"Enough mocking," Sunshine warned playfully, tapping her shoulder.
Ciara only giggled, leaning closer. "Fine. But just know when he comes back, I expect a full update." She teased.
Ciara picked up a magazine from the table and playfully tossed it at Sunshine. It missed her completely, landing on the floor instead sending a whole stack of flyers and business cards fluttering everywhere.
"Look at the mess you've made for me," Sunshine groaned as she stood up to clean the scattered papers.
"Hahaha! Oh please, this is just the beginning!" Ciara laughed loudly, clutching her stomach.
But her laughter faded when she noticed Sunshine crouched there for too long, staring at one of the magazines.
"Sunshine? Are you okay?" Ciara asked, stepping closer. Sunshine didn't answer immediately.
She simply lifted the magazine and pointed at a man on the cover, a handsome man with sharp eyes and a calm expression.
"Do you know who this is?" she finally asked, her voice low.
Ciara leaned in. "Is that what's got you so quiet?"
"He looks familiar," Sunshine whispered. "I just… don't know where I've seen him before."
Ciara tapped her chin. "He must be the chairman's son. I heard my brother saying Ivan Del deserved to be featured for his good work."
"Really?" Sunshine's eyes widened slightly.
Ciara nodded. Sunshine bit her lip, staring at the photo again.
"I really want to meet him one day… Can you help me?" she asked, eyes big and hopeful.
"Awn, no, no, no. Don't look at me like that," Ciara said, waving dramatically. "That pity look won't work on me." She grabbed her bag and headed for the door.
"Really?!" Sunshine shouted after her.
"Really," Ciara replied with a mischievous grin. "Goodnight, my future sister-in-law!" She blew a teasing kiss and shut the door behind her.
Later that night…
Sunshine sat alone in the quiet room, tapping her fingers anxiously. Hansen had called to say he couldn't make it home because he was buried in meetings.
"Mmmh…" she exhaled, sinking into the chair with mixed, complicated feelings.
Her gaze wandered until it landed on a laptop sitting alone on the table untouched since morning. Curiosity sparked. She pushed up slowly, took the laptop to the bed, and switched it on.
She typed Ivan Del into the search bar.
When the screen loaded, all she saw was an old photograph, an outdated image of Ivan standing beside his father.
"That's it?" she muttered. "Damn it." She clenched her fist against the mattress in frustration.
Still, she scribbled down the company's address and what appeared to be his home address.
"I need to find a way to meet him," she whispered. "He… he looks too much like someone I once knew."
Before going to sleep, Hansen called again.
She ignored it.
He called once.
Twice.
Five times.
Ten.
But Sunshine didn't answer not even once.
Soon after, footsteps approached the door. Sunshine quickly set the phone on the bedside table, jumped onto the bed, and pulled the blanket up to her chin, pretending to be asleep.
The door opened softly. Ciara's voice came first. "Hansen, she's already sleeping. And her phone is on the table, see?"
Sunshine kept her eyes shut… until she heard the door click closed.
Only then did she open them wide awake, her qheart beating faster not from fear, but from everything weighing on her mind.
Sunshine lay still for a few minutes, listening carefully to the fading footsteps outside her door. When silence finally settled, she exhaled, pressing a hand over her racing heart. She felt guilty yet strangely determined.
Why do I feel like I need to see him? Why does his face bother me this much?
She turned her head to the magazine still lying on the bed. Ivan Del's face stared back at her calm, composed, disturbingly familiar.
Sunshine got up and tucked the magazine under the pillow just as the hallway lights clicked off. She reached for her phone, saw the missed calls from Hansen, and sighed.
"I'm not ready to talk… not tonight," she whispered to herself.
She walked toward the window, staring at the quiet garden outside. The moon was bright, silver light spilling into the room. Sunshine leaned her forehead against the glass. "I just need answers… that's all."
Her thoughts were interrupted when Ciara texted.
Ciara: He's upset. You better explain tomorrow.
Sunshine locked her phone without replying.
She didn't have the strength.
She crawled back into bed and pulled the blanket over herself, hugging it tightly. Sleep finally caught her slow, heavy, and restless.
At the company, Chairman Leon called his son to discuss the concerns surrounding the investors who had expressed interest in partnering with HAG.
"No, Dad," Ivan said firmly. "I know exactly what these investors want. Their aim isn't to support the company, what they really want is to push HAG toward bankruptcy. So Hansen is right to make it a sole proprietorship. Besides, it is his company." He shrugged.
Chairman Leon sighed heavily. "If that's the case, then you need to cancel some of the deals we already signed before Hansen finds out. I honestly thought partnering with them was a great idea… but it turns out this is just competition and a plot to drag the company down." He shook his head in disbelief.
Before the workday could even end, an urgent meeting was called by Hansen in the conference room addressing the allegations surrounding the company.
"I considered cancelling the deal with the investors," Hansen began, his voice steady, "but I've realized that isn't the right way to deal with enemies. We'll accept their proposal…" He paused, scanning the room. "And then drag them down with their own plan."
He nodded confidently, though the vice president beside him looked more confused than ever.
As murmurs filled the conference room, Hansen's calm but sharp gaze swept across the table. Executives shifted uncomfortably, unsure whether to fear his confidence or admire it.
"We won't panic because of a few allegations," he continued, tapping a finger rhythmically on the polished table. "If they believe they can use investment proposals to corner us, they're underestimating this company and me."
Vice President Ivan cleared his throat. "President Hansen… you mean we accept their terms even knowing it's a trap?"
A slow smirk tugged at Hansen's lips.
"Exactly. We accept it and then expose their strategy using their own documents, their own greed, and their own impatience. They want to bankrupt HAG Company? Then we'll let them walk straight into the hole they dug."
Chairman Leon and his son exchanged shocked glances. They were used to Hansen being decisive, but this level of boldness was new even for him.
One of the directors raised a hand nervously. "Sir… won't this be dangerous for the company?"
"Everything is dangerous when you're trying to win," Hansen replied coldly. "But letting our enemies think they're ahead that's the ultimate strategy."
A heavy silence fell. The kind of silence that settles right before a storm breaks.
Hansen closed the folder on the table.
"We start immediately. Prepare the revised contracts. And make sure every move we make is monitored. One mistake, and they'll think we're scared."
He stood, buttoning his suit jacket with practiced ease. "This is our chance to turn the tables."
As he walked out of the room, the directors could only stare after him, a mix of fear and admiration lingering in their eyes.
They had just watched a man preparing for war.