Chapter 508
“Boss, I’ve been loyal to you for decades. You know my character. I’d never put you in a tough spot. Please Zachary stammered.
“Rules are rules, old friend,” Mike replied coldly. “If I give you a pass, I lose the respect of this room. Since Barnard made the accusation and brought a witness, I have no choice but to investigate your casino. Benji, take a team. Be thorough. I don’t want the cops dragging us into the precinct again p>
It was over. Mike wasn’t playing around.
Panic washed over Zachary’s face. His hand twitched toward his pocket, his fingers grazing his phone. “Boss… I need to use the restroom,” he blurted out.
“Are you going to the restroom, or are you going to tip off your guys?” Barnard smiled pleasantly. “To prove your innocence, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind leaving your phone on the table p>
The relaxed, mocking tone made Zachary want to rip his throat out. Zachary had always thought Calvin was a spineless coward. For years, he had extorted Calvin for funds, knowing the old man would never fight back. He had viewed Calvin as a rat he could crush at any moment, and he had done exactly that. He never expected the rat’s useless son to overthrow Clement and take control of The Williams Group. If he had known, he would have wiped Barnard out the second his family arrived in Valdoria.
Barnard extended a hand. “What are you waiting for, Zachary? Did I hit the nail on the head? You’re not going to the bathroom, you’re trying to send a text p>
“I p>
Trapped, Zachary slumped heavily back into his chair. “Never mind. I lost the urge p>
The tension in the room skyrocketed. The guests realized the deadly game playing out between the two men. Calculations raced behind every eye as they considered who to side with, realizing this was the perfect opportunity to eliminate their own rivals.
Benji returned shortly after. Guided by Barnard’s witness, they had uncovered a secret room beneath the casino connected to a private underground clinic. The organ trafficking evidence was undeniable, and they had recovered the cooked books to match.
Faced with the evidence, Zachary turned gray. “Boss… I was wrong. I was stupid. I got greedy. Please, for the sake of all my years of loyalty, save my life! I p>
His hands were too soaked in blood. The police would lock him away forever. Mike was his only chance.
“Your life is in the hands of the law now,” Mike said dismissively. “Take this idiot away. And since Barnard was the first to step up, I’m adding a bonus. Barnard, you’ll be taking over The Zachary Group’s assets p>
The room erupted. Taking out a rival meant inheriting their empire? The sheer magnitude of the reward drove the crowd into a frenzy. Accusations began flying left and right. Some cast hungry glances at The Williams Group, but just as Barnard had said, the police had already purged it. Snitching on Barnard would yield nothing and only make an enemy out of him.
Untouchable, Barnard sat back, thoroughly relaxed. He turned to Camilla, looking like a man expecting a trophy. “Well? Entertaining, wasn’t it? Look at me, Camilla. My power is growing by the second. No one can keep me down anymore. Lance, relying on his family’s old money, couldn’t hold a candle to this. Stand by my side, and the whole world will know you made the smart choice p>
“If you were actually that confident, you wouldn’t be strutting around like a peacock,” Camilla retorted flatly. “You constantly bring up Lance because deep down, you know you’ll never measure up to him. If you dragged me here just to watch you play out some revenge fantasy for your father, then sorry, I don’t care. I’m going to the restroom. Enjoy your ego trip p>
Barnard didn’t think she would dare run, not with her parents’ fate hanging in the balance. “I’ll wait for you,” he said gently.
Camilla left the chaotic hall and walked down the quiet corridor. As she passed a closed door, it suddenly clicked open, and a strong hand yanked her inside.