Chapter 90

“Marvel, have you investigated Varga and Arwin Holt?” Leonel asked, sitting in his large, imposing chair.

“Yes, Sir,” Marvel replied.

“What are the results?” Leonel inquired.

“I couldn’t find those identities. However, there is a name of one of Jordan Valchev’s men with that alias,” Marvel explained.

Leonel narrowed his eyes, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest of his chair. A cold glint flickered in his gaze, signaling the rapid pace of his thoughts.

“I see,” Leonel muttered softly. “Jordan is trying to infiltrate under an alias.”

Marvel bowed slightly, then added, “It seems that the names Varga and Arwin Holt are being used as shields, Sir. Their true identities remain tightly hidden. However, there are records of fund movements leading to Valchev’s network. That cannot be a coincidence.”

Leonel snorted coldly. “Jordan always operates from the shadows. He thinks I won’t notice. William and Dimitri clearly did this with Jordan’s help. They think I’m stupid!” His gaze fixed on the large glass window behind his desk, where snow continued to fall gently.

Leonel clenched his fists on the table, his jaw tightening. “If they think they can play me by hiding the identities of those dirty pawns, they are gravely mistaken.”

Marvel straightened his posture. “Your orders, Sir?”

“Destroy one of Valchev’s companies and his project. Make them suffer a huge loss. Sabotage his black-market operations, so Jordan will stop meddling in my affairs!” Leonel said, his voice filled with vengeance.

Marvel bowed respectfully. “Understood, Sir. I will organize the operation immediately.”

Leonel rose from his chair, standing tall before the large window. The snow outside reflected a pale light, as if bearing silent witness to the cold decision he had just made. His gaze pierced the horizon, yet his mind focused on one name: Jordan Valchev.

“Make it look like a market accident,” Leonel continued without turning. “Leave no trace pointing back to me. I want him to feel loss, to realize that every step he takes is under my shadow.”

Marvel quickly noted it down. “Understood, Sir. I’ll assign the Shadowline team for this operation. In a few days, Jordan will lose one of his business pillars.”

Leonel exhaled deeply, his voice heavy but resolute. “Good. If Valchev thinks he can infiltrate my territory, I’ll show him that every pawn he sends will crumble before touching the board.”

For a moment, the room fell silent. Only the ticking of the clock echoed slowly but pressing. Leonel bowed his head, his fingers clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Beneath the firmness of his orders, another flame of emotion still gnawed at him. The image of Jeslyn in Jefran’s embrace flickered through his mind, mingled with his anger toward Jordan and William. Two different wounds, yet both burning in his chest.

“Leave, Marvel,” Leonel finally said, his voice lower.

Marvel bowed once again. “Yes, Sir.” He turned and left the office, leaving Leonel alone with his stormy thoughts.

Leonel closed his eyes, trying to regulate his breathing and calm the emotions that were about to explode.

“Damn it! Did our plan fail again?” William shouted, striking the glass table in front of him until it cracked. His face was flushed red, veins on his neck bulging.

Jordan at the far end of the room glared coldly, yet his eyes burned with anger. “It didn’t just fail, William. I lost big. Tons of my merchandise were burned to ashes, gone just like that. And I’m certain Leonel is behind this.” His voice was hoarse from holding back emotion. “Instead of profiting from Clovies, I suffered major losses. Do you know the value of that merchandise?”

William gritted his teeth. “Don’t blame me alone! We planned this thoroughly. Do you think I’m happy seeing it fail?!”

Dimitri, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. His tone was calm but loaded with pressure. “Arguing won’t bring the burned goods back. What we need to think about now is how to retaliate against Leonel.”

Jordan’s gaze sharpened on him. “You’re calm because it wasn’t your money lost. I lost a fortune, Dimitri. And I won’t stand by.”

William turned quickly. “Then what? You want to attack Leonel head-on? You know who he is. His power isn’t just money, but influence. We could be destroyed before even touching him.”

Jordan smiled wickedly, though it was more like the growl of a wounded wolf. “That’s exactly why we won’t attack directly. We’ll take something more valuable from him. If he really destroyed my goods, I’ll make him regret it.”

Dimitri frowned. “You mean… Jeslyn?”

Jordan’s smile widened, cunning and vengeful. “Yes. Everyone knows Leonel can’t hide his weakness. He can lose his business empire and still stand, but if he loses that woman—” Jordan lowered his gaze to the table, then raised it with a dangerous look. “Leonel will be shattered.”

William went silent, a flicker of doubt in his eyes, but his anger and ego covered it. “Then we must act fast before he strikes again.”

Dimitri exhaled deeply, then smirked. “If this is the path, I’ll join. Let’s make Leonel feel the same pain, or worse.”

The atmosphere in the room grew cold and heavy, as if the air itself held its breath at the dark plan just decided.

“Prepare some men to take the girl, Jeslyn,” Jordan ordered sharply.

“Sir, as you predicted, they’ve suffered significant losses,” Blade reported.

Leonel smirked. “Good. I like seeing them fail repeatedly,” he said calmly, swirling the chocolate liquid in his glass.

“Sir, forgive me for speaking boldly, but why not just kill them? Jordan and Dimitri have been trying to defeat and harm you for years,” Blade asked.

“Death is too generous for them, Blade. This is revenge. Whatever they plan, I’ll make sure it never succeeds,” Leonel replied with a grin. “Even if William joins now, it won’t change anything. I’ve cut his access at Clovies, and we’ll monitor their movements continuously. The same goes for Jefran’s actions,” Leonel continued. “I still trust Jefran, he knows nothing. So I’ll guide him to succeed at Clovies, regardless of his parents.”

“You’re too kind, Sir,” Blade said.

“Kind?” Leonel scoffed. “No, Blade. I am the devil here. I will make them lose and fail repeatedly, until they’re frustrated and destroyed by their own actions. They will never defeat me. This is true revenge, Blade—playing them and letting them die in ruin and despair.”

Blade fell silent, a mix of awe and fear in his eyes. He knew Leonel was not just a cold businessman in the corporate world. Leonel was a predator who relished the hunt, not just the outcome.

Leonel slowly sipped from his crystal glass, then set it down. His cold smile never faded. “They will feel hell on earth, Blade. That’s more painful than death. Death is too valuable for them.”

The door to Leonel’s office opened again. Marvel entered swiftly, his face tenser than usual.

“Sir,” Marvel called, his tone serious.

Leonel turned. “What now?” he asked coldly.

Marvel bowed slightly before reporting, “I just received an update from the surveillance team. Miss Jeslyn’s car is heading to her private villa. However, several other vehicles appear to be tailing her from a distance.”

Leonel’s expression changed instantly. His eyes sharpened, his jaw tightened. “What?” His voice hoarse with restrained anger.

“Yes, Sir. The vehicles are keeping a safe distance, but it’s clearly unusual. We cannot confirm who is inside yet.”

Leonel slammed his hand on the desk, sending several documents flying. “Why report this only now?!”

Marvel lowered his head. “I apologize, Sir. I immediately dispatched a team to monitor—”

“No need! I’ll go myself,” Leonel interrupted sharply. He grabbed his long black coat, moving with precision as if the fire within him could not wait even a second.

Marvel hesitated. “Sir, it’s dangerous. If it really is Valchev’s men tailing her, they may have set a trap.”

Leonel turned sharply, his gaze like a blade slicing through the air. “It’s even more dangerous if something happens to Jeslyn while I sit here. I won’t allow that.”

Without another moment, Leonel strode out of his office. Blade immediately followed, eyes vigilant on his master.

“Prepare the car. Now,” Leonel ordered coldly.

***