"What the f-!" He quickly took up the remote while walking backward.
"Father! Mother! Come and see the news, we are on the news headline!" Logan called their attention as he increased the television volume.
"News headline?" Mr. Stewart rushed in, wearing his glasses as the entire family stood in the living room while watching the urgent-looking morning news.
[BREAKING NEWS: The Undercover General has finished his investigation and found out that the sum of $500 million was embezzled by Chairman Stewart, the CEO of S Empire holding hotels, schools, and malls. According to the President, it is a State affair and he doesn't need to be thoroughly tried since there is evidence pointing that the money was used for personal purposes, thus, Chairman Stewart will be sentenced to some years imprisonment and all his businesses will be banned from operations.]
As the news headline flickered, the newscaster reported the news fluently, and their jaws dropped in bewilderment.
"How— how did this happen?" Mr. Stewart stuttered.
"Honey, I thought you took care of this?" Mrs. Stewart asked him anxiously.
"I did. I even paid off some officials to make sure it doesn't get to this. How come?" Mr. Stewart shook his head in confusion as things weren't falling in place.
"Dad, what do we do? This will ruin your campaign and we are also about launching the foundation." Logan reminded his father in anxiety.
"I… I don't know what to do or say at the moment. It seems they have good evidence on me and I can't afford to tell a white lie." Mr. Stewart exhaled heavily.
"Maybe we should beg for forgiveness? That's the only way we can save our face, it's not like we are the first to commit something like this." Diane suggested rashly.
"Beg? Do you want our family to crumble on the ground?" Logan scoffed in annoyance.
"What we have to do now is try to get our hands on the documents and also curry favor with the so-called General," Logan suggested and his father nodded in adjournment.
"I don't think I can leave this mansion for a week because those rich men's wives would tease me. Why are our lives so miserable!" Mrs. Stewart cried out as she crashed into the armchair.
"I… Our son and I will try our best to solve this case, but it won't result in prison." Mr. Stewart wasn't as confident as he always was in the past.
Just then, a cold smirk from Richard caused them to face his direction.
"Fridgetting will only give the falter room to get to your family." Richard entered the living room, already dressed for work with his black briefcase in his hand.
"What do you mean?" Logan fired at him.
"This could be some riff-raff trying to set fire where there is no smoke. We were able to take care of this in the past, we can still do it again." Richard assured them, curling his lips.
"Really?" Everyone looked at him in anxiety.
"Have you forgotten I'm a senior lawyer? I will help my family and take our name out of the blacklist." He paused.
"And whoever spreads this news will never go scout-free, he or she needs to be sued!" He said vividly and they nodded.
Their lost courage returned in no time.
"It's good to have someone so influential in our family." Mrs. Stewart got her courage back as she let out a deep sigh.
"What can I do without my husband?" Diane walked up to him and embraced him tightly.
"I will take care of this," he assured them for the last time.
The massive bronze interior Overall General office, was exquisitely designed with quality interiors and furnishings. The office had a great panoramic view of the bubbling city and was mostly isolated with few offices in the hallway.
There were different structures of cabinets, all open having old files and recording.
The large brown desk had stationeries, flash drives, and files of old cases — and on the nameplate was the most ruthless name that caused fear in the hearts of defaulters. "General Drew Don Donald, A.K.A Triple D".
Just then, the office door pulled open and Drew walked in with Romeo, holding a flask of coffee in his hand.
"Boss, did you see the news?" Romeo broke the silence as Drew walked to his seat.
"I saw it. It was broadcasted for breakfast, just as I wanted and the headline was something else." He nodded, looking pleased.
"Right now, all hands are on deck and there's no way they can maneuver," Romeo said with certainty.
"We can't underestimate them. Just make sure all evidence is shared with our devices, including my personal and private both in hardware and software because they might try to get their hands on them." He instructed him calmly.
"Copied, boss!"
"While we are at it, we have to keep them in the hot seat." He said, rubbing his chin.
"What must we do now, boss?" Romeo questioned courteously, waiting for his next command.
"Issue warrants to our crew and make sure they proceed with intense investigation. We mustn't give them any break or leave any stone unturned." He said steadily and Romeo nodded.
"On it boss!" Just then, the iPad in Romeo's hand beeped and he looked at his boss.
"Boss, does your ex-wife have a new husband?" Romeo asked politely and he lifted his gaze with a cold smile on his lips.
"Oh? Is he married already?" He said with sarcasm.
"I think so and he is a lawyer," Romeo informed him.
"So, why did you ask about him? Is he a suspect?" He asked, raising an anxious brow.
"No, he isn't at the moment but he is currently making a move on behalf of the Stewart family," Romeo said firmly.
"I think it's time to put him in his right place." He groaned.
"Boss, did you say anything?" Romeo asked with his eyes fixed on his boss.
"Take care of the warrant with our crew while I deal with the new husband." He said sarcastically and Romeo nodded with a short laugh before leaving the office.
A brief silence took over the atmosphere as he took up his working phone. When he turned it on, he was welcomed with almost a hundred-and-something missed calls, and different kinds of unread messages started popping in.
"Not for these now…" He muttered to himself as he went to his search bar and brought out the contact he wanted.
He relaxed on his chair as the phone rang and was relieved when the owner picked up.
"Goodness! I can't believe who is on the line! I thought you were dead! Wait, is this your ghost?" The person rambled over the phone and based on how he sounded, he might be a close contact of Drew.
"Focus on work, boy. I have a task for you." He said coldly.
"What is it, boss?" The person asked anxiously.
"I want you to deal with an adamant human for me, as soon as possible." He said, staring blankly at his window while speaking indistinctly with the person.
"Who could it be?" The caller couldn't hold his anxiety as it lingered in his voice.