Apex Tower at Axel Knight’s Office.
Axel leaned back in his leather couch, the city skyline glittering beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him.
A faint smirk played across his lips as he stared at the tablet screen.
The headline gleamed in bold letters and straightforward words across every major outlet:
[ Walters Group Officially Kicks Out William Walters and His Secret Mistress, Lana Scott ]
He read it twice, letting the satisfaction sink in.
The once untouchable patriarch of the Walters empire is gone. The irony was too good to ignore.
He exhaled a low chuckle, murmuring to himself, "My wife is brilliant..."
Dylan, who sat across from Axel, smiled.
"Indeed, sir. Young Madam is not just brilliant. She’s terrifying in the most elegant way. I actually thought you’d interfere to speed things up."
Axel shook his head and fixed his eyes on Dylan.
"Well, I offered. But, she refused..." He paused, looking almost proud. "She said she wanted to stand on her own."
Dylan raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "And Boss... you actually let her?"
Axel shot him a look that could take his breath away. But it only made Dylan smile wider.
"Right, right... respecting her independence. Totally admirable. But let’s be honest, you probably just enjoyed watching her destroy them."
"Both can be true," Axel responded calmly. "That old man is too proud of himself. I never try to make a move on him because I respect my elders."
He turned back to his screen and tapped a link to the ’Walters Group official website’, where a press statement had just been uploaded.
His lips curved in satisfaction as he read:
[ OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT – WALTERS GROUP
The Walters Group Board of Directors has unanimously decided to remove William Walters and Lana Scott from all official positions within the company, effective immediately.
Moving forward, Joseph Carter will assume the dual roles of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO).
The board is also pleased to announce Jason Walters as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), succeeding Lana Scott.
We would like to clarify that recent personal matters concerning former CEO William Walters and Ms. Lana Scott are ’in no way related’ to the operations or reputation of Walters Group.
Walters Group Board of Directors ]
Axel couldn’t stop the quiet laugh that slipped out from his lips.
"Perfect damage control. Exactly how Evelyn would draft this official announcement." He murmured proudly.
Dylan, curious, also took out his cell phone to see what announcement had pleased his boss.
It didn’t take long; a smile appeared on Dylan’s lips as he lifted his head to see Axel.
"I agree, she might draft the announcement. She is straightforward!" Dylan said.
"That’s my wife," Axel said with quiet pride. There was a dangerous glint in his eyes, a mixture of admiration and amusement. "She’s not just strong. She’s strategic."
"Boss, sorry to say, but you sound like a man in love," Dylan casually said.
"I am," Axel said without hesitation.
And Dylan almost dropped his cell phone. He can’t believe his boss has already fallen for Evelyn.
He thought it would take longer because he knew Axel Knight was never going to fall for, even be disgusted by, such things.
"Wow, boss..." I wasn’t ready for that level of sincerity before lunch," Dylan smiled meaningfully. "Should I order roses for your desk?" Maybe a neon sign that says ’My Wife Runs the World’?"
Axel shot him a dry look.
"Dylan Hill! You’re fired."
"You say that every week," Dylan said, almost too excitedly. "And I’m still here."
Before Axel could reply, his phone buzzed on the desk. The caller ID flashed Liam.
His expression immediately sharpened as he answered the call, "Liam? How are things there?"
"Boss," Liam’s nervous voice came through the line, "please don’t be shocked..."
Axel’s frown deepened. "Now I am shocked. What happened?"
There was a long, awkward pause on the other end.
"So... there was this small incident at the Walters Group basement."
"Incident?"
"Yes, Boss..." A heavy sigh could be heard from the other end, enough to make Axel even more worried. "...more like a few reporters showed up unexpectedly and ambushed Madam Evelyn in the Walters Group building..."
Axel sat up straight, and his calm instantly slipped away.
"Reporters? How did they even get into the basement? That place has restricted access!"
Liam coughed.
"Well, Boss, they were pretending to be building maintenance staff. I swear they had legit-looking uniforms, boss! Even the security guards were fooled."
"And where were you when that happened?" Axel’s tone was ice.
"Uh... I’m in the restroom."
There was a tense pause.
Even Dylan, sitting across from Axel, subtly looked down at his phone, anxious about facing his boss’s angry stare.
"You left her alone?" Axel asked, voice calm, but it was the kind of calm that could kill living things.
"I thought Lady Boss had not yet finished. She didn’t text me either..."
Axel pinched the bridge of his nose. "Liam..."
"Yes, boss?"
"I’ve been too kind to you lately," Axel said, his voice turning cold. "Do you really want me to SERIOUSLY send you to Katmai National Park just to play with bears?"
Axel continued. "Perhaps spending time with them would be more worthwhile for you!? How could you make such a costly mistake?"
Silent.
Liam can’t answer. He senses how dire his situation is. He is utterly speechless.
Axel clenches his teeth in frustration. He had already worked hard to ensure there were no paparazzi or reporters near his wife, but now he had failed.
Great!
Just as Axel was about to end the call, Liam’s voice came through again, shaky and hesitant.
"Uh... Boss, actually, that’s not the worst part."
Axel froze mid-motion, his fingers tightening around the phone.
"Liam," he said slowly, "what do you mean, not the worst part?"
Liam gulped audibly.
"Well... when we were heading home, Lady Boss suddenly asked me to stop the car. And then... uh... a man got in."
There was a pause.
A long, deadly pause.
Axel’s voice was calm, too calm. "A man?"