The Almighty Dominance

Ten minutes later, Charles emerged, a chillingly composed smile etched onto his handsome face, his attire immaculate once more, betraying no hint of the destructive storm he'd just unleashed.

But beneath his polished exterior, Charles burned with an insatiable hunger for revenge.

He had to triumph this time—especially considering the astronomical losses he'd inflicted upon his mother due to the failed SkinDews venture, which had bled nearly half a billion from their coffers.

Charles knew he had to act fast; his financial lifeblood was slipping away.

Pulling out his sleek phone, Charles quickly dialed one of the managers from Kingston.

His voice was coldly decisive, leaving no room for hesitation: "That offer you gave me—I'll accept. Meet me immediately in the meeting hall."

The voice on the other end responded hastily, anxiety apparent. "Right away, sir. I'm coming to you."

A few moments later, a lean, cunning-faced man with narrow eyes approached Charles, bowing obsequiously.

It was Hans, the fox-faced manager of Kingston Pharmaceuticals.

From a discreet distance, Alex watched warily, sensing the sinister conspiracy brewing between the two men whispering furtively in the shadowy corner.

Yet Alex could effortlessly read their lisping speech and understand every word they meant to say.

Hans leaned in close, his voice a cautious whisper dripping with discontent.

"Sir, our new chief has gone completely mad. For products barely a few points below standard, he's ordered thousands of perfectly good boxes destroyed. You wouldn't believe how much inventory we've wasted this month alone, simply because of his obsessive need to impress Miss Jasmine."

"How many exactly?" Charles inquired sharply, his eyes narrowing greedily at the possibilities unfolding before him.

Hans hesitated briefly before answering softly, "About ten thousand boxes, sir. Elixir Vitae, our high-profit product-though the company insists on discarding those hundred thousand bottles, calling it a negligible loss, we employees see clearly that this chief has no real business sense. He only cares about impressing Jasmine Kingston."

"That's exactly why I call you Sir-you're far better than Jasmine, no doubt about it. You understand this better than anyone else."

Charles's eyes shimmered with the cold glint of ambition. "Tell me, just how substandard are these batches?"

Hans leaned forward, voice low and quick.

"Hardly at all, sir. If our top-grade products score a solid nine on quality, these would be an 8.9—maybe a seven at the very worst. Still highly effective, no real danger or concern."

comes from slight temperature inconsistencies during production. The machines sometimes swing a few degrees off the standard. That's what causes the dip in potency. But the medicine itself? It works.

expression twisted with

give us an inch of leeway. Tosses out perfectly usable stock over the tiniest flaw-just to look good in front of Jasmine.

in, voice hushed but

the opportunity. We can offload these 'imperfect' batches to you- quietly, no paperwork-for just ten percent of their retail price. You flip them, you're looking at ten times your return.

mind raced rapidly, greed fueling his thoughts. Ten thousand boxes- such potential

curled into a predatory smile; finally, fortune

A few minutes later.

toward Clara's side,

the meeting going?" Charles asked, voice strained with discomfort. "Sorry about stepping out earlier,

hesitated, her eyes shadowed

she began softly, "it seems like they're not willing to give you a distribution license. Major markets like Los Angeles and Vermont

exhaled deeply, his frustration boiling

goes-she listens more to Alex

own sister into my enemy. He's hell- bent on throwing me out of my own

faltered, shoulders slumping under the

swear, sometimes it feels like I'm the only sane

Why does Alex despise me? I got close to Sophia, yes—but Alex already has Jasmine.

her hand gently covering Charles',

you. You're a good man, and good men eventually find justice. Let me

Charles' voice cracked slightly, vulnerability creeping into

me just catch my breath for

closed briefly, allowing her to see his weariness

a bottle," Clara whispered reassuringly, stepping away toward the

bottles, another hand

with Charles, aren't you?" a low, cautious voice

Clara turned slowly, sizing up

explained quietly, his

right. Jasmine and Alex are treating him

replied, her

his voice dropping even lower, heavy

every production run

excess of about