out, giving hermedication and taking vitals, while Clyde sat beside her whenever he could, offering what littlecomfort he could.Yet within her frail frame, Violet refused to become a weak soul. She startedphysiotherapy to get her arm functioning again, but while doing all this-her heart was the onethat felt heavier. The hospital became a place of healing, not only for her body but also for herspirit.Meanwhile, Clyde was in the middle of all the chaos that engulfed the company. Despite Sharon and Leo's efforts to block his attendance, the meeting he had attended was just thebeginning of the war. The company was in disarray, and Clyde knew that unless he moved fast,the empire his father built could crumble.He spent hours in the
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 67: The Bad News
"Trying wasn't enough," Leo snapped. "Now everything is falling apart. We can't afford any moremistakes, Sharon. If Clyde stays on top of this, we'll lose the whole game."Her face flashed with anger as Sharon's heart began to race. "Don't put this all on me, Leo. I'vebeen doing everything I can while you've been playing your games. Maybe if you had a betterbackup plan, we wouldn't be in this mess."Leo’s voice lowered, cold and dangerous. "We don’t have time for your excuses. Fix this,Sharon. Or you’ll regret it."The call ended abruptly, leaving Sharon fuming. She stood there for a moment, her breathcoming in sharp, shallow bursts. The pressure was mounting, and Leo’s anger only fueled herown.Sharon didn't so much as glance backward toward the entrance of the hospital as she spun onher heel and strode away. Her heels clicked sharply against the pavement, echoing thefrustration as she headed toward her car. She needed a new plan, and she needed it fast. Leowasn't going to g
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 66: The frustrating moment
Violet smiled politely, but her eyes never left Sharon's, sensing the undercurrent of tension."That's very kind of you, Sharon."Upstairs, Clyde entered the bedroom, his mind already on the board meeting ahead. He movedwith purpose, selecting a sharp suit from his wardrobe as his mind played out the possiblescenarios at the office.The tie was correctly done, and his phone went off with the reminder of his meeting.Down the stairs he went, to rejoin Violet, who waited at the door. "I will be back before you knowit," he said, clasping her hand one last time."Be careful," Violet whispered, her eyes shaded with concern."I will," Clyde promised, his tone firm with conviction.Sharon thought quickly, trying to find a way to ensure Clyde wouldn't make that important boardmeeting. She had to think fast, and she knew just the thing to engage him-Violet. An almostdiabolical smile curled Sharon's lips as she contrived her plan.Sharon quickly ran into the kitchen and brought back a bott
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 65: The accident
Violet sat on the edge of the bed and watched Clyde pacing across the room while her eyesshone with apprehension. He looked tired but not beaten, and after reaching the wall, he turnedto face her and started to speak."When I got to the warehouse, I knew something felt off, but I went in anyway," Clyde began, hisvoice firm, yet laced with residual fear from the experience. The place was dark and quiet, tooquiet. I called out for Olivia, but nobody answered, so I realized it was a trap.Violet's heart sank, though she maintained poise and nodded for him to continue."Before I could react, they jumped me," Clyde said, his fists clenched at the memory. "Theybound me up, and that's when I met Leo Levine. He was there to gloat-to tell me how heplanned to take everything from my father, our family's legacy. He even bragged about how, bynoon tomorrow, he'd be announced as the new CEO."Violet gasped, placing her hand over her mouth. "Oh, Clyde…Clyde reached for her, taking her hands
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 64: The Romance
The post-euphoria of their passionate encounter went away; the room slowly relapsed into itsquiet stillness, with their mingled breaths being the only sounds that Eva lay on his chest,tracing lazy circles on his skin while her mind remained blissfully blank and savoring theafterglow.But then, suddenly, the shrill ringing of her phone resounded through the stillness, placing themboth in a shocked stillness. Eva's heart went a miss as she reached for her phone lying on thebedside table. Looking at the screen, her breath caught-it was her mother."Mom?" she answered, still sounding husky from the exertion."Eva, where are you?" her mother's voice came through, laced with worry and urgency. "I needyou to come home. Now."The concern in her mother's tone was enough to snap Eva out of her blissful state. She sat upabruptly, clutching the sheet to her chest. "Is everything okay, Mom?"There was a pause, and then her mother said, "It's important, Eva. Please, just come."Eva's heart p
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 63: The Night Heats Up
Eva continued to talk with the man; with every word, it was an affair. His hand brushed againsthers, sending a spark coursing through her entire body. The laughter between them softenedand gave way to lingering glances, a growing tension that neither seemed in any hurry to break.The music in the bar had shifted to a slower, more sensual rhythm, matching the simmeringenergy between them. Eva leaned closer, her breath mingling with his, her fingers playing withthe rim of her glass. She felt the pulse of desire growing, a magnetic pull that drew her towardshim.“You’re intoxicating,” he whispered, his voice a husky murmur that sent a shiver down her spine.His eyes locked onto hers, dark and intense, promising something that made her heart race.Eva didn't answer with words. Her gaze dropped to his lips; her own parted slightly in aninvitation. He caught that subtle invitation; his fingers reached out and gently traced the line ofher jaw, pressing her face higher. The gap between
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 62: The Unraveling
Sharon burst into her penthouse and slammed the door shut with a force that sentreverberations through the silent apartment. Her heels clicked loudly against the glitteringmarble floor as she marched toward the expansive living room, her mind a maelstrom of angerand frustration.How did he get away?" she whispered, the words repeating in her mind like a mantra. "It wasperfect-everything, every eventuality.She threw her coat onto the sleek leather couch, her hands shaking with barely restrainedanger. She began to pace up and down, trying to put together how Clyde had managed to slipthrough their grasp. The guards were doubled and the warehouse secure, yet somehow, Clydemanaged to outwit all.Sharon stopped dead in her tracks, her beady eyes now set on her phone, which lay on thecoffee table. Snatching it up, she scrolled down her contacts to Eva's number in a jiffy. Eva hadbeen one of their inside players, an important part of their scheme. If anyone had informationregarding
