Chapter 27

MAX’S POV

I walked briskly toward my office, my mind racing with the conversation I’d just had with Jacob Johnson.

His words echoed in my head, a mix of threats and promises that I couldn’t ignore. The nerve of that man! He had made it clear that if I didn’t work with him, he would expose me.

“Expose me? How exactly?” I had asked, barely hiding my irritation during our conversation.

Jacob’s grin had been smug, his voice dripping with confidence. “Oh, Max, don’t underestimate me. I know all about the underhanded things you’ve been doing at your dear brother Kenneth’s company.”

I had flinched at his words, though I tried to mask my reaction. “What are you talking about?”

Jacob leaned in, his tone low and threatening. “Don’t play dumb with me. I know about the accounts you’ve tampered with, the deals you’ve manipulated for your own gain. And believe me, I know much more than that.”

His words had sent a chill down my spine. I couldn’t afford to have my secrets exposed. Not now, not ever.

Back in the present, I clenched my fists, seething as I replayed the conversation. "Form a partnership with him? As if I had a choice," I thought bitterly. But then, an idea struck me. Keep your enemies closer. That old saying suddenly seemed like the perfect strategy.

“Fine, Jacob,” I muttered under my breath as I reached my office door. “I’ll play along. I’ll keep you close enough to control you. But you won’t win this game.”

The thought gave me a slight sense of satisfaction, even as my anger simmered beneath the surface.

Another opponent…Jacob Johnson…now had an interest in the massive new deal. It was infuriating. I had worked too hard for this to let someone like him interfere.

As I sat down at my desk, I couldn’t help but laugh softly to myself. “Jacob Johnson,” I whispered with a smirk, “I’ll teach you how to play this game.”

With that, I pushed the thought of Jacob aside and focused on the files in front of me. The company needed my attention, and I wasn’t going to let anything distract me…at least for now.

The hours passed quickly as I immersed myself in work. By the time lunchtime rolled around, my stomach growled, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten since breakfast.

I decided to treat myself to a meal at the expensive restaurant nearby. After all, I deserved it after the morning I’d had.

The restaurant was bustling with its usual crowd of well-dressed professionals and socialites.

I found a quiet corner and ordered my food, intending to enjoy a peaceful break. But just as I was settling in, something…or rather, someone…caught my eye.

It was Nadia.

My fiancée stood near the entrance, her elegant figure impossible to miss. For a moment, I smiled, thinking I might surprise her and invite her to join me. But then I noticed something…or rather, someone…else.

She wasn’t alone.

Richard Garrison was with her.

I froze, my breath catching in my throat. Richard, the man I despised most in the world, was standing next to Nadia, smiling and laughing as if they were old friends.

“What is she doing with him?” I thought, my anger flaring.

I clenched my jaw, watching as they exchanged pleasantries. My mind raced with questions and suspicions. Was this a coincidence? A casual meeting? Or was there something more?

My appetite vanished as I continued to watch them from a distance. Whatever was going on, I intended to find out.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Nadia, my fiancée, was openly flaunting herself in front of Richard Garrison.

At first, I thought maybe I was imagining things, but the way she tossed her hair and leaned closer to him told me I wasn’t wrong. She wasn’t even trying to hide it.

My fists clenched under the table as I observed their interaction. Richard, for his part, looked extremely uncomfortable.

He kept shifting his weight from one foot to the other, his eyes darting around the restaurant as if looking for an escape route.

“Is she really doing this?” I muttered to myself, struggling to keep my anger in check.

Nadia, however, was persistent. She moved closer, blocking his path as he tried to step away. I could see her lips moving, likely whispering something to him. Richard pretended not to notice, his face carefully blank. But I could tell he was trying to avoid her.

The tension between them was obvious. Richard reached for his food order, which had just been handed to him in a sleek, fancy bag.

He muttered something to Nadia and started walking toward the door. But Nadia wouldn’t give up. She followed him, her heels clicking against the tiled floor as she tried to keep up.

“Unbelievable,” I thought, watching this spectacle unfold.

Richard quickened his pace, making it to the parking lot outside. I stayed in my seat, my eyes glued to the scene.

Nadia was still following him, her determination almost unnerving. She reached out and touched his arm, stopping him mid-step.

“Don’t touch me,” I could imagine Richard saying, though I couldn’t hear their conversation. True to form, Richard shrugged off her hand quickly, stepping back as though her touch burned him.

“What is she doing?” I whispered to myself, a mix of confusion and fury brewing inside me.

Richard moved toward his car, fumbling with his keys. Nadia didn’t seem weak enough to give up anytime from now.

She glanced around the parking lot, her expression unusually focused. That’s when I noticed her hand slipping into her handbag.

“What’s that about?” I wondered, leaning forward to get a better look.

Nadia’s movements were slow and deliberate as she rummaged through her bag.

Then, with a swift motion, she pulled out something small and shiny. I squinted, trying to make sense of what I was seeing. My heart skipped a beat as realization dawned.

It was a syringe.

“Is that what I think it is?” I asked myself, my voice trembling with shock.