ログインMy executive boyfriend's newly hired assistant caused trouble again. All because a client mentioned he was afraid of snakes, she sent him a king cobra as "exposure therapy." The client was bitten and nearly died. Because of that, the company lost a multimillion-dollar project and had to pay two million in medical compensation. Following the board's decision, I fired her on the spot. My boyfriend did not object. In fact, he cooperated with me throughout the paperwork. One year later, at the celebration party for Grant Hale's promotion to CEO, I saw that same assistant again, dressed head to toe in luxury, standing beside him. Before I could react, Grant threw a termination agreement at me and announced in front of everyone that Chloe Vance would be taking over my position. His eyes were full of hatred as he gritted out, "Natalie, I have waited countless nights for this day. Didn't you love firing people? "How does it feel to be fired in public?" Everyone thought I would make a scene. Instead, I laughed, calmly removed my employee badge, and walked out. What Grant did not know was that the only reason he had been able to sit in the CEO's chair was because I had guaranteed him. The moment I left, every ounce of power in his hands would be revoked. His good days were officially over.
もっと見るTHIRD PERSON LIMITED RYELLA POV
Si Ryella Cruz ay laging naniniwala na ang batas ang kanyang kalasag—ang tanging nagpapanatiling ligtas sa kanya sa isang lungsod kung saan ang kapangyarihan ay pera at ang moralidad ay madaling isantabi. Binuo niya ang kanyang karera sa matitibay na prinsipyo: hindi pagtatanggol sa sinumang tiyak na nagkasala, at walang pag kompromiso sa kanyang integridad. Ito ang pader sa pagitan niya at ng madilim na mundong pilit niyang tinalikuran. Ngunit ngayon, habang nag-iisa siyang nakaupo sa kanyang opisina, ang pader na iyon ay gawa sa basag na salamin.
Ang file sa kanyang harapan ay makapal at mabigat. Ang selyo ay nagtataglay ng bigat ng takot at korupsyon: Vladimir Valente.
Ang bilyonaryong hari ng mafia. Ang lalaki na ang imperyo ay umabot mula sa luxury hotels hanggang sa mga bulong-bulungan ng mga kasunduang nabahiran ng dugo. Siya ay untouchable—isang anino na nakabalot sa sutla at bakal. Ang kanyang firm, ang precious niyang pinuwestuhan, ay nalulunod sa utang. Kung siya ay tumanggi, mawawala sa kanya ang kanyang binuo: ang kanyang pagmamalaki, ang kanyang prinsipyo, ang kanyang karera.
Nang iminungkahi ng board ang kaso, ang kanyang boses ay matalim, isang tunog na unwavering sa simula. “Hinding-hindi ko ipagtatanggol ang isang taong kilalang-kilala na nagkasala,” aniya, isinasara ang kanyang mga mata sa imahe ng contempt na nadama niya para sa mga taong tulad ni Valente.
Ngunit ang Managing Partner, si Mr. Tan, ay lumapit, ang bawat salita ay isang plea at isang ultimatum. “Ryella, makinig ka. Ito ang tanging paraan. Isang panalo rito, at ligtas tayong lahat, makakabalik tayo sa moral high ground na gusto mo. Mawawala sa iyo ang lahat kung tatanggi ka. Ang iyong prinsipyo ba ay mas mahalaga kaysa sa kabuhayan ng tatlumpung pamilya?”
Ang mga salita ay tumagos sa kanyang prinsipyo. Ang kanyang sariling hinaharap ay naging hostage. Sa isang buntong-hininga na pakiramdam ay pagsuko, binuksan niya ang file. Ang mga litrato ay nagkalat, at sa huli, ang mukha ni Vladimir Valente ay nakatitig sa kanya—malamig, kalkulado, at imposibleng nakakaakit. Hindi pa siya nakakita ng gayong kombinasyon ng panganib at karisma.
Kinabukasan, ang kanyang propesyonalismo ay ang kanyang sandata. Inayos niya ang kanyang blazer at pumasok sa Valente Tower, isang skyscraper na nagliliyab sa awtoridad at kayamanan. Ang mantra niya ay paulit-ulit na umalingawngaw sa kanyang isip: Propesyonal. Walang Kompromiso. Ito ay transaksyon.
Ang mga pinto ng elevator ay bumukas sa pinakamataas na palapag—ang kanyang pribadong kaharian. Nandoon siya.
Si Vladimir ay nakahilata sa isang leather chair na parang isang hari na ipinatapon, ang kanyang kilos ay inherent dominance. Ang kanyang tingin ay dahan-dahang gumapang sa kanya, tila cataloging ang bawat kahinaan na sinubukan niyang itago sa ilalim ng polished suit.
“Ryella Cruz,” sabi niya, ang kanyang boses ay velvet na nakabalot sa bakal. Ang tunog ay nagdulot ng shiver sa kanyang gulugod. “Ang abogada na may reputasyon sa integridad. How amusing.”
“Mr. Valente,” pinilit ni Ryella na salubungin ang kanyang tingin, hindi pinahintulutan ang takot na manalo. “Nandito ako upang talakayin ang inyong kaso. Walang hihigit pa. Iyan ang boundary na kailangan nating itatag.”
Ang kanyang ngiti ay hindi umabot sa kanyang mga mata, isang predatory expression. “Ah, ngunit lahat ay higit pa kapag ako ang kasama, Abogada Cruz. Ang boundary na iyan ay isa lamang linya sa sand, at ngayon, ang tide ay tumataas.”
“Kung ganoon, maging malinaw tayo sa mga linya,” sabi ni Ryella, inilapag ang kanyang briefcase sa glass table nang may sharp click na tila nagdeklara ng labanan. “Mayroon kayong mga kaso ng racketeering, money laundering, at conspiracy. Ang prosekusyon ay may ebidensya na nag-uugnay sa inyo sa tatlong shell companies at offshore accounts.”
Si Vladimir ay ngumiti, inikot ang kanyang whiskey sa kanyang baso. “Ebidensya. Napaka-walang-kwenta. Ang batas ay flexible, Ryella. Hindi ba’t alam mo iyan? Ang katotohanan ay kung sino ang mas mahusay mag kwento. Ang tanong ay, handa ka bang baguhin ang kwento na kanilang ipininta?”
Ang kanyang panga ay humigpit. “Hindi ako storyteller. Hindi ako nandito para magbenta ng fiction. Nandito ako upang magpatupad ng legal na proteksyon. Ngunit ito ang aking mga kondisyon.”
Tumaas ang kanyang kilay, ang kanyang interes ay tila nagliliyab. “Kondisyon? Sa akin?”
“Kung gusto ninyo akong manalo, kayo ay susunod sa aking mga patakaran,” sinabi ni Ryella nang may awtoridad na hindi niya alam na taglay niya. “Walang pakialam sa estratehiya. Walang manipulasyon sa mga saksi. At lalong-lalo na, walang mind games sa aking professional capacity.”
Tumawa siya, mahina at mapanganib, isang tunog na nagpapahiwatig na ang kanyang mga salita ay amusing lamang. Tumayo siya, gumagalaw na may inherent authority. Lumapit siya, ang kanyang presensya ay nakakasakal, ang kanyang cologne ay bumalot sa kanya na parang usok.
“Mga patakaran,” bulong niya, ang kanyang tingin ay drilling sa kanya. “Iniisip mo na makakapasok ka sa aking imperyo at magdidikta ng patakaran sa akin, Ryella? Ito ay isang amateur na pagsubok.”
“Kung gusto ninyo akong manalo, kailangan ko ng ganap na kontrol sa estratehiya. O makakahanap kayo ng ibang abogada,” sagot ni Ryella, ang kanyang boses ay matatag, ngunit ang kanyang pulso ay nagtataksil sa kanya, bumibilis at hindi niya ito ma-control.
Para sa isang sandali, ang katahimikan ay bumigat sa pagitan nila, makapal at elektrikal. Ang kanyang mga mata ay madilim, sinusuri siya, tinitimbang ang kanyang resolve. Naramdaman ni Ryella ang init ng kanyang gaze na dumidikit sa kanyang balat.
Pagkatapos ay ngumiti siya. Hindi ang ngiti ng isang negosyante, kundi ang mapanganib na ngiti ng isang predator na nakakita ng isang bagay na worth the chase.
“Ipagtatanggol mo ako, Ryella,” sabi niya nang mahina, ang bawat salita ay isang claim. “At kapag ginawa mo, ikaw ay ganap na mapapasakin.”
Ang kanyang hininga ay nahabol. Ang mga salita ay personal, possessive, defying sa lahat ng kanyang prinsipyo. “Ipagtatanggol kita sa korte, Mr. Valente. Ngunit hindi ako pag-aari ng kahit sino.” Ang kanyang paninindigan ay ang huling pira-piraso ng kanyang kalasag.
Si Vladimir ay lumapit pa. Ang kanyang labi ay humaplos sa shell ng kanyang tainga, ang kanyang hininga ay mainit laban sa kanyang balat. Ang kanyang bulong ay nagdulot ng shiver na hindi takot:
“Tingnan natin.”
Umatras si Ryella, ang kuryente ng kanyang pagdampi ay nagdulot ng panginginig sa kanyang mga kamay. Kinuha niya ang kanyang mga file. “Aalis na ako. Maghanda kayo para sa pagdinig. At huwag na kayong pumunta sa aking opisina ng walang appointment.”
“Hindi na kita pipigilan,” sabi ni Vladimir, bumalik sa kanyang silya na parang ang buong pag-uusap ay isang nakakatawang show lamang. “Ngunit tandaan mo, ang kasunduan ay selyado.”
Umalis si Ryella sa penthouse, ang kanyang takong ay tumutunog sa marmol. Nararamdaman niya ang ginhawa nang sumara ang elevator door. Nakalabas ako. Napanatili ko ang aking paninindigan.
Ngunit nang tumawid siya sa malaking lobby patungo sa revolving door, bigla itong huminto. Nagsara ang mga pinto. Nagsimula siyang itulak ang salamin, ngunit hindi ito gumagalaw. Naka-lock siya. Ang takot na kanina ay nasa kanyang tiyan ay umakyat sa kanyang dibdib. Ito ay isa sa mga laro niya.
Biglang umilaw ang isang screen sa itaas niya—isang live feed mula sa penthouse. Nakita niya si Vladimir, nakatayo sa bintana, nakatingin ng diretso sa kanya, ang kanyang mukha ay wala nang amusement, pinalitan ng cold, hard power.
Ang speaker ay bumukas. Ang boses ni Vladimir ay tumunog, malinaw at nakakatakot na kalmado:
“Nakalimutan mo yata ang pinakamahalagang file, Ryella. Hindi ka aalis nang hindi iyon dala. Ang iyong freedom. Sa sandaling tinanggap mo ang kaso, binigay mo ito. Kung ikaw ay aalis, aalis ka bilang ganap na akin... o hindi ka na aalis pa.”
Nagsara ang mga mata ni Ryella, ang hininga niya ay parang sugat na humihingal. Ang mga ilaw sa lobby ay dahan-dahang namatay, iniwan siyang nakakulong sa dilim, tanging ang mapanganib na ngiti ni Vladimir sa screen ang nagbibigay ng liwanag.
Wala nang takas. Hindi na ito tungkol sa batas. Ang game ay nagsimula na, at siya ang prize.
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I handed the bouquet back to him."Keep them. I don't need them."And I have always hated white roses."With that, I picked up my suitcase and walked toward the door.When he realized I was truly leaving, he panicked.He grabbed my sleeve, his voice choked."Natalie! I have nothing now. I only have you. Why are you leaving me too?"I know I was wrong. I should not have wronged you because of Chloe. But I've already apologized. Why won't you forgive me?"I looked at him coldly.In the past, I might have agreed.But I was no longer the woman I used to be.Since he was so determined to demand a reason, I gave him one."The moment you threw away that watch without hesitation, our relationship went to zero."The only reason you survived in that company for all these years was because I worked several times harder than you behind your back so you could climb step by step."Those so-called impressive projects of yours. Which one did not involve me? Which one did not pass through
"Natalie, why didn't you answer my calls?"And you actually blocked me? Do you have a death wish?"Hearing that familiar tone, I was thrown back to the past.When we first got together, he had been childish in the same way. He needed an explanation for everything, and even when he was wrong, he had to twist it until I was the one apologizing.Back then, I always let him have his way.Over time, he changed. He became cold. His words carried sparks of anger. We could hardly speak three sentences without fighting.At first I thought he was simply under too much pressure at work, so I tried even harder in private to ease his burden.Only when I saw him having dinner with Chloe did I understand.The problem had never been pressure.It was that he no longer loved me.Even then, I had not wanted to give up our six-year relationship. We had not come this far easily.I believed his interest in Chloe was only temporary. I believed that after a few days, he would realize who was worth
"How could a useless woman like Natalie Shaw compare to my value in the chairman's eyes?"Chloe brightened too, believing fate had finally chosen her after all."Other than talking tough, what does she have that's better than you? The chairman must have realized what Natalie really is and cut his losses before he lost a talent like you."But as soon as Grant finished reading the email, the smile vanished from his face.Before Chloe could ask what happened, he turned and slapped her.Then he shoved the phone in front of her and demanded coldly, "Don't you owe me an explanation?"The moment Chloe read the email, she understood why she had been uneasy all day.The email laid out her movements over the past year.After leaving the company, her life had not been nearly as miserable as she claimed. No one had wasted resources blacklisting someone as incompetent as her. She had simply been fired.But she could not swallow the humiliation.She had been looking for a chance to retalia
Chloe wanted to comfort him, but with the chairman still present, she did not dare speak. She hid behind Grant, praying she would not be dragged into the fallout.After a long moment, Grant's fingers tightened around the file until his knuckles turned white."Even if Natalie guaranteed my promotion, why fire me?"The chairman looked at him as if wondering whether Grant was truly that stupid.His eyes moved to Chloe behind him, and his voice turned cold."You brought back someone who once caused enormous damage to the company and gave her a senior role. We do not need that kind of foolishness in leadership."Grant was speechless.He wanted to explain, but no explanation would come.He had only wanted to stand up for Chloe and get her justice.How had things reached this point?At that moment, the chairman took a phone call and left in a hurry.The once lively banquet hall fell into an oppressive quiet.Everyone avoided looking directly at one another.Only Grant remained ro
The words he had prepared died in his throat.He stared at me, thrown. In all the time he had known me, I had never once refused him outright.Chloe, watching from beside him, felt her barely-receding tears surge back. She must have assumed Grant would hesitate now that I had turned his own move a
And what happened in the end?He took everything I had fought so hard to build, accepted it as if it were owed to him, then turned around and kicked me aside so someone else could take my place.Maybe there had been no room for me in his heart for a long time.I was the only fool still believing
"Life was hard, and people bullied me all the time. I was hungry most days. But as long as I could stay alive and see you once in a while, that was enough for me."A single tear slid down her cheek at exactly the right moment.Grant looked heartbroken.His gaze hardened, and his voice rang across
"She really took off her badge just like that?""I thought Vice President Natalie Shaw always fought her corner. Was that whole tough act fake?""What else is she supposed to do? The person firing her is Mr. Hale himself. Nobody's going to challenge the new CEO on his first day."Their whispers d
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