Chapter 2 : Better we hide than face him

“Are they trying to disgrace me even more?” Mr. Creed muttered under his breath, his face twisted with anger.

Before he could take a few steps out of the company’s building, a sea of reporters and flashing cameras descended on him like vultures. The barrage of questions hit him from all sides.

“Mr. Creed, we just heard your partnership with Hansol Group Corporation has been terminated! How does it feel, considering the fact that you’ve been working with them for over 18 years? Since this company actually started, do you think the ex-chairman’s son is trying to bring you down after all your hard work?”

Creed’s eyes darkened with fury as his guards quickly stepped in, blocking the crowd from getting too close. With a firm grip on his arm, they guided him toward his car, clearing the path as best they could. But the questions kept coming, swirling around him like a storm he couldn’t escape.

“Mr. Creed, is this the end of your legacy with the company, or should I rather say the fall of your leadership?”

His steps halted just as the door of his sleek black car was opened. He turned to face them, his jaw clenched and his eyes burning with rage. The reporters fell silent, waiting for a response.

Mr. Green, Anderson’s personal assistant, had just arrived from a meeting and stood among the reporters, confused and wondering what was going on…

“Just like I helped build this company…” Mr. Creed began to speak, his voice low but dangerous as he looked up at the towering building in front of him. “I can take it all down.”

Without another word, he slipped into his car, and one guard slammed the door closed. The car sped off, leaving the reporters in stunned silence as their microphones hung in the air.

Mr. Green froze on the spot, his eyes widening with disbelief and fear.

“Holy crap!” Mr. Green whispered as his hands trembled slightly.

Without wasting another second, he rushed to the entrance of the building, pushing past the lingering crowd of reporters.

Inside the building, his heart pounded as he hurried through the lobby. Just as Mr. Green reached the executive floor, he saw Mr. Anderson stepping out of the conference room, looking composed as he finished his meeting.

“Sir, what was that?” he stammered, his voice barely steady. “Is the Chairman aware that you were going to terminate the partnership with Creed like that?

Anderson checked his watch and continued walking, not bothering to listen to Mr. Green.

Mr. Green hurried to keep pace. “Sir, I mean, don’t you think you should have consulted your dad before going on with it...?”

“Get the private jet ready. We are leaving for Japan in the next five hours,” Anderson said without breaking stride, his steps quickening as he left Mr. Green behind.

“I’m... I’m definitely going to lose my job,” he whispered, his voice on the verge of tears as he watched Anderson march away.

….…………………………………

Inside Mr Valtor Anderson 12M mansion

“Julia! Julia!” Mr. Valtor’s voice boomed through the walls of the mansion. “What am I hearing?” he growled, his footsteps heavy as he paced back and forth.

Julia, his wife, rushed into the room, her eyes wide with concern. “What is it, Valtor? What’s happening?”

“Have you checked the news? I’ve received thousands of text messages, my phone is frozen from the number of calls coming through... Never in my 50 years,” Mr. Valtor spat, his voice rising as his hands gestured wildly, “have I been this humiliated... by my own child!” He slammed a fist down onto the table, causing the glassware to rattle.

Mrs. Julia flinched at his tone, her crystal glass chain jangling softly as she moved.

“What has Ethan done?” she asked, her voice filled with concern.

“It is better for us to hide like cowards than to stand tall at the warfront. Who would have thought I’d water and nurture what would send me to my own grave…” Mr. Valtor’s voice cracked with bitterness.

….…….

In Anderson Lamboghini

S-sir, the Chairman is calling,” Mr. Green said, trembling as he stretched out the phone toward Anderson.

Anderson glanced down at the phone and leaned back. “Don’t pick it up,” he said coolly.

“Uh… sir, I shouldn’t pick up the Chairman’s call?” Mr. Green hesitated, confusion flickering across his face.

“He’s calling again... please, take it,” Mr. Green pleaded.

“Did you not hear me? I said don’t pick it up,” Anderson replied sharply, snatching the phone from Green’s grasp and turning it off.

Mr. Green’s eyes widened, his mouth agape with shock.

….………………………………………

Ryan’s ghetto

His hands traced the curves of her body as her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer, their breaths mingling in the charged air between them.

Ryan’s lips trailed down her neck, while Lena clutched the sheets beneath her, feeling like she was losing herself in the heat of the moment. He whispered her name, his voice husky and low, as if it were a vow between them.

But then, just as their lips met in a fiery kiss, Lena’s phone rang. They ignored the call as her hands reached in Ryan’s hair again, and he continued to explore her neck with gentle kisses.

But the phone rang again, the sound piercing through the room.

Ryan reached over the phone and managed to mute it from the side while his other hand still roamed over her body.

For a moment, they paused, hoping it wouldn’t ring again. But it did, louder this time.

Lena groaned in frustration as she sat up in bed. “Can this annoying woman leave me alone for once?” she muttered, gesturing for Ryan to keep quiet.

He gave her a playful smirk, his lips still brushing softly along her collarbone as she picked up the phone.

Her tone shifted instantly, and her expression transformed into a bright, almost sickeningly sweet smile.

“Yes, my beautiful, elegant, sweet mother-in-law,” Lena cooed into the phone, doing her best to mask any trace of annoyance in her voice, while Ryan continued to kiss her neck.