Mr. Villain's Lovely Wife

Chapter 187

2 Hours Ago

Liam sat at the head of the long table, sleeves rolled to his elbows, one hand tapping against a folder marked Projecto Verano: Colombia Site B. The room was quiet except for the low hum of the AC and the occasional sound of someone clearing their throat. Around him, four department heads waited, their expressions tight.

G

“We received confirmation from the Bogotá office at 3:12 PM,” said Julian Park, regional project coordinator. He slid a packet of photos across the table. “The protestors arrived before dawn. The local press got involved within the hour”

Liam flipped through the images. Men and women holding handmade signs stood outside the construction fence. Some had tents set up. There were children in the background.

“They’re locals?”

Julian nodded. “Mostly, Indigenous land advocates and a few environmental watchdogs. They’ve filed a formal complaint with the regional planning board. Apparently, they weren’t properly consulted before the groundbreaking”

“Weren’t they?” Liam asked.

“We followed protocol,” said Alex Tan, head of legal. “But the NGO that filed the complaint is pushing for a new land survey. They’re saying the environmental impact study we submitted was outdated.”

Liam leaned back in his chair, arms crossed.

“Do we know if the complaint has merit?”

Alex hesitated. “There might be a gap in the data. The original study was done two years ago. The surrounding areas may have changed.”

“Then do a new study,” Liam said. “Start it this week.”

“That won’t stop the protests,” Julian added. “We need a public statement or a site visit. Preferably both.”

“I’ll go,” said Martin Chavez, VP of Development for Latin America. “I can fly out tonight.”

Liam shook his head. “No. You’ll stay here. You know the specs and the local contacts. You’re more useful coordinating than shaking hands.”

“Then what should we do?”

Liam tapped his fingers again. “Release a statement saying the company will reassess the environmental impact report with third–party oversight. Announce a community forum next week. Get someone from planning to start organizing it. Make sure there’s local leadership present.”

“And the protestors?”

“Let them stay,” Liam said. “No police. No removals. We work around them. Give the media nothing to escalate.”

Julian nodded, taking notes.

“If they see us trying to fix the issue, they’ll cool down. If we act like they’re a nuisance, this will go international.”

Alex cleared his throat. “You don’t want to fly out?”

event tonight,” Liam said as he checked his watch. “One I can’t miss. If the rest of you handle this right, I won’t have

84%

Chapter 187

for a moment. Then,

every six hours until it’s under control,” Liam said, already rising from

do,” Julian said.

toward the door. “And update me if any cameras show up at the site. Especially international ones. We solve this fast

out of the room

familiar face was waiting

Horvath greeted

to a halt the moment he saw who was waiting outside the

“What are you

irritation. Inwardly, he was already calculating how his father managed to bypass security and walk freely through the executive floor. No one had sent him a message. No

“I’ve been calling you since that little encounter this weekend. What kind of son ignores his own father

blink. “You are a stranger.”

“Watch your tone.”

Liam adjusted the cuff of his sleeve. “I have other business to

“Fine. Then maybe I’ll just go

Liam

slightly toward

exhaled once, then turned and started

the hall to his private office and opened the door without

he muttered.

closed the door

+13

What is this–charcoal gray?” Olivier ran a hand along the edge of a cabinet. “Looks like a tech startup in here. Not

behind his desk. He didn’t sit. “What do

you

want?”

still

desk looks cheap,” he added, gesturing. “That’s not oak. And the

ask for a review of my office,”

Chapter 187

that supposed to be? Abstract? You always were

art.”

He simply waited.

toward him, hands in his pockets. “Fine. I’ll get to the point.”

didn’t get there yet. Not fully. He took his time, like always. But Liam was done indulging.

said Isabella’s name,” Liam cut in. “What

an eyebrow as he made himself comfortable on the

playing

should call me Father.”