Samuel stepped into his office, the familiar scent of polished wood and faint traces of cologne grounding him in the moment. He sank into his chair, the leather cool against his skin, and let out a heavy sigh.
The events of the past few days loomed over him like dark clouds. He picked up the phone and dialed Timmy’s number, his heart racing slightly at the thought of what news awaited him.
"Timmy! Get in here!" he called, his voice cutting through the quiet of the office.
Moments later, Timmy rushed in, his expression a mix of urgency and concern. "You called, sir?" he said, his breath a bit labored as he leaned against the doorframe. Samuel noted the way Timmy’s brow was slightly damp, evidence of his quick sprint to the office.
"What’s the update on Walter Cain’s case? What’s the latest on the charges?" Samuel asked, leaning forward, resting his elbows on the desk.
Timmy straightened up, a spark of relief flickering in his eyes. "Cain’s in deep trouble, sir. We’ve got him on multiple charges—legal document forgery, kidnapping, and attempted murder against Marlo. The evidence we gathered is solid." His voice was steady, but Samuel could sense the tension still coiling in the air.
"Good," Samuel replied, feeling a sense of satisfaction wash over him. The thought of Cain finally facing the consequences for his actions was a small victory to the chaos that had enveloped them all. "I knew he wouldn’t get away with it forever."
Timmy nodded, a small smile creeping onto his face. "And it’s not just the charges. Marlo is safe now, and he has a strong case against Cain. We’ve been following Cain’s moves closely, and it paid off. If we hadn’t, Marlo might have..."
"...been killed," Samuel finished, the reality of their situation settling heavily on his shoulders. "I can’t imagine what would have happened if we hadn’t caught on in time."
"Exactly. And it helps that Cain’s men aren’t loyal to him," Timmy continued, enthusiasm creeping into his voice. "We managed to turn some of them to our side, which has made confronting Cain much easier. It’s all starting to fall into place."
Samuel felt a spark of hope ignite within him. "So we have an advantage. That’s good news. But we need to keep our guard up."
Samuel looked serious for a moment, then said, "Speaking of Marlo, how is he holding up? And what about that man who looks like James?"
"Marlo is doing okay, considering everything," Timmy replied, his eyes brightening slightly. "But there’s something else. The man who looks like James has been asking Marlo if he can operate on him again. He wants to change back to his original face."
Samuel raised an eyebrow, surprised by the revelation. "He wants to go through surgery again? Why? Isn’t he worried?"
Timmy shrugged, his brow furrowing in thought. "He feels ashamed to look like James, especially since he resembles you too. Both of them are willing to take that risk to feel like themselves again."
"Is that even possible?" Samuel asked, his curiosity piqued.
"I don’t know, sir. But Marlo insists it is. They both want to take the chance to return to their original faces. They feel guilty about the chaos surrounding you," Timmy explained, his voice steady yet uncertain.
Samuel fell silent, letting Timmy’s words sink in. After a moment, he finally spoke, his tone contemplative. "So, all those leads we gathered about James being alive—those were all just fake traps set by Cain and Revilo?"
Timmy’s face fell, shame creeping into his expression. "Yes, sir. I’m sorry. We were led to believe James was really alive, and I didn’t conduct a proper investigation into those leads."
"It’s okay," Samuel said softly, trying to reassure him. "It’s not your fault. Cain is good at what he does, especially when it comes to forging documents and leveraging his connections as a lawyer. I should have double-checked everything, too." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Finding clues about James’s whereabouts has always been difficult. As long as no body has been found, the chance of him being alive still lingers, no matter how slim."
Timmy nodded, understanding the weight of Samuel’s words. "So, what’s our plan now?"
"We focus on our company for now," Samuel replied firmly, regaining his composure. "Revilo and Cain have tarnished our reputation. We need to stabilize the company first before we can think about anything else."
Samuel glanced at Timmy, noticing the exhaustion in his eyes. "You deserve a break. You’ve worked hard, Timmy. I’ll give you a week of paid vacation. Travel wherever you want. Just have fun and relax."
Timmy’s eyes widened in surprise. "Sir, you’re not firing me, right?" he asked, worry creeping into his voice.
Samuel chuckled, feigning a serious expression. "What do you think?"
Timmy’s face turned serious, and he shook his head. "Sir, don’t joke around. I have a fragile heart."
Rolling his eyes, Samuel couldn’t suppress a grin. "Why would I fire you? I’m just thankful for your hard work. But if you don’t want it, just let me know. There’s still a lot to do, and I’m glad to have you around."
"Sir, I love it so much! Don’t take it back," Timmy said, his excitement palpable. "There’s a beautiful resort near the beach that I’ve always wanted to visit. I would enjoy and relax so much. Thank you!"
"You don’t have to thank me. You earned it," Samuel replied, his voice warm. "Just make sure to return."
"Of course, sir. I’ll definitely come back to your side. And when I do, I hope you finally manage to capture Miss Zinnia’s heart. I’m cheering for you!" Timmy added with a hopeful grin.
At the mention of Zinnia, Samuel felt his cheeks warm. The thought of her made his heart race, and he wished for that moment to arrive. "Thanks, Timmy. I hope so too," he replied, trying to hide his embarrassment.
Timmy gave him a cheerful salute before turning to leave, but before he reached the door, Samuel spoke up. "One last thing. Inform the board members that I’ll be calling a meeting. Let’s get everyone together."
Timmy nodded, his expression returning to its usual seriousness. "Understood, sir. I’ll see to it right away."