He stopped the car engine and got out with an effortless grace. With a confident hand, he handed the keys of his shiny black car to one of the waiting attendants at the entrance. Then, Kaiser fastened the buttons of his meticulously stitched brown suit, which seemed tailor made to highlight his imposing presence.
He walked confidently through the company's towering gate, his reflection in the glass perfectly showcasing his polished image. The atmosphere was charged with a sense of anticipation, and as usual, several employees had lined up to greet him. Kaiser ignored the fake smiles on their faces and continued without a flinch.
He reached the elevator, where his reflection appeared on the metal doors. Before pressing the button, he glanced briefly at his watch and adjusted it with a practiced motion. His secretary, Alex, stood beside him.
"Is everyone waiting for us?"
Kaiser asked calmly, but with an undertone of expectation.
"Yes, young master."
Alex answered confidently, as if the response itself was part of a protocol that left no room for leniency.
"Very well. We'll skip the formalities as soon as I enter. No time for introductions today."
"Your command, young master."
Kaiser nodded and turned forward as the elevator doors opened. With a dark gaze, he strode into the hallway and headed toward the meeting room, stopping before the large door.
It was tightly shut, behind which one of the most important fall meetings was taking place. Business partners and executives were seated, their eyes focused on the documents and presentations before them. The noise of their conversation gradually faded when they heard footsteps echoing down the halls with a resolute pace.
"Open the door, Alex."
Kaiser said without looking at his secretary.
"Your command, young master!"
Alex quickly moved to open the double doors, and all conversation ceased in an instant. The attendees stood as if witnessing the arrival of a silent storm. Every eye was on this man, the eldest son of the Ivanovitch family, the unseen CEO of "Stars" Company.
A man stood next to the raised table holding the microphone and began the traditional greeting.
"Let's welcome the CEO, the eldest son, Mr.—"
"No need for formalities."
Kaiser interrupted with a single sentence and moved forward.
He walked under the intense lights, which reflected off his carefully styled red hair, announcing his commanding presence. His brown suit completed his look, blending elegance and dominance. The sound of his steps in dark brown leather shoes filled the room, heralding his absolute control.
He reached the raised table, gently took the microphone, as if deliberately taking his time to command the atmosphere. Before speaking, he gave a sharp glance at everyone, flashing a smirk that carried numerous underlying messages.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are not here today just to talk business, but to shape the future. And I promise you, there will be no room for mistakes."
Alex stood behind his young master, his eyes fixed on the broad shoulders that had carried a solid will through the years, as though they were about to receive a well deserved moment of rest.
In front of the attendees, Kaiser presented the company's plans for the coming months on the massive display screen, which lit up the room with its blue glow. The quiet sound of breathing was the only thing heard as the directors, shareholders, and entrepreneurs focused on him.
"With this vision, Stars Company will surpass all previous achievements, firmly establishing its place on the global stage with merit and deserving recognition."
Kaiser paused for a moment, his sharp eyes scanning the faces of those present one by one. The anticipation in their eyes gleamed with greed, like polished jewels.
He held the microphone with a steady hand and spoke in a deep, calm voice.
"Now that everything is clear, you have only two options: either you follow me toward achieving the goal, or you leave the room and withdraw your investments from Stars."
His words were direct and sharp, perhaps even rude to some, but they reflected his nature, which did not tolerate change. Alex expected some to hesitate or get up to leave, but to his surprise, everyone remained seated, and only one voice emerged from the crowd with a hesitant question.
"When do we begin signing the agreements?"
A smug smile crept onto Kaiser's lips, as if he had been waiting for this exact moment. He knew that those sitting in front of him, hungry for power and money, would not dare to leave.
"We'll start now, Alex, bring the contracts to them."
Alex moved from behind Kaiser with light and confidence, his steps barely audible, while he carried a stack of red envelopes.
He placed an envelope in front of each person, waiting for a seal to make everything official for them and a new beginning for him.
"Leonid, look at this."
Alia spoke quietly as she handed the report to Leonid. Her blonde hair was tied in twin tails, giving her a delicate touch of femininity.
Leonid was supposed to attend the morning team meeting, but he had skipped it without explanation. Alia looked at him with her sharp eyes, a question lingering within her: Had his relationship with Charlotte Smith begun to negatively affect his focus?
"The report contains information about the state of the residential building after the murder and the sudden police raid."
Alia said seriously, but her words hit a wall with Leonid, who responded coldly without lifting his eyes from the report.
"I can read."
His blue eyes, like pieces of ice, were focused on the words on the page, but his mind was entirely preoccupied with spending the night with Charlotte.
"You can go—"
"By the way, I have something to ask you."
Leonid barely closed the report, his hand halfway raised to gesture, when Alia suddenly leaned over his desk, staring into his eyes hungrily, as if searching for the answer to a question she hadn't dared ask before.
"What's going on between you and Charlotte Smith now?"
"What?!"
The question surprised him so much that he stopped moving for a moment. A sudden silence filled the room as everyone held their breath. Dmitri, who was usually passive, showed no reaction, but Vasili, who had been busy with papers, dropped everything in his hand and turned to the conversation, his eyes following the discussion eagerly.
It was as if he were a journalist about to get an exclusive scoop.
"Since you started dating Charlotte Smith, you've been consistently late, and now dark circles are almost invading your lower eyelids."
Alia was on the verge of losing control of her nerves. She wasn't exactly sure why she was upset, but something in her heart was exploding with anger. She couldn't stand seeing Leonid, the perfect man, drawn to a woman like Charlotte. Even if his relationship with her was merely a step to protect her from the killer, Alia couldn't hide her disdain for this choice, as though something inside her was insisting that it was wrong.
"Mr. Leonid, I hope you haven't gotten swept up in your feelings for that woman!"
"You're crossing the line."
"What?!"
Alia narrowed her eyes, another wave of anger flooding her face.
"Are you saying I'm the intruder now? Don't you see that you're the one crossing the line? Tell me, why were you late today and what were you doing with Charlotte Smith?!"
Alia was about to lose her cool, while Leonid stared at her coldly, as if he intended to erase her existence completely.
Dmitri yawned and shook his head, indifferent to what would happen to Alia next.
Meanwhile, Vasili slowly withdrew, realizing that Leonid would destroy Alia just as Dmitri had told him.
No one wanted to be an enemy of someone as frightening as Leonid.
"Whether I've gotten swept up in my feelings for her or not."
Leonid's voice was sharp and dry.
"You have no business with me or my decisions."
"Well, I knew you were using the mission to get closer to that woman!"
Alia began shouting, losing her usual composure.
"You're a federal agent, not someone who can fall in love, especially with a woman who means nothing to you!"
"Your problem isn't with me, it's with her, isn't it?"
Leonid stood up from his chair and leaned on his desk with his fists.
"Talking about her in a derogatory way as if she's an obstacle for me, and blaming her for my delays or mistakes, who do you think you are to speak like that, ma'am?"
His icy blue eyes pierced her, sending a shiver through her body as though a fierce cold had swept over her.
"I won't say this twice, any interference from you in my relationship with Charlotte Smith will be seen as interference in my mission to protect her."
He backed off and stood straight for a moment before sitting again, resting his arm on the chair, as if the discussion had ended with that move.
"The discussion is over, you may leave."
He said it dryly and went back to reading the report.