Chapter 2

When Martin entered, Dexter immediately released his grip, his expression quickly shifting. "Mr. Clarke, what brings you here today? You should've given me a heads—"

"I don't need to report my schedule to you."

Martin didn't seem to notice Dexter's frozen reaction. He walked straight over to my side and said anxiously, "Liam, you're finally back! Why didn't you ask me to pick you up?"

I wiped the blood from my mouth and scoffed. "If I had let you know, I wouldn't have seen this show today."

The security guard standing nearby looked uncertain. "Mr. Brooks, do we keep going?"

Before Dexter could respond, Martin shouted angrily, "What are you trying to do? You want to lay a hand on the successor of Zeltra Corp? Who gave you the guts?"

Dexter gritted his teeth but didn't look flustered. "Mr. Clarke, Ms. Spencer has made it clear that your involvement in corporate decisions is no longer required. It would be best if you kept your nose out of this.

"Also, I don't know how you know this idiot, but please don't make jokes like that. Ms. Spencer won't like it."

Martin spat on the floor. "A coward hiding behind power trying to show off in front of me? Get lost!"

Dexter's expression darkened, his teeth grinding together in frustration.

I pulled Martin aside and asked quietly, "What's going on here?"

He sighed, looking helpless. "Since you left, everything's changed around here."

It turned out that after I was sent abroad, Ella had used the access I'd given her to take control of the company. She'd also manipulated the board to sideline Martin completely.

Under her management, the company had completely transformed. What was once a respectable pharmaceutical company was now a chaotic mess.

I frowned. "Didn't you try to stop it?"

Martin looked even more frustrated. "Ella wouldn't listen. She said you and I were just friends, so I had no say. She even told me you were just a scientist with no authority over any of this."

Right. To Ella, I was just a regular pharmaceutical scientist.

As the successor to Zeltra Corp, my parents taught me never to trust outsiders, especially after I was kidnapped for ransom as a child. That left me with trauma.

I had planned to share the good news with her after my assignment, but now, it didn't seem worth it.

Martin clapped me on the shoulder. "At least you came back in time. I think this mess is about to end. By the way, did your drug research make any progress?"

My eyes lit up at that. "I've made a breakthrough. I'll present it at the company's annual general meeting."

Dexter, who had been listening nearby, sneered mockingly. "You think you can attend the general meeting? Who do you think you are? Also, you're fired. Even if you weren't, there's no way someone like you would ever get a chance to meet the chairman."

I sensed something was off. "What do you mean by that?"

Dexter puffed out his chest proudly. "The annual general meeting is the big chance to shine in front of the HQ. Of course, I'll be the one attending."

I blurted out, "You? You don't deserve the chance!"

The candidates for the annual general meeting were meticulously vetted every year. Ella had to know exactly how much Dexter was worth.

If he messed up, my father, Adam Wagner, wouldn't cut him any slack just because of me.

It seemed like Ella really loved Dexter.

At that thought, I lowered my head and sent a quick message to Dad. "Dad, I'm back in Eblana. Please come over to the subsidiary."

Just as I hit send, Dexter swung his fist at me again, but Martin blocked it. "Dexter, know your place! This is a company! Act accordingly!"

Dexter's face flushed with rage as he gritted his teeth, glaring at us. "Fine, then, Mr. Clarke."

He turned and made a phone call from the corner.

When he came back, a wicked grin stretched across his face. "Sorry, Mr. Clarke. Ms. Spencer just informed me that you've been fired."