"Mr. Gunnar, please wait!" Maria's voice rang again through the conference room, breaking the stunned silence.Hesitantly, Gunnar paused, turning back to face Maria. His expression softened slightly, recognizing the worry in her eyes. "Mrs. Flores, I understand you're passionate about this, but I can't accept Antonio's proposal. It simply doesn't meet our standards."Darting her gaze around the room, Maria took a deep breath, her heart pounding, and she let out, "I know, Mr. Gunnar. But you seemed intrigued by my responses earlier. I believe we can find a solution that works for both parties. Please give us another chance."For a moment, Gunnar studied her, his gaze thoughtful. "I was impressed by your insights, Maria. You showed a depth of understanding and a practical approach that I found refreshing. But as much as I'd like to honor my word to you, I can't proceed with a proposal that lacks substance."Suddenly, Mr. Rossi looked up sharply. "If you won't work with Antonio, and you'
As Rene escorted Gunnar to his car, the tension of the meeting gradually dissipated into the warm morning air. The black SUV gleamed in the sunlight as the driver opened the door for them.Gunnar settled into the back seat with a sigh, running a hand through his hair. "That was quite the meeting," he said, his tone more relaxed now that they were outside the confines of the conference room.Rene nodded, his face still composed as he slid in beside Gunnar. "Indeed, it was. But there's more to be done."Gunnar glanced at Rene, curiosity piqued. "What's next on the agenda?""I think you should head back to the company first," Rene suggested, his voice calm and deliberate.Gunnar raised an eyebrow. "Why's that? Aren't you coming with me?"Rene shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. "No, I need to go back in for Maria. Now that she decided to take a stand, I don't need their negativity corrupting her mind."Understanding dawned on Gunnar's face, and he nodded slowly. "Ah, I see
Rome's eyes darkened with concern as he watched the fear spread across Catherine's face. He quickly reached for her hand, holding it firmly in his. "Hey, it's alright," he said softly, trying to soothe her. "It's just a glass of wine. Don't let your mind run wild."Catherine's gaze remained fixed on the shattered glass, her breath coming in shallow bursts. "But... Rene," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I just... I have a bad feeling. What if something's wrong?"Rome squeezed her hand gently, trying to steady her. "You're letting your motherly instincts get the best of you," he said in a calm, reassuring tone. "Rene is a grown man. He can handle himself. You know how strong and capable he is."Catherine bit her lip, her eyes still wide with anxiety. "I know, but... you know how it is. Sometimes, as a mother, you just feel things. And right now, I feel like something's not right."Rome sighed inwardly, knowing how deeply Catherine's instincts ran when it came to their son. He didn't
In the silence of his office, Jason leaned back in his chair, still nursing the ache in his nose, a scowl etched on his face. The taste of blood was still fresh in his mouth, but the ringing phone on his desk demanded his attention. He glanced at the screen and recognized the number.He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and pressed the answer button."What’s the update?" he demanded, his voice clipped and cold."We've got eyes on him," the voice on the other end reported. "But there’s a problem. It looks like Kia is aware we're tailing him."Jason sat up straighter, a spark of irritation flashing in his eyes. "He knows?""Yeah, boss. He’s checking the mirrors, and his driving is getting a bit erratic like he’s trying to shake us off."Jason’s scowl deepened. This was supposed to be simple, and now Kia was making things complicated. "What about Maria?" he asked, his tone dismissive."She's in the car with him," the voice replied. "They seem to be heading out of the city."Jaso
As the clock ticking got louder, Jason tapped his fingers on the edge of his desk, his patience wearing thin. Each second felt like an hour. He had expected an update by now, something to confirm that the plan had gone off without a hitch. Instead, there was nothing but silence, and it was gnawing at him. “Where the hell are they?” he muttered under his breath, standing up abruptly. The silence in the room felt suffocating, the only sound was the rhythmic thud of his boots against the hardwood floor as he began pacing. He tried to distract himself, focus on something else—anything—but his mind kept circling back to the same question: 'Why hadn’t they called?'Anxiety was creeping in, an uncomfortable itch he couldn’t shake. His gut told him something wasn’t right, but he shoved the thought aside. He had learned to trust his instincts in this business, yet today, his nerves felt raw, and exposed. His jaw clenched. It was supposed to be a simple job. Why the hell was it taking so lo
Ignoring his father's question, Jason stood motionless, staring at the TV in disbelief. The reality of what had just happened hit him like a punch in the gut. His men were the ones critically injured in the accident, not Kia or Maria. Everything had gone wrong, horribly wrong. He could feel his father’s eyes burning into the side of his face, but he couldn’t bring himself to meet his gaze."Jason!" Antonio snapped, his voice sharp and commanding.Jason flinched, finally tearing his eyes away from the screen. His father, Antonio, was no longer smiling. His face was a mask of fury, the vein in his temple pulsing visibly."How the hell did things get this out of hand?" Antonio demanded, his voice low but seething with anger. "This was supposed to be clean! A warning at most, not this... mess!"Staring blankly at him, Jason opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. He was still reeling from the realization that his men were the ones lying in the hospital, and he had no idea wh
Drawing a deep breath, Rene stood by the restaurant window, the phone pressed to his ear as he stared out into the evening glow.The conversation with Catherine had barely registered in his mind. His thoughts were a whirlwind, trying to piece together the events of the past hour—the chase, the black vans, the unsettling calmness he’d felt when they’d narrowly escaped."Are you alright, Rene?" Catherine’s concerned voice came through the phone, pulling him back to the present.With a deep sigh, Rene blinked, his eyes focusing on his reflection in the window. He was about to answer when something behind him caught his attention.He turned and saw Maria sitting at the table, her posture stiff, and next to her was a man he didn’t recognize, leaning casually in the seat Rene had vacated. Maria’s face was tight with discomfort, her hands balled into fists in her lap."I’m going to have to call you back," Rene said abruptly, his tone hardening as he tucked his phone away without waiting for a
As Rene stood over Benjamin, the whole restaurant seemed to be holding its breath. The manager had rushed over with two security guards, but they hesitated, unsure of how to proceed as Benjamin, heir to the Leland family, lay bloodied on the floor. Meanwhile, the whispers from the other patrons swirled in the air, a mix of shock, judgment, and curiosity.Benjamin struggled to push himself up, wiping the blood from his nose. His face contorted with anger as he glared at Rene. "You think you can just kick me around? Do you even know who I am? The Lelands can ruin you. You’ll regret this, you nobody."Meeting his raging eyes, Rene didn’t flinch. He let out a small, almost amused chuckle and then spoke, his voice calm but carrying a weight that made the room quiet again. "Benjamin Leland, right? I know exactly who you are. But it looks like you have no idea who you're dealing with."Benjamin scoffed, but Rene wasn’t finished. "Let me make one thing very clear. You think throwing your famil