READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 5: The Whisper of Scandals
Chapter 5: The Whisper of Scandals
The boardroom of Winston Enterprises hummed with subdued energy as executives prepared for their quarterly meeting. Amara Winston stood at the head of the table, her commanding presence impossible to ignore. The sleek glass walls behind her offered a stunning view of the city, but it was Amara's razor-sharp focus that held everyone's attention.
"Before we begin," she said, her voice crisp and unwavering, "let me address the rumors about our new acquisition in Europe."
The room fell silent. Everyone knew what she was referring to—the whispers about potential sabotage within the deal.
Amara glanced at the man sitting to her right, her CFO, Thomas. "Thomas, have we confirmed the breach?"
He nodded, pushing a folder toward her. "It appears someone leaked sensitive information to a competitor. We're tracing the source, but..."
Amara opened the folder, her eyes scanning the documents. She felt a knot form in her stomach as she recognized the implications. Someone within her inner circle had betrayed her.
As the meeting adjourned, Amara retreated to her office, her mind racing. The breach wasn't just a business problem—it was personal. The leak had allowed Evelyn Hart's company to swoop in and outmaneuver her team.
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Across town, Evelyn sipped her espresso in the lounge of Hart Enterprises, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. She had spent the morning reviewing the latest numbers, and everything pointed to a decisive win over Winston Enterprises.
Her assistant, Clara, entered with a tablet in hand. "The numbers are finalized. The European deal is officially ours."
Evelyn smirked. "Good. Amara will learn soon enough that playing fair gets you nowhere in this world."
But even as she basked in her success, Evelyn couldn't ignore the nagging thought at the back of her mind—Lucas. She had caught him exchanging glances with Amara during their dinner, and it had infuriated her.
"Clara," she said, her tone sharper now. "I want a full report on Lucas Rayner's activities this week. Find out who he's meeting and where."
---
Meanwhile, Lucas was deep in conversation with his trusted confidant, Claire.
"They're both making moves," Claire said, placing a stack of files on his desk. "Amara is dealing with internal sabotage, and Evelyn has just secured a key deal against her."
Lucas leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Interesting. The game is heating up faster than I expected."
"Do you think they suspect your involvement?" Claire asked.
Lucas's lips curved into a sly smile. "Not yet. But they will soon. And that's when things will get truly entertaining."