FROM THE CONFERENCE ROOM
The board members of Veritas waited for their CEO, who had called the urgent meeting. None of them knew why they'd been summoned—especially so soon after their last session, where they'd confirmed Veritas remained the leading pharmaceutical company in the Philippines, with a growing presence across Asia and Europe.
"What do you think Mr. Penelton wants this time?" one board member couldn't help but ask his colleagues.
"Nobody can read our CEO's mind," another replied. "If Veritas weren't so successful and respected worldwide, I'd be working elsewhere. We only put up with Mr. Penelton's management style because of the generous salary and benefits." Several others nodded in agreement.
"Watch your words—you might not be here tomorrow. The last thing Mr. Penelton tolerates is betrayal behind his back."
All heads turned to the youngest board member, who leaned casually in his chair, twirling a pen between his fingers.
"Why, Mr. Scott—don't you agree with us?"
"I work here because I want to work with Mr. Penelton, not stab him in the back," Vash Scott said firmly. "I'm not in this for the money, and I didn't join just for clout because Veritas is successful."
Wilson Clemente let out a laugh, drawing Vash's gaze.
"Is something funny, Mr. Clemente?" Vash challenged, his eyes sharp.
"Your devotion to Veritas just because you admire Mr. Penelton—it's amusing," Mr. Clemente said, capturing everyone's attention. "If you knew what lies beneath his true character, you'd all be running for the door."
"Oh? What if I do know, Mr. Clemente?" Vash smiled just as the conference room doors swung open. Elijah Penelton entered, followed by his secretary, Natalia Fuentes.
The board members scrambled to straighten their posture as Elijah took his seat at the head of the table.
"What's the reason for this meeting, Mr. Penelton?" asked a member close to him.
"Han International Hospital will become our direct consumer starting next month," Elijah announced. "I won't have us disappointing their director, who will be visiting this week. I expect all of you to be fully prepared."
Excitement lit up the board members' faces—Han International was one of the biggest clients they could land.
"I can see you're pleased," Elijah said, his tone turning cold. "So do your jobs properly, and save your backstabbing for someone who cares."
"If you're only here for the damn salary and benefits, prove you deserve them first," he added, leaning back in his chair without a hint of emotion. "You may all leave now—except Mr. Clemente and Mr. Scott."
The board members stood immediately and filed out. Elijah turned to his secretary: "Leave us, Ms. Fuentes. You're dismissed."
"Of course, sir. Should I bring anything to your daughter in your office?"
"Don't bother my daughter or my wife while they're in my office," he said without looking at her. Natalia said nothing more and exited the room.
"Why did you keep us behind, Mr. Penelton?" Mr. Clemente asked, only to meet Elijah's icy stare.
"How does it feel to invade my territory and act as Mancini's mole—reporting every move I make, every place I go? Does it amuse you, Mr. Clemente?"
"What are you talking about? Who is this Mancini you're mentioning? Mr. Scott might think—"
"Playing clueless, I see." Elijah stood and walked to the table, sitting on its edge beside Mr. Clemente. "Scott, let's commend the fucking guts of this spy—he slipped into Veritas without either of us noticing."
Vash's brow furrowed as he looked at Mr. Clemente. "It's my fault, Il Capo. He slipped through the cracks. No wonder the enemy knew every plan and destination. What do you intend to do about him?"
"W-Wait, Mr. Scott—you know about Mr. Penelton being a—a—"
"—Mafia don? Of course I do. I'm with the Senza Pietá—an associate tasked to join the board. I told you I knew the truth about our CEO." Vash grinned, cutting him off.
Mr. Clemente tried to stand, but Elijah slammed his face down onto the table before he could move an inch.
"Your time as a spy ends here," Elijah said coldly as Vash rose from his seat.
"What will you do now that you've exposed me? You wouldn't dare kill me inside your own company!" Mr. Clemente snarled as Vash handed something to Elijah.
"You think I won't?"
"Kill me here, and your employees will learn their respected CEO is a murderer! They'll—"
"—They won't care. To them, you're just another board member. Once you're gone, no one will give you a second thought. Care to bet on that?" Elijah cut him off, his voice like ice. Vash pulled a cloth from his pocket.
"Once Mancini finds out—mmph!" Mr. Clemente's words were muffled as Vash tied the cloth over his mouth.
"Mancini is already in my custody. I'll deal with him after I finish here. Don't worry—I won't stain my conference room with your blood." Elijah pulled out a syringe—one Vash had given him moments earlier.
"So that's what you wanted me to fetch from the lab, Il Capo," Vash said, gripping Mr. Clemente and hauling him to his feet.
Mr. Clemente struggled against Vash's hold, but his strength was no match.
"You're lucky, Mr. Clemente," Elijah said. "You'll be the first to test my new formulation. It will mimic sudden cardiac arrest—painless, unlike what Mancini will face. Consider yourself fortunate."
Mr. Clemente's face drained of color as he thrashed against Vash's grip. Without hesitation, Elijah plunged the syringe into his neck and emptied its contents.
Vash released him, and Mr. Clemente crumpled to his knees on the floor.
"Handle the rest of this mess, Scott," Elijah said, dropping the syringe beside the man now convulsing slightly. He turned and walked out, leaving Vash to manage the scene.
BACK AT THE CEO'S OFFICE
As Elijah approached his office, the door swung open. His wife, Samara, emerged dragging Natalia by the arm—then shoved her hard enough to send the secretary crashing to the floor.
Natalia spotted him instantly, scrambling to her feet and rushing toward him.
"Boss! I didn't do anything wrong! Your wife just grabbed me and pushed me—I only brought snacks for your daughter, but she was so rude to me!" She sobbed against his back, though he made no move to comfort her.
"So now you're the victim?" Samara scoffed, making Natalia shrink further behind him.
"She's being violent, boss…" Natalia whimpered, reaching for his arm, but he stepped away and went to Samara instead.
"What happened, darling?" he asked, though he could see the fury burning in her eyes as she pointed at Natalia.
"That secretary of yours—she deliberately spilled her drink on Veronica's drawing! She ruined our daughter's art!" Samara lunged forward, only for Elijah to wrap an arm around her waist.
"Let me go, Elijah! I'm going to rip her hair out!"
"Sh-She's lying, boss! The glass just slipped—I didn't mean to ruin your daughter's work!" Natalia cried, her fake tears doing nothing to calm Samara.
"You two-faced bitch!"
"Enough, darling," Elijah said, but Samara spun to face him with a glare.
"Don't tell me you're taking her side—when it's obvious she's been after you this whole time!"
"Never. I'm always on your side." He shot Natalia a look that made her freeze in place. "I told you not to disturb my family, didn't I, Ms. Fuentes?"
"I-I only brought your daughter something to drink! I didn't mean any harm…"
"I let it slide when your cousin ruined our daughter's art before," Samara interrupted sharply. "I even ignored how you call my husband 'Eli' and moon over him like some lovesick schoolgirl. But making my baby cry again—that's the last straw!"
Elijah turned to Natalia, his voice low and dangerous. "You did what?"
"N-None of this is true! Why is your wife accusing me of this?"
"My wife doesn't lie. Stop—"
"Let me go, Elijah." Samara's voice was firm.
"But darling—"
"Either let me go, or you're sleeping on the couch tonight. Choose."
Elijah released her immediately. Samara charged at Natalia, grabbing handfuls of her hair as the secretary shrieked and begged for help. Elijah pulled out his phone and called HR.
"Hire me a male secretary effective immediately," he told the manager who answered. "Ms. Fuentes is terminated from all positions at Veritas."
He hung up and watched as Samara vented her anger, making no move to stop her.
"My wife is still the same firecracker I fell in love with," he murmured, then called out gently, "Darling—be careful not to hurt yourself, okay?"
Samara let out a frustrated huff but continued until she'd had her fill, leaving Natalia disheveled and humiliated.