Jameson felt like he was being burned at the stake. Every inch of his body was on fire, throbbing in pain.


    "My apologies," he rasped. "That said, please tell Mr. Justin not to worry. I will make sure to settle all the troubles here in Sna City!"


    "That''s easy for you to say!" Sheryl jeered. "Since you took over as Schmidt Group''s chairman, you haven''t achieved a single sess. Instead, Jasper and Alyssa have consistently outmaneuvered you." Jameson closed his reddened eyes. Hatred and dissatisfaction gnawed at him. He gritted his teeth.


    "Don''t say that I didn''t warn you, Mr. Schmidt. Nichs Novak is a threat. You''d better get rid of him. This is thest chance Mr. Justin is giving you. I''m sure you know what oue awaits you if you fail again, she added with a chilling voice.


    She abruptly terminated the call before Jameson could utter a word.


    He stared at the dark screen, a sense of frigid entrapment washing over him.


    A knock at the door startled him back to his senses. He called out, "Enter."


    Carl strutted in, beaming in a brand-new suit. "Mr. Schmidt, I proposed to Amber. She said yes!"


    Carl''s joy was evident.


    Jameson, however, looked pale and unreadable. "Oh, congrattions then."


    Carl presented his wedding invitation respectfully. "I have chosen the date, time and location. I truly hope you can attend our wedding."


    Jameson picked up the invitation, his eyes lingering on the date. "I''m afraid I won''t be able to attend your wedding, Carl."


    Carl''s chest tightened. Sensing something amiss, he asked with concern, "Is there something wrong, Mr. Schmidt? You can tell me anything. I''ll help you through it, even if it means canceling the wedding!"


    "I appreciate your loyalty. You''ve been with me for ten years. There''s no one I trust more." A rare gentleness flickered in Jameson''s eyes. "These are just difficult times. I can''t focus on anything until the issue with Nichs is resolved."


    Carl''s expression darkened. "Just tell me what you need, Mr. Schmidt."


    "I''ll have Mr. Derullere arrange a meeting with Nichs within the next few days."


    He got up and walked slowly to the window, his silhouette radiating coldness. "We just need to keep his wife in our clutches and use her as leverage. Then, he''ll take everything to his grave."


    Carl nodded in understanding. After all, Nichs was fiercely protective of his wife.


    While sinister, kidnapping a person''s family was a time-tested tactic. It was their trump card.


    "The police have already


    investigated Nichs for several deaths. He''s finished." Carl paused then lowered his voice. "But Mr Schmidt, what about his wife after he''s gone? I thought you promised to keep her safe..."


    Jameson scoffed, a dark glint in his eyes. "Have Lever been one to keep promises? Besides, he contacted Jasper privately. He''s disobedient and disloyal. Why should I make arrangements for a traitor after he''s dead? He can dream on."


    "You''re right," Carl agreed.


    Jameson reached into his pocket and retrieved a delicate stainless steel box. Inside was a filled syringe.


    Carl scrutinized it. "Mr. Schmidt, isn''t that... the medication Mr. Justin gave you?"


    "Like I said, it can be useful at a critical time," Jameson exined with a sly glint in his eyes.


    The moment Alyssa exited the interrogation room, Jasper and Cyrus rushed to her side.


    "How did it go, Lyse?" Cyrus, ever the impatient one, blurted out.


    Jasper, however, remained calm. He silently offered his support by gently wrapping his arm around Alyssa''s tense shoulders.


    Alyssa pursed her lips. "While Chief Novak hasn''t revealed anything, I can tell he''s starting to waver. We just need the right opportunity to push him in the right direction." Jasper met her gaze. "What do we do now, Lyse?"


    After a moment, Alyssa replied with two words. "We wait."


    Cyrus was perplexed. "Wait for what?"


    "We wait for a certain viper to make a mistake," Alyssa exined, her voice firm like a ruler devising a strategy. "He''ll present us with the opportunity on a silver tter." "But will waiting work? Jameson''s a cunning man. He''s always been one step ahead of us. Will he really slip up this time?" Cyrus remained unconvinced.


    "It''s different this time," Alyssa said, her voice firm as she inteced her fingers with Jasper''s. "This time, we have the upper hand.


    "As long as we have Nichs under our control and protection, Jameson wouldn''t be able to do anything even if he asked the gods for help."


    "I get what you mean, Lyse."


    Jasper''s eyes locked onto Alyssa''s


    with deepening passion. "So much in


    this world is predictable. It''s theN?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    human heart that remains truly unpredictable."