Injury

After a while, Leonid got up and adjusted Charlotte's sleeping position on the bed. He gently and slowly removed her coat so as not to wake her, then covered her with a blanket after feeling the light fabric of her pajamas and pursing his lips.

He couldn't quite understand why Charlotte wore such light and short clothes, especially when she was unwell.

He sighed and placed her coat over the blanket.

Leonid sat back down on the chair and pulled a handkerchief from his suit pocket to wipe the cold sweat beads from Charlotte's forehead.

She looked calmer now, and her breathing was steady. Leonid's thumb lightly brushed her cheek and slid down to her lips. The pale color of her lips seemed to regain its vitality as time passed.

Leonid observed Charlotte under the faint sunlight seeping through the curtains and silently contemplated his next steps after Dmitri's news about the heel with Charlotte's fingerprints on it.

Considering Dmitri's words, how could Charlotte remain calm when she might have seen the victim murdered yesterday or earlier?

But what if the heel had been there for a long time and had nothing to do with the victim or the killer? The problem was that the heel's presence in Sophia's apartment might be a definitive signal from the killer about his next victim.

Just thinking this way made Leonid frown.

His thumb stopped caressing Charlotte's lips, and he withdrew his hand, leaning on the armrest of the chair. Perhaps it was time to convince her to leave the residential building and look for another apartment elsewhere in the city or maybe convince her to travel to her family's home, which would be better for her and ensure her safety.

"We are happy to meet your terms. Best of luck moving forward."

Kaiser concluded his meeting with a polite remark and headed toward the door with his team of lawyers.

Today, he sealed yet another deal with ease, as usual.

"These people are no different from one another. One bag of money is enough to shatter all their steadfast beliefs in an instant."

Kaiser smirked, his expression cool and sardonic.

"How pitiful for those who have passed on."

As Kaiser approached his office, his private secretary, with a pale face and a rounded hairstyle, hurried through the hallway toward him with quick steps.

"Young master!"

The secretary called out to Kaiser, adjusting his thick round glasses as he stopped beside his young master, who had halted upon seeing Alex rushing frantically toward him.

"What's the matter, Alex?"

"Young master, the family head is here and also…"

Alex hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice.

"He's waiting for you in your office now."

"The family head? What's the old man doing here?"

Kaiser raised an eyebrow, speaking aloud to himself as he resumed walking.

"Well, nothing good ever comes of his visits to the company."

"Young master, wait for me."

Alex hurried to follow behind Kaiser.

"The family head has requested your presence now, and he seems very angry."

"No problem, don't worry."

Kaiser smiled and added mockingly:

"We all know the old man doesn't smile because of his thick wrinkles, so he always looks angry."

"But young master… the family head doesn't have many wrinkles, as you just said."

Kaiser suddenly stopped walking, then glanced at Secretary Alex. He thought deeply for a moment before speaking softly, covering his mouth with his palm:

"Alex, you don't use your eyes properly. You should look at his inner face, not his outer one."

Kaiser gestured toward his own face with his free hand as he explained, then gently patted Alex's shoulder and added:

"Then you'll see the wrinkles on that old man's face. Got it?"

"Yes, young master."

"Very good. Now, let's go."

Kaiser smiled with ease and began walking, with Secretary Alex trailing behind him.

After a moment, Alex cleared his throat and said:

"Young master, what if he explodes at you like before?"

"You mean if he has another meltdown? Let the old man get angry; he's always like that."

Kaiser sighed and muttered in frustration:

"Nothing useful comes from old people, especially that old man."

"Young master…"

Alex glanced at Kaiser's back, feeling a pang of regret in his heart. When the company lost large sums of money due to unprofitable deals and lazy workers, the Chief Executive Officer bore all the consequences.

And the CEO here was the poor young master.

Today had been a disaster. In fact, Alex had dressed up particularly well today, wearing his best suit, slicking back his hair, and donning a colorful tie.

According to his horoscope, he should have had a great day, but everything pointed to catastrophe. Perhaps Alex shouldn't have believed in astrology like a fool.

"Well, stay here, Alex. I'll face the old man alone."

"Young master, are you planning to bear the burden alone?"

Alex clasped his hands, watching his young master shine like a saint in his dark eyes.

"Don't exaggerate. We'll just talk. There won't be consequences like last time."

"I hope so, young master. Good luck facing the family head!"

"Thank you~!"

Kaiser raised his fist and then entered his office. As soon as he stepped inside, his smile faded when he was met with his father's furious glare.

"Welcome to my office."

Kaiser shut the door behind him, walked toward his desk, and stopped, staring at his father seated in the CEO's chair.

It was his desk, so he calmly said:

"Why are you sitting at my desk?"

"Do you think you deserve this position?!"

Outside, Alex stood near the door, trying to eavesdrop on the conversation happening inside. Moments later, the expected scenario began to unfold.

Without warning, the sound of shouting grew louder and louder, spilling out through the CEO's office doors and echoing outside. Alex paced back and forth near the door, unsure of what to do.

"Should I call the company's private security?"

Alex asked himself aloud, then shook his head.

"No, no. That idea won't stop anything. The family head is the real authority here, and calling anyone is useless."

After a few moments, the sound of glass shattering echoed from within, a harbinger of doom.

Alex's body instinctively shuddered at the sound of breaking glass, and he stepped back from the door, biting his nails.

Once again, the family head was wreaking havoc in the young master's office.

Alex pressed his hands to his head, no longer knowing how to handle the situation. Suddenly, the office door swung open, and a straight-backed man with long red hair stepped out. Alex quickly stood aside, lowering his head submissively like a docile lamb.

Alex dared not look at the fierce and aggressive face of the Ivanovitch family head, keeping his gaze fixed downward.

"You're his private secretary?"

"Yes, sir!"

Alex's shoulders trembled, feeling the oppressive glare of the Ivanovitch family head suffocate him to his core.

"Can't anyone in this company do their job properly?"

"I beg your pardon-?"

"I said you can't do your job properly!"

Another sudden bout of rage overtook Agafonov, and he began yelling, raising his cane in the air.

"Because of this fool's actions and his entire staff, we're still losing money!"

Agafonov shouted at Alex, his loud voice echoing throughout the company halls.

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I'm sorry."

Alex apologized repeatedly, bowing his head lower. His trembling legs could hardly bear the brutality of the Ivanovitch family head.

"What good is your apology to me? Will it rain money on my company, or will it make that fool stop his shameful actions?"

"That's enough. Can't you leave without shouting at the employees?"

Kaiser intervened amidst his father's shouting, standing in front of him, his broad back shielding Alex as he faced his father.

Kaiser's forehead was bleeding, but he hadn't lost the sharpness in his eyes as he stared into his father's blue eyes.

"You're scaring the employees. You should leave now."

"Do you dare order me to leave?!"

Agafonov's eyes widened, his furious expression shifting to one of astonishment.

"I won't repeat myself. You must leave now before things escalate between us."

Kaiser's voice was filled with spite and hatred, and he made no effort to hide it.

"I'll make you lose not just millions but something far greater and more important than money, old man."

"Are you threatening your father now?!"

"Do you acknowledge me as your son now?"

Kaiser smirked mockingly and added:

"I thought you abandoned me ever since you fathered your second son with your mistress."

"Don't you dare speak of that here!"

Agafonov struck his cane against the ground and yelled.

"After everything you've done to her, don't you dare mention it!"

"I didn't do anything."

Kaiser smiled sweetly, placing his hands in his pants pockets.

"Karma did it all."

"Karma? Do you call what happened that day karma?!"

"Yes! So leave my company now!"

Suddenly, Kaiser began shouting.

"Move and leave before karma circles us again."

"Fine, good."

Agafonov nodded and stepped back.

"But don't think our conversation ends here. If something like today happens again, I won't let you off as easily as I am now."

"Fine. The same goes for you, so stop messing with me."

Agafonov bit his lip and left with heavy steps.

The sound of Agafonov's cane echoed through the hallways until he disappeared into the elevator.

When the Ivanovitch family head was gone, Alex let out a sigh of relief and collapsed to his knees.

"Alex, gather yourself and call the company's cleaner to tidy up my office. I'm leaving now."

"But young master, your forehead is bleeding!"

"It's fine. This isn't the first time I've bled."