Wilson leaned back against his car, folding his arms. He glanced at Claire with a slight smile. "It's simple, Claire. The board members are some of my top investors. They hold significant stakes in this company. If I make decisions on my own and something goes wrong, I'm the one who takes the fall."
He let that sink in for a moment, his gaze turning toward the darkening sky. "By letting them have a say, by allowing them to come to a consensus, I ensure that the responsibility is shared. If things go wrong, it's not just me. It's a collective decision. Saves me from the headache of shouldering all the blame alone."
Claire nodded, understanding. "So, it's about protecting yourself in case of failure?"
Wilson nodded. "Exactly. But it's also about making sure everyone's interests are aligned. This company is bigger than me. If they're invested in the decision, they're more likely to back it when the time comes to deliver."
Claire smiled faintly, impressed. "I see. Smart move, as always."
Wilson didn't respond immediately, his thoughts elsewhere. After a moment, he opened the door to his car, sliding inside. "You'll learn these things as you go, Claire. There's always more to leadership than what meets the eye."
With that, he closed the door, and the engine purred to life, the sound of it filling the quiet evening air.
Diego swung the warehouse door open, his boots echoing against the concrete floor. The place was quiet, save for the hum of distant machinery. His desk sat in the center of the room, cluttered with blueprints, car keys, and scattered receipts from the underground races he managed. But amidst the usual chaos, an unfamiliar envelope lay neatly on top of the mess.
He frowned, picking it up. Its weight was barely noticeable, and there was no writing or seal to give away its sender.
"Hey, Mike!" Diego called out to one of his men working in the adjoining garage. The guy jogged over, wiping grease off his hands.
"Yeah, boss?"
"Who dropped this off?" Diego waved the envelope.
Mike squinted, shaking his head. "Nobody's been here since you left last night. Place has been locked up tight."
Diego's jaw clenched. He dismissed Mike with a wave and turned his attention back to the envelope. For a moment, he considered tossing it in the bin—he had too much to do to be wasting time on pranks. But curiosity gnawed at him.
Sliding a knife across the top, he tore it open. Inside was a single sheet of paper, blank except for a faint emblem in the corner—a crude sketch of a skeleton.
His stomach dropped.
Diego's hands shook as he held the paper closer, hoping it wasn't real. But the emblem was unmistakable. His mind raced, dredging up memories he'd buried long ago. Without a second thought, he grabbed his car keys and bolted out the door.
As he sped down the streets of Jagoon, his heart pounded against his ribs. Pulling his phone from the dashboard, he dialed Emilia's number with trembling hands. The line rang once, twice, then went straight to voicemail.
"Pick up, Emilia," he muttered, trying again.
Still no answer.
"You're too late. Emilia's gone."
"No! You can still make it. Just drive faster."
He gripped the wheel tighter, sweat slicking his palms. His knuckles turned white as fear clawed at his chest. Every second without her voice on the other end of the line made the skeleton emblem feel heavier in his mind.
He slammed his foot on the gas, weaving recklessly through traffic. Horns blared, and angry drivers shouted at him, but Diego didn't care. He couldn't care. Not when the skeleton emblem meant only one thing—danger.
Behind him, flashing red-and-blue lights pierced through his rearview mirror. The police were on his tail, their sirens screaming for him to pull over. But Diego gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on the wheel.
"Not now," he growled.
He floored the gas pedal, the car roaring as it surged forward. Each second felt like a ticking bomb, every delay a step closer to disaster.
Diego's heart pounded in his chest, his breath shallow. He couldn't lose her. Not Emilia. Not now.
The evening air carried a slight chill as Emilia stepped out of the restaurant, her body aching from the long shift. The golden hues of the setting sun reflected off the windows of nearby buildings, creating a serene backdrop to the bustling street. Adjusting her bag on her shoulder, she sighed, eager to get home and rest.
Her phone buzzed in her bag, and she fumbled to retrieve it. "Ugh, where is it?" she muttered, frustration creeping in as the notification buzzed again.
A loud screech pierced the air, breaking through her thoughts.
She looked up, and her heart dropped. A car was hurtling toward her, its engine roaring like an unleashed predator. The crowd on the sidewalk gasped, scattering out of its path, but Emilia stood frozen. Her mind screamed for her legs to move, but fear anchored her in place.
The car was close—too close.
Her phone slipped from her fingers as she squeezed her eyes shut. This is it.
The crash came, loud and jarring, but not the way she expected. The air filled with the sound of metal colliding, tires skidding, and glass shattering. Emilia opened her eyes just in time to see the speeding car crumpled against a lamppost, hit from the side by another vehicle.
Her breathing was erratic, her chest rising and falling as shock coursed through her veins. Before she could process what had happened, the second car's door flew open, and Diego stormed out, his face pale and frantic.
"Emilia!" he shouted, his voice cracking as he ran toward her.
Still rooted to the spot, Emilia barely reacted when he pulled her into a tight embrace. His arms wrapped around her like a protective shield, his body trembling against hers.
"Diego... I can't breathe," she whispered, her voice muffled against his chest.
He pulled back slightly, his hands gripping her shoulders as he searched her face. "Are you okay? Did it hit you? Are you hurt anywhere?"
"I—no, I'm fine," Emilia stammered, still trying to catch her breath.
"Fine? You're fine?" Diego's voice rose, his tone a mixture of anger and relief. "Do you even realize what just happened? You were seconds away from—" He stopped himself, clenching his jaw as his voice broke. "You could've died, Emilia."
She blinked at him, confused and overwhelmed. "Diego... why are you even here? And why are you sweating so much?"
Diego looked away for a moment, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "You weren't answering your phone," he muttered. "I called you... so many times."
"My phone—" Emilia glanced down, spotting it on the ground. She bent to pick it up, her movements slow as she tried to process everything. "I didn't hear it... Diego, what's going on?"
Diego hesitated, his mind racing. He couldn't tell her about the emblem or the fear that had gripped him since he saw it. "That car," he said instead, pointing to the wreck. "It was going to hit you. I—I couldn't just stay back."
Her eyes Softened, scanning his entire bidy. " I'm surprised to see you here, you never visit...Did something happened?"
Before Diego could respond, Emilia's boss stepped out of the restaurant, his arms crossed as he surveyed the scene. "Diego came to see me," he said, his voice calm but authoritative. "We had business to discuss."
Diego latched onto the excuse like a lifeline. "Exactly," he said quickly. "Since I'm here already, I figured I'd give you a ride home."
Emilia raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "You're Soaked in your sweats and you're trembling as well, is everything alright?."
"Nothing you need to worry about," he replied, forcing a smile.
At that moment, the sound of sirens broke through the murmur of the growing crowd. A police car pulled up, and two officers stepped out, their eyes scanning the scene before landing on Diego.
Diego tensed. Damn it.
Before he could say anything, Emilia's boss approached the officers, motioning for Diego to stay back. "Don't worry about them," the boss said over his shoulder. "I'll handle it."
Emilia watched as her boss exchanged words with the police. Though she couldn't hear their conversation, she saw the officers nod before returning to their car and driving off.
"What just happened?" she asked Diego, her tone sharp. "Why were the cops here? And why did they leave so easily?"
"They were on patrol," Diego said with a shrug. "Nothing serious."
"Patrol?" Emilia echoed, her skepticism evident. "Diego, cops aren't that easy to deal with. Not in Laksa, Something's off."
"Curiousity kills, don't make something out of no deal. I'm happy I got here in time, if I was a bit late, I probably would have lost you" Diego said Softly, His voice soothing that Emilia couldn't helped but smiled as she hug him and mutter the words 'Thank you'.
An ambulance arrived, and paramedics rushed to the wrecked car. They pulled the unconscious driver from the vehicle and loaded him onto a stretcher. Emilia watched in silence, her thoughts swirling with questions, 'she nearly lost her life, what would have happened if Diego was a bit late. She didn't know how to thank him enough, he's always there in the time of need and she felt glad and thankful. After her mother death her world came crumbling, she lived miserably until a star Came into her life, that star was no other than Diego.
Her boss returned to Diego, his expression serious. "We need to talk," he said. "Now."
Diego nodded, then turned to Emilia. "Wait here. I won't be long."
Emilia crossed her arms, watching as the two men walked off. Something about the entire situation didn't sit right with her, and the unease in her chest only grew stronger.