Chapter 26

MAX’S POV

Morning came quickly, and I was ready for work. My briefcase was packed, and my suit was pressed to perfection. I left the house in high spirits, though my mind was already calculating the day ahead.

The drive to the office was uneventful, but as I parked my car and stepped into the building, I knew today was going to be different.

The familiar buzz of employees greeted me as I walked through the glass doors. A quick nod here and there was all I gave as I headed straight for my office.

Once inside, I shut the door and sank into my chair behind the large mahogany desk.

It didn’t take long for me to bring out my second phone from the drawer. This phone wasn’t listed on the company’s records and was strictly for private matters. Dialing a number, I waited for the call to connect.

“Yes, it’s me,” I said when the person picked up. My voice was calm, though I made sure to keep it low. “I’ll be there in the evening as planned.”

The conversation was short. I ended the call, placed the phone back in the drawer, and turned my attention to the pile of files on my desk.

I opened the first file and scanned its contents. As the company’s manager, I had access to everything, including financial projections.

My eyes lit up as I read through the report…a massive amount of money was set to enter the company’s account by the end of the month.

The realization hit me hard. This was a fortune, enough to change my life forever.

The only problem was Mr. Kenneth’s signature would be needed to finalize the deal. But Mr. Kenneth was still in a coma at the hospital, completely unreachable.

A thought crept into my mind, dark and tantalizing. What if I took the money?

It was a dangerous idea, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense.

With Mr. Kenneth out of the picture, there would be no one to suspect me. I leaned back in my chair, a sly smile spreading across my face.

“Genius,” I muttered to myself. “No one will ever know.”

My moment of self-congratulation was interrupted by the realization that I needed to act carefully. Picking up the phone on my desk, I called for a cabinet meeting. If I was going to pull this off, I had to make sure no one suspected a thing.

Within minutes, the boardroom was filled with committee members. The atmosphere was heavy as I addressed them.

“I have gathered you all here to discuss an important matter,” I began, keeping my tone serious. “As you know, Mr. Kenneth is still in the hospital and unable to sign any documents. Because of this, I have decided that we cannot proceed with the deal involving the huge incoming funds.”

Murmurs of disappointment filled the room. The employees exchanged worried glances, clearly unhappy with my decision.

“Unfortunately,” I continued, “without Mr. Kenneth’s approval, we cannot take the risk. It’s in the best interest of the company to put this deal on hold.”

“But sir,” the secretary spoke up, holding the file, “this deal could bring immense profit to the company. Are you sure we can’t reconsider?”

I shook my head firmly. “The risk is too great. Mr. Kenneth hasn’t fully recovered, and we cannot move forward without his input.”

With that, I handed the file back to the secretary. “This contract is not happening for now,” I said, finalizing the discussion.

The meeting ended shortly after, and everyone returned to their offices, including me. I couldn’t wait to get back to my desk to plan my next move.

No sooner had I sat down than my phone rang. I picked it up, frowning as the screen displayed an unfamiliar number.

“Hello?” I answered.

The voice on the other end was unmistakable. It was Mr. Jacob.

“I want to see you,” he said without preamble. “Meet me at the café near your office. Now.”

I hesitated, unsure of what this was about. “I’m in the middle of work…”

“If you don’t come now,” he interrupted, “I will expose everything. Every single one of your dirty deeds in this company.”

My blood ran cold. What could he possibly know?

Before I could respond, he hung up. I stared at the phone for a moment, my mind racing. There was no time to waste. I locked my office and headed for the café, my heart pounding with each step.

The café was buzzing with activity when I arrived. I scanned the room, my eyes darting from table to table, searching for him. Finally, I spotted Mr. Jacob seated in a corner, his expression unreadable.

I approached cautiously. “Good afternoon, Mr. Jacob,” I said, forcing a smile. “I wasn’t expecting to see you today.”

He didn’t return the pleasantries. “I’m not here for small talk,” he snapped.

I quickly tried to cover my tracks. “Actually, I was planning to visit you later today…”

“Save it,” he interrupted. His voice was sharp, his gaze piercing. “You’d better be glad you came because things are about to get complicated. The police are monitoring me and my family now.”

I froze. “Monitoring you? Why?”

“That’s not important,” he said dismissively. “What matters is that I know about the money. A huge amount is coming into your company soon.”

My eyes widened in shock. How did he know about that?

His lips curled into a smirk. “Don’t look so surprised, Max. I know more than you think.”

(MR JACOB POV)

I watched as Max studied me, his expression cold and calculating. He leaned back slightly, and I could almost hear his thoughts as he regarded me.

“He doesn’t know my kind,” I thought, his eyes narrowing. “Dangerous, that’s what I am. And this one isn’t even smart.”

His lips twitched as if suppressing a laugh. “Selfish,” he must have concluded, his gaze piercing. “He wants to take the money for himself.”

Max finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. “Mr Jacob, let’s work together. Hand in hand.”

I hesitated briefly before extending my hand. “Fine.”

“Good,” he said, standing. “Leave now. We’ll talk later before anyone gets suspicious.”