Chapter 169 Crisis Management
Samuel, a man who had clawed his way up from humble beginnings to become a powerful figure, suddenly found his anger receding, replaced by an icy calm. He knew, from years of operating in the shadows, that clarity was paramount, especially when dealing with the darker side of the law. The more audacious the plan, the more meticulous the execution had to be. One wrong step could be his undoing.
Kidnapping, extortion, even assassination – these were not unfamiliar territories for Samuel. He had navigated these treacherous waters before, emerging unscathed thanks to his unwavering composure and meticulous planning.
"Stephanie," he began, his voice devoid of warmth, "You raise a valid point, but let me make one thing clear." His eyes hardened. "When there's a whiff of a 20% profit, investors get excited. At 50%, they're willing to bend the rules. But offer them 100%, and they'll turn a blind eye to anything, even laws. You cost my son millions! Millions! What's the law when compared to that kind of money?"
He leaned closer, his gaze piercing Stephanie's soul. "Do you know why I chose you, Stephanie? Why not target Shark Live directly? Because you, my dear, are the weakest link. The easiest target.
"You took my son's money, and now I'm going to take it back. Tenfold. Understand?"
Samuel's words hung in the air, heavy with menace. He had always been a ruthless man. When it came to strangers, particularly those who had crossed him, he felt no shred of remorse.
"No!" Stephanie cried out, her voice cracking with terror. "Please, I only have three million in savings. Take it all, just let me go! I beg you!" Tears streamed down her face, her body trembling uncontrollably.
Samuel remained unmoved. "Three million is a drop in the ocean compared to what you owe me. I'll let you go when I've made fifty million. Not a penny less."
"Fifty million?" Stephanie's voice was barely a whisper, her face drained of all color. "I could never make that kind of money, even if I worked my entire life. You can't possibly think…"
"Don't underestimate the desperation of men, Stephanie," You NeoSeou girls all look alike. I'm gonna have you sleep around, maybe even get you in some R-rated flicks! Don't worry, though; I'll rake in fifty million over three years with you. Once I hit that jackpot, you can bounce back to NeoSeou like nothing happened in Golden Valley. But you gotta play nice with me. Otherwise, I might have to resort to drugging you!"
"No! You can't do this!" Stephanie screamed, struggling against the restraints. "This is insane! It's illegal!"
"Hold still!" a burly man growled, slapping Stephanie hard across the face. "In my hands, don't even think about struggling! It doesn't matter who you are—once you're in my grip, there’s no getting away!?"
The blow sent a jolt of pain through Stephanie, silencing her. Leander, checking his phone, saw the promised million dollars deposited into his account. A down payment, he knew, for his silence and complicity.
"Samuel, you're a man of your word," Leander said, feigning gratitude. "Don't you worry about a thing. This one has no one to come looking for her. Just a sister, no other family."
Samuel scoffed. "Typical NeoSeou men. No wonder you let Evalia's men have their way with your women."
"Money talks, my friend," Leander replied with a shrug. "You'd be surprised how many in Golden Valley sing our praises, even with NeoSeou being a middling nation at best."
"Scum rises to the top everywhere," Samuel said with a sneer. "We're done here. Get out of my sight."
"One last thing," Leander said, turning back to Stephanie with a mocking bow. "Thank you, Stephanie. You've been a delightful source of pleasure and profit. A true angel investor! I'll cherish the memories." He then knelt and kowtowed sarcastically before turning to leave.
"Leander, you lying bastard!" Stephanie roared, her voice raw with betrayal. "You promised to take care of me! All your promises were lies!"
Leander didn't even bother turning around, walking away with a dismissive smirk.
"Take her," Samuel ordered, his voice devoid of emotion.
Stephanie, her mouth and limbs bound, was bundled into a waiting car. A dark and uncertain future awaited her. Of all the unfortunate souls caught in the web of Shark Live, Stephanie's fate was perhaps the most tragic.
But the world, as they said, was an unjust place. The wicked often prosper, while the innocent were left to suffer.
Meanwhile, at the Shark Live headquarters, the lights burned bright despite the late hour. A crisis meeting was underway, the atmosphere thick with tension.
Kevin and Hilda sat at the head of the table, their faces grim. All eyes were on them, waiting for guidance.
"This is a disaster," Kevin said, his voice heavy with the gravity of the situation. "Our reputation, our most valuable asset, has been tarnished. That snake Boring played us all. It's infuriating!"
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