"Dad, Charles attempted murder! He contracted a killer, and Ralph stopped him in the act. Not even the best attorney I can find will save him now."


    James banked on the fact that his old man would not retaliate, given his strongwork of supporters within thepany and control over the project from Asher. He pulled the rug from under Lance.


    "Just be straight if you have a problem with me. Why must you take a dig at me? Who has been devoted to you? Who has been the one to work hard for thepany? Haven''t I done enough? Besides, Charles did this to himself. We wouldn''t be in so much trouble if he had kept it in his pants. Our family will be ruined if we clean up after him again."”


    James was stating facts.


    Although Charles was Lance''s favorite, Lance started to lose patience with his willful son over the recent distressing events.


    "Breathe, Dad. I think James has a point."


    Christopher said, "My opinion mighte across as brutal, but for the sake of the Iverson Group, you would have to put aside your feelings for Charles and do what''s best for all of us. The individual arrested can be linked back to Charles, and someone has to take responsibility."


    Lance pressed his lips together, his expression grimacing.


    "Christopher is right. The blowback on us will be dire if we protect Charles, Dad." For once, James took the enemy''s side.


    "In that case, I''m giving you full reins to take care of this, James."


    Lance closed his eyes bitterly, his hoarse voice reflecting the agony of losing his son. "This is as far as my rtionship with Charles goes."


    With Lance gone, Christopher and James were the only ones left in the meeting room.


    They were like thest two survivors of a brutal game.


    "It''s you and me now, James. We should look out for each other."


    Christopher rose to his feet with grace and looked askance at James. "Try toy it down on Charles gently when you see him. He''s known to be emotional. If he finds out that he''s never walking out free, he''ll probably flip out and kill you."


    "You just got lucky. Don''t be cocky."


    James gritted his teeth resentfully, but he knew to hit where it hurt the most. "Astrid and Charles are behind bars. No thanks to you. Be and Justin make such a lovely couple to go up against the family." It killed Christopher to be reminded that Be and Justin were a couple.


    Christopher tensed up. Even the air he breathed felt crisp.


    James taunted, "You''re just a bastard who fucked out on someone else''s victory. Do you think you can talk your way to acquiring Dad''s trust? Do you think you can win by pitting the family against each other?


    "A double-crossing asshole like you never amounts to anything. You can hide behind the expensive suit and refined demeanor, but I can see you for the pathetic loser you are. No wonder Be doesn''t give you the time of the day. What do you have on Justin? You make me sick."


    Christopher narrowed his eyes dangerously.


    He approached James aggressively, his fists clenching and his knuckles cracking.


    "Are you going to hit me here, Chris?"


    James smiled snarkily and pointed at the ceiling. "There are cameras everywhere. You will show that you are not the kind and docile guy you make out to be."


    Holding back his emotions, Christopher squinted his bloodshot eyes and straightened James'' tie in slow motion. "I feel sorry for you when you act like you have everything under control. It''s also funny." "What are you saying-Argh!"N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Christopher yanked James'' tie, cutting his air out.


    "You have already walked right into my trap, so don''t tell me you are still oblivious."