Chad remained perfectlyposed. "That''s not my only gift for you," he said calmly.


    "I also have a ledger of your exorbitant spending at my clubs over the past year. If I were to hand that over to the authorities, do you think the Elmsworth government might award me a ''Good Citizen'' que?"


    "Don''t... don''t! Mr. Abernathy, we can talk about this!" Sean was panicking.


    The man''s voice hardened. "The A5 Project is mine. I will have it."


    "But with the Abernathy Group under so much scrutiny, if I award you the project, it will be investigated, and I''ll be implicated!"


    "If ites to that, I may not be able to save your career, but I can ensure you live a life of luxury. But if you choose to cross me, you won''t just lose what you have. You will lose everything." Chad toyed with an antique teacup, his eyes narrowed. "You''ve worked so hard to get where you are. Can you really bear the taste of utter ruin?"


    After ending the call, Chad looked at Hans, a faint smile on his lips. "Alexia is still in custody. It will be a couple of days before she''s released. Someone needs to oversee theb. Hans, I''ll have to trouble you."


    Hans was stunned. "I failed you... You''re not going to punish me?"


    Chad''s smile was unreadable. "It wasn''t your fault. You were ambushed. Otherwise,


    I have no doubt you would have seeded."


    ...


    It wasn''t until he was back in his car that Hans realized his thin shirt was soaked with a cold sweat. He had followed Chad for years, viewing him as a savior, and had never felt fear. But now, a confusing mix of uncertainty, guilt, and anxiety had coalesced into a quiet panic that gripped his heart.


    What was he so afraid of? That Chad would see through the changes he couldn''t control?


    He lit a cigarette and floored the gas, speeding through the winding mountain roads, the suppressed emotions churning inside him. After some time, he nced at his rearview mirror and saw a ck luxury car tailing him.


    Hans''s eyes narrowed. He mmed his foot on the elerator, executing a perfect drift around a sharp curve. The screech of tires and a cloud of white smoke were all the other driver saw as Hans vanished into the distance.


    Meanwhile, at Silveke Harbor, Suri paced anxiously, her eyes glued to the tracking app on her phone. Evadne had cleared her schedule to stay by her side, trying to make amends.


    A call came in from one of her men. "Suri, the signal up here in the mountains is terrible, think I''m getting bur


    close to the target but I can


    be it''s the right person"


    "But now you''re moving away from him!" Suri cried, her voice filled with desperation.


    "I''m sorry, Suri! The guy is an incredible driver. He lost me on a sharp turn!"


    "Evadne, why would Hubery be in the mountains? Does he live there?" Suri asked.


    "Perhaps," Evadne said, deliberately omitting the fact that Chad''s private vi was likely in that area.


    "Damn it, the signal is gone!" Suri eximed.


    "Suri, stay calm. The signal is bad in


    the mountains. It wille back


    when he reaches a better area," Evadne said gently. Then, her expression grew serious. "But you have to promise me you camonly track him from a distance You cannot approach him or try to see him. Do you promise?"


    Suri nodded, her eyes filled with a sad resolve.


    *


    After his stunning appearance and swift disappearance at the press conference, Cassius went three days without sleep. He had contacted his old subordinate, Winston, and enlisted the help of Jareth and Aviana, using thebined resources of the Fairhaven Group and S-Star Group to search for Chasel in both Elmsworth and Skyrim.


    On the third night, as Cassius wandered the streets like a lost soul, he received a call from Winston.


    "Hex, you need to get over here! I found your man!" Winston''s voice was a high- pitched shriek of excitement.


    Cassius froze, his heart pounding in his chest. "Where is he?"


    "A gay bar. I''m sending you the address!"