Bearing the searing pain on her cheeks, Genesis squeezed a smile for Ryken. “Chief Commander Santigo, your goal is to help Kaze. “In that case, can we just forget about the whole thing?” Genesis wanted to end things and leave the place quickly. She got nothing done today, and to top it off, she got embarrassed. She just wanted to get out of there.“Forget about the whole thing?” Ryken said curtly, “You won’t forget the whole thing if I’m not here today. “Didn’t you set Mr. Lee up as the primary suspect for the explosion? What if you go after him once I’m out of the room?” Genesis grimaced. The thought had crossed her mind. Once Ryken was gone, she could kill Kaze under the charge of resisting arrest. Ryken might make a big fuss about it, but what was done would be done. Kaze would be dead, and there was no way around it. “You got the wrong idea about me, Chief Commander Santigo. I’m not that type of person.” Genesis said with an apologetic smile, “I have always
“Do you think an apology will cut it?” Ryken asked with a blank face. Miya gritted her teeth and moved her knees to face Kaze. She said, “You have my word that St. Mary’s will be yours. I won’t go back on my word again. “Please ask Chief Commander Santigo to let me and my family off the hook. Please!” Kaze said callously, “Anyone can talk a big game. I’ll believe you when you sign the equity transfer contract.” “Fine. I’ll put my name on the document now.” Grasping on the lifeline, Miya told her sidekick to prepare the document. Kaze’s gaze fell on Genesis. “What about you? How do you plan on making things right for me?” With Ryken narrowing his eyes at her, Genesis gritted her teeth and replied, “The case of the dust explosion is officially closed.” “Case closed? That’s just empty talk.” Kaze smiled offhandedly. Gnashing her teeth, Genesis raised her firearm at Bengla. Since Kaze did not stop her, she pulled the trigger without hesitation. “Bang!” The bullet h
Not taking Kaze’s demand lying down, Genesis said with a smirk, “Come on. Show me how you’re going to do it.”“I gave you a chance. You didn’t want it, so don’t blame me for what’s to come.” Kaze shook his head. Without another word, he approached Genesis. Genesis did not expect Kaze to follow through. With a grimace, she raised her gun. “Try me, Kaze. Are you faster than my gun?” “Crack!” Immediately, Kaze reached out to grab Genesis’ arm.Before Genesis could pull the trigger, Kaze gave a squeeze and snapped her arm in half. “Crack!”A sickening fracture echoed as Genesis cried out in agony. Kaze swiftly snatched the gun from her grasp and slapped her hard in the face. “Thud!” Knocked off her feet, Genesis slammed into a wall and crashed to the ground in anguish. “Lee…” It took a struggle for Genesis to lift her discolored face. She widened her bloodshot eyes and looked at Kaze in terror. She was surprised by Kaze’s strength. Genesis had undergone the Tiger’s
With Genesis’ brutal ending fresh in her mind, Miya was terrified of Kaze. Revenge was the last thing on her mind right now. Kaze glanced at the contract before dumping it on the side. He said indifferently, “Go back and tell that guy that I have never done anything to him, so he better stay away from me. “Otherwise, I don’t mind reducing the number of the so-called Riverbank Seven.” Dread washed over Miya. Still, she nodded subserviently without another word. She could not commit to either side, so she said nothing. “Get lost.” Kaze waved his arm, driving Miya and her crew away. “Let’s go.” Ryken nodded at Kaze before leaving with two members of the Flying Dragons. Kaze, Kent, and Welson found themselves in the trashed office. Since someone else would take care of the cleanup, Kaze and Kent went outside. Kaze said with a smile, “Thank you for your help, Mayor Synder. You came all the way to lend a hand.”“Don’t be a stranger to me, Kaze. I didn’t do much. Chief
“Alright. If Hunter starts something, I have your back, Kaze.” Kent said, “But I hope you won’t let this sidetrack you. Sanwell Finances and its network is the greater threat. “I’m pleading to you because Riverbank’s future is at stake.” Kent looked at Kaze earnestly. When Kent first became mayor, he was ambitious to do something for the public by addressing the issues with Sanwell Finances. However, he quickly realized that there was only so much he could do as mayor. Devastatingly, none of the local entities were on Kent’s side. Though the Yaphets had expressed their support, they did not do much to show it. In fact, the family was divided on the matter. Welson belonged to one of the few Yaphets who championed behind Kent. The opposing family members were indifferent to the whole thing. Kent had almost given up hope. There had been multiple assassination attempts, and Kent nearly died from poison. His daughter almost lost her life too. Kaze then showed up and
“Bring Buffy home now, Jude. Punish her in accordance with the family rules.“Spare no expenses and resources to kill Kaze too.“If you can’t do it, I’ll have the Krads do it.“I can’t stand to see him alive. He’ll be the death of me before I die of my illness.” Despite Faith’s effort to keep her composure, she got riled up at the mention of Kaze and Buffy. Since marrying Jude, Faith ran the household. Buffy would not dream of defying Faith. However, the dynamics changed the minute Kaze showed up. With Kaze’s help, Buffy had the nerve to dominate Faith. Faith was too proud to allow that to happen. Jude said with a wry smile, “Do you think I don’t want to, Faith? I spent 100 million dollars to get Alfonso here with the intention of disposing of him once he has served his purpose. No one can accuse us of anything since we didn’t do anything directly.“But we have underestimated Kaze. “He knocked Alfonso out with one hit. What am I supposed to do? “Before meeting with
Jude was cold-blooded, saying things that should not come from a father. This was Jude’s true colors. He had always been a self-serving hypocrite who would sacrifice anyone for his personal gain and power.“You’re the best, Jude. Hahaha. “Since your precious daughter loves Kaze, the lovebirds can die as a couple. “Argh…” Amused, Faith smiled smugly. However, the smile on her face became stiff as she crashed back into bed. Something was off with Faith. Her expression was as stiff as a doll’s. Her once-animated hands now moved mechanically while clawing at Jude. The arrogance disappeared in Faith’s eyes as terror washed over her. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she cried with her last bit of strength, “Save me, Jude! “Beg Kaze! Give him everything! “Do it now! I don’t want to die!” … “Kaze.” As Kaze walked out of the precinct, a Maybach pulled up, and Dayton got out to open the door for Kaze. Without another word, Kaze sat in the back and turned to Buff
“Stop the chatter!” Jude jolted back to reality as Holfman and Kaze chatted. He drew close eagerly. “Please examine Faith, Kaze. “She was sleeping fine from last night to an hour ago. Her vital signs were stable. “But she suddenly stiffened up after she woke up and had a brief conversation with me. The last time, she had control over half of her body, but she can barely speak now.“Strange enough, she had a seizure, and a smile remained plastered on her face. Her facial muscles seem paralyzed. “I’m worried that she would be brain-dead at this rate,” Jude said with bloodshot eyes.The deputy chief of the Viper’s Den South River State Branch had been through a lot. However, nothing drained him like Faith’s illness. His ex-wife, Tulip, was in a coma for over a decade. Her life was put on hold in a nursing home. Jude understood the ordeal too well. He did not want to see Faith in such a state. Most importantly, Jude would lose his tie to the Krads if Faith was brain-dea
The incident did not sit well with Kaze, so he left them out to dry. After much searching, Kaze came across a café. Kaze bought a cup of coffee. Cupping the drink between his hands, Kaze sipped slowly. Many passengers swarmed the arrival hall in the airport, dragging along their luggage or pulling out their phones to get a pick-up. They all had a destination, a place they had to be in a rush. Intrigued, Kaze followed the crowd out. Kaze turned on his phone, and a text message from his airport pick-up came in. He glanced at the message, curious about who the person was. Nevertheless, Kaze trusted that the Westeros Branch members would not set him up out in the open. At most, they would pull little stunts to mess with him. Kaze was not the type to sweat the small stuff. However, he would not tolerate any extreme behavior. He had been keeping a low profile back in Butterworth, keeping the limelight off him. The purpose was to handle Jet without unnecessary complicati
“Alright. I will work hard to be the manager of the Northborn Group. You need to show me the ropes and teach me about management.” Leah looked at Katie with a smile. She believed Katie had not lost her mind. Katie simply had her memory mixed up. “You need to keep your people in line and reward those who deserve it. It all boils down to profits. “You need to work toward managing your people and working with rivals. You’ve got to keep the balance, and nobody loses out. “You need to build your own system when it comes to working together. Don’t be led around by the nose.” Hearing that Leah would start work soon, Katie imparted her knowledge. “Don’t worry too much about things. Joey is nice. You can go to her for help,” Katie said earnestly. Katie seemed to be herself at the moment. Leah wondered if Katie faked her insanity to escape the punishment. “What have become of you? Did they do something to you? “Did you really betray Kaze?” Leah whispered while leaning close
Leah kept working on her knowledge until late into the night. Just as she was about to hit the sack, she got a message from Snow. Learning was a hard enough process. The text message came out of the blue. Leah did not expect Snow to contact her at night. The message was strange as well. Leah could not understand why Snow would give her the address of a nursing home. Leah was determined to turn things around. She strived to become stronger instead of being a burden. She was grateful for Kaze’s help. At least, she had a job now. However, her gratitude was not extended to Snow. She believed Snow had gone too far. Snow left her feeling powerless. Leah did not think much about the message. She assumed that the text was not meant for her. Since Leah did not respond to the text, Snow put the matter aside and went to bed. Leah called Snow the next day. “Why did you send me an address?” Leah went straight to the question. She had been equipping herself with knowledge before
Snow could not believe her eyes. Katie suddenly went quiet and behaved like the CEO she was.However, Katie did not look like she was right in the mind earlier. “What’s going on? She seems to have gone insane.” Snow turned to the warden, still digesting the change. Katie had lost touch with reality before the Viper’s Den did anything to her. “How did this happen? She has been taking her meals. Just days earlier, she nagged about getting out because she was worried about her daughter. As usual, we didn’t respond to her requests.” The warden found the whole thing peculiar too. Just a few days ago, Katie demanded her release. Now, she kept to herself and abided by the rules. Out of the blue, Katie went nuts. Things had gotten complicated. Snow wanted to keep Katie behind bars due to her betrayal. However, Kaze decided against pursuing the matter for Leah’s sake. Katie would be let go soon enough, but she would lose her job at the Northborn Group. Katie’s presence woul
It was quiet in the office. Snow sorted the last bit of paperwork before picking her head up in exhaustion. Her initial plan was to delegate the tasks. However, Katie was controlling. Previously, she personally oversaw many matters. Snow could not distribute the responsibilities because the employees had no experience in handling them. They came to Snow for every tiny, little thing, and Snow really got her hands full. Despite her frustration, Snow could let things go as Katie was locked up. “I should pay her visit.” Snow decided to see Katie. Some things should not be left unsaid. Leah would be working for the Northborn Group soon, and the mother and daughter should meet to tie up loose ends. The truth would put Leah to shame, and her guilt would stop her from ever betraying Kaze. After a quick bite, Snow drove to the prison. Katie was furious when she was imprisoned. She was one step away from victory. She was so close to leaving Butterworth to head to Westeros
“Why do you want to sell the properties? Do you need money? Don’t you have some saved?” Joey had a good understanding of Leah’s finances since she ran all the paperwork. “My mother is being held, and I need money to ask favors. Maybe I can get her out.” Leah was not thinking much. Money could always be replaced, but not her mother’s freedom. “Don’t be silly. This is not the way to go.” Though Joey did not have the details, she observed that things were not as simple as Leah thought. Kaze was safe now, but the fact that Katie had betrayed Kaze and revealed his whereabouts remained unchanged. Katie had broken the Viper’s Den’s rules. Even if she got out, she would be a wreck. With Snow running the Northborn Group, Katie would remain a failure. Either way, Katie would not get away with it. Even if Leah offered all her assets, Katie’s situation would not change. It was a waste of money and resources for Leah to save her mother. Nothing would come out of it. “But I
“Give me an answer. Are you taking the job? If you are, you should sort out your affairs. Don’t bring your personal feelings to work.” Snow was not the type to go easy on fragile women. If Leah did not have what it took, she could be forced to leave the company. Nevertheless, Katie had left a lot of assets to Leah. Even without work, Leah could very well survive. The girl would have trouble keeping the wealth, seeing that she was without power or connections. If Leah had a job, she would have the resources to hold onto her assets. Leah had seen the best and worst of mankind. She was once the center of attention, and now, everybody avoided her. It dawned on Leah that it was over for Katie. If Leah could not even keep a job, she would lose everything. “I didn’t know things would happen.” Leah never thought that Katie was capable of stabbing Kaze and her in the back. The thought of betrayal put Leah in distress. Kaze was a great guy who helped Leah a lot. Feeling ete
Leah got dressed and was ready to leave, but she did not know who to turn to. She thought about going to her wealthy friends to see if they could uncover anything through their connections. However, Leah could not get a hold of them. It dawned on Leah that loyalty would fade when power was gone. Even though Katie was just missing, intel spread around Butterworth very quickly. These people must have found out and have chosen to stay away. Leah had always been treated like royalty. Nobody had ever avoided her like the plague. Nevertheless, she had not been in touch with these friends since her injury. Now, in her attempt to contact them, she could not reach them. “Why is this happening? My good friends have gone MIA, and I’m getting silence from those who have been trying to connect.” Sitting on the couch, Leah looked out the window in despair. She tried to seek help with her mother’s search, but her efforts were futile. She could do nothing for her mother. All al
“I have to work hard starting today. But before that, I have to get some sleep.” Snow remembered that Kaze punished her to get some sleep. He said her face looked tired and pale, signs of how hard she had been working. It felt great being cared for. It was because of his kindness, Snow fell for Kaze uncontrollably. Yet she understood not all things were meant to be. After she returned home, she went to sleep immediately without talking to anyone. She only woke up in the afternoon after a comfortable and easy sleep. Next, she would have to work on many things, first being taking over Northborn Group. Katie’s disappearance had the company shaken, but it gave many others a chance. They tried to calm their subordinates down and contact the higher-ups for more information, hoping that they could replace Katie as the new CEO. Little did they know, their preparations would eventually fall short. Snow and her secretary arrived at Northborn Group in the afternoon, and her a