Chapter 94

Richard's

pov.

I couldn't breathe. Not because I was scared-though I was-but because everything felt like it was crashing down all at once.

The phone call came in the middle of the morning when everything should've been calm. But that was never how it worked anymore, was it? The network had found its way into my life, into everything I cared about, and now they were making their move.

"Mr. Wright," the voice on the other end of the line was cold, too cold for comfort. "We have information that suggests your business dealings aren't as clean as you claim."

I barely heard the rest of the words. My mind was already racing, already trying to figure out who had leaked what. What had they found? What were they planning to do with it?

I ended the call quickly, staring at the phone screen. My thoughts were a blur, but one thing stood out clearly: they were targeting me. My business.

My reputation. It felt like everything I had built was suddenly crumbling, and I couldn't stop it.

I didn't have time to think about that now, though. I had to act fast. I threw on a jacket and headed out to the office. I needed to find out what was going on before it spiraled any further.

The moment I stepped inside, I was hit with chaos. My assistant was on the phone, her voice frantic. I could hear her trying to calm someone down, but it was useless. Everyone in the office was on edge. "What's happening?" I asked, trying to stay calm as I walked into my office.

"Sir, we've got a problem," Marta said, barely looking up. "There's a scandal brewing. Someone's digging into your past, and they've got something-something big."

I ran a hand through my hair. This wasn't just a random leak. This was coordinated, and deliberate. They were out to destroy me.

I opened my laptop and went straight to the news sites. There it was, front and center. My face. My company's name. And the headline was like a punch to the gut. "Richard Winters Linked to Shady Deals: A Look at the Businessman's Dark Past"

too fast. They

been forced into when I was younger. Everything was

muttered to myself. But it didn't matter how. They had. And now, I had to

paced around the room, trying to gather my thoughts. This was bad. Really bad. The network was trying to break me,

I was the same scared kid who'd stepped into my father's shoes years ago. They didn't

mistakes while growing in the business, and I made amendments by leaving the network while

At any moment, the media

breath, trying to steady myself as I grabbed the office phone. This was my company, my reputation, and I wasn't

still on her own call. She glanced at me, worry etched all over her face, but she nodded and quickly patched

trying to keep my voice steady. "No one from the press gets in. Not a single reporter, cameraman, anyone even

that. We're not letting this blow up more than

up and nodded at Marta. "Call in

already on their way, Mr. Wright," she replied, though her voice

on edge. They glanced at one another, then at me, their faces asking the questions they didn't dare speak. I cut

story. But we need a strong, smart response. Something that convinces people this is

senior publicists, Lisa, leaned forward. "We could address the claims head-on, and

narrative's clear: I've worked hard to build this business honestly, and anything in my past has been resolved professionally. We'll push back on any rumors that make me out to be... well, anything less." The team set to work, murmuring ideas back and forth, and debating word choices and strategies. I could feel my heart beating fast, like it was waiting for something to go wrong. But right now, there wasn't time to feel anything but focus. Suddenly, my phone buzzed,

all the calls I'd ignored that day, his and Sarah were the ones I couldn't afford to miss. I raised a finger to signal silence and stepped into the

trying to sound steady. "I

almost too quiet. "I'm not calling just

a breath. "Go on. What are

words carefully. "The network's found a way to target your reputation. They're bringing up everything from your

creep up my spine. "Yeah...I know. They're digging up deals I did years ago. Things that

he said, his voice low. "They're claiming these deals were corrupt from the start. And they've planted stories with the media to

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