Chapter 3

"Mr. Williams, Antoine has been spending a lot of time with a particular company recently. The projects aren't that significant, but she's there at least twice a week, not even counting video calls."

Sarah handed me her tablet, showing Antoine's schedule for the past month.

I took it, scanned through, and said, "Continue."

"There's one more thing..." Sarah hesitated.

"After Chris was fired, he started working for *this* company. His position? Assistant to the Business Development Director."

My hand, scrolling the tablet, stopped.

"A fresh graduate, blacklisted from the entire industry, suddenly becomes an Assistant Business Development Director?"

"That company isn't on our core partners list; they're a second-tier supplier. So... we don't usually pay much attention to smaller operations like that."

I put the tablet down and leaned back in my chair, silent.

Sarah stood nearby, not daring to move.

After about two minutes, I finally spoke.

"How many active projects does that company have with us right now?"

"Three. Two are still under contract, and one was just signed."

"Terminate all of them."

Sarah's pen froze mid-air.

"All of them? Mr. Williams, one project already received an advance payment..."

"Forget the advance payment. I recall the breach clauses in the contract are in our favor. Have Legal send out the official notice today."

"Okay, anything else?"

I picked up my phone, scrolled through my contacts one by one.

"Get me a list of all suppliers who work with that company. You call them yourself. Every single company connected to our corporation in this industry will cut ties with them."

"Mr. Williams, isn't that too big a move?"

"This isn't 'too big a move' at all." I tossed the tablet onto the desk. "When I make someone disappear, I don't expect them to resurface under a new name. Anyone who built him a bridge will see it immediately torn down. And if it can't be torn down, I'll bury the bridge and everyone on it."

Sarah took a deep breath, nodded, and left.

That afternoon, Sarah was on the phone non-stop.

She later reported back that not a single person dared to refuse.

When Antoine returned that evening, her face was grim. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing.

She hung up countless times, only to answer another call, her voice now barely containing her frustration: "I get it! Just don't panic!"

I sat at the dining table, eating. She hung up and looked at me.

"Did you do this?"

"Yes."

"Do you know that project also impacts us?"

"I know."

"Then why?"

"Antoine."

I put down my silverware and looked at her.

"I told you to fire him and scrap the car, and you did. But then you immediately found him a new spot, using company business as a cover. Did you think I was stupid?"

She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

"You can call me jealous, controlling, or heartless. But you can't treat me like an idiot."

I stood up and walked over to her.

"This is my last reminder to you: no more petty games."

Antoine stared at me for a long time, complex emotions swirling in her eyes.

She finally looked away, her voice raw.

"Alexander, can't you just let people live?"

I chuckled. "Who are these 'people' you're talking about?"

She didn't answer. I turned and went into my study. Before closing the door, I dropped one last line.

"Antoine Loris, if you defend him one more time, next time it won't be this simple."