Empire 190

Holden is puzzled and concerned when Melinda calls him unusually early, leading him to search for Nova at the project department. To his shock, Nova has quit without any prior notice. Holden recalls that just days earlier, Nova had sent him fabricated data about Ramona’s project, revealing her deception. Meanwhile, Melinda is orchestrating a scheme to undermine Ramona by leaking bids on minor projects, intending to blame Ramona for the resulting losses and push her out of the company.

Holden finds himself trapped in a dangerous game as Melinda now blames him for the fallout, and Nova has disappeared, cutting off all contact. Frustrated and feeling outmaneuvered by a junior employee, Holden’s irritation grows. His path is then blocked by Ramona, who appears confident and poised, signaling her growing strength and determination. They head to a meeting room adjacent to the office, where Ramona calmly discusses Nova’s potential resignation and stresses the company’s serious approach to employee concerns, hinting at an investigation.

Holden becomes increasingly uneasy as Ramona’s calm demeanor and words suggest she knows more than he expected—possibly about Nova’s actions and the ongoing corporate manipulations. Suddenly, Holden’s assistant informs him that a major partner, Holt Group, is facing a crisis with government investigators at their office, jeopardizing their deal. Ramona’s cold remark about the inevitable collapse of a corrupt company underscores the mounting tension and the unraveling of Holden and Melinda’s plans. The chapter ends with a chilling exchange, highlighting the growing conflict between Ramona and Holden.

Over the past few days, Melinda was supposed to be out meeting clients, so why was she calling him so early in the morning? The question nagged at Holden as he answered the phone, his face quickly darkening with concern.

Within ten minutes, Holden stormed into the project department, searching for Nova. Yet, to his shock, her desk was completely bare—no sign of her anywhere.

“Where’s Nova?” he demanded, grabbing the nearest employee.

The young man blinked, clearly caught off guard. “Uh… I think she quit?” he stammered.

Holden’s eyes flickered with surprise. When had Nova left the company? Why hadn’t he heard a single word?

Just three days ago, Nova had sent him a message, attaching a photo of Ramona’s latest project data, directly pulled from her computer. At the time, Holden had felt a surge of satisfaction, believing Nova had finally come around to his side. But he never anticipated that quiet, seemingly harmless girl had the courage to deceive him. The data she provided was completely fabricated.

Melinda was playing a dangerous double game—on one hand, she was trying to steal Covington Group’s team and projects for herself; on the other, she was scheming to push Ramona out of the company entirely.

But now, it seemed that ousting Ramona wouldn’t be as simple as Melinda hoped.

Following Melinda’s instructions, Holden had begun leaking bids for several minor projects—nothing major, just small losses that no one would immediately notice. For the moment, the damage was minimal, but over time, these small losses would accumulate, and eventually, the company would feel the strain.

When that day came, all the blame would fall squarely on Ramona. She would struggle to clear her name, while Melinda would reap the rewards without lifting a finger.

Yet, Holden hadn’t expected Nova’s data to backfire so spectacularly on both him and Melinda. Now Melinda was pointing fingers at him, blaming him for the mess, and Holden was at a loss for how to defend himself.

“Damn girl,” he muttered under his breath as he tried calling Nova again. But her number was disconnected, every message bouncing back with a red exclamation mark. Frustration boiled inside him.

He couldn’t just let this slide. It was the first time he had ever been outplayed by a woman—and not just any woman, but a seemingly innocent, easy-to-manipulate junior employee. How ironic. For original chapters go to Fɪnd-Novel.net

Grabbing his tie in irritation, Holden strode toward the elevators. But halfway there, Ramona appeared, blocking his path.

“Mr. Covington, aren’t you supposed to be meeting with our partners soon? Where are you rushing off to?” she asked, her tone calm but firm.

Ramona was dressed impeccably in a black-and-white plaid dress—classic yet modern—paired with five-inch black stilettos with red soles. Her hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail, and every step she took was confident and purposeful. There was a sharp elegance about her that had only grown since they first met.

Her smile was gentle, almost disarming, yet it sent a shiver down Holden’s spine. She was far more formidable now.

Forcing a smile, Holden replied, “I just had something urgent to deal with, but you’re right—the meeting’s about to start. I’ll handle it later.”

Together, they walked into the reserved conference room.

Holden had booked the largest meeting space, but it was adjacent to the open office area, with poor soundproofing. Anything said inside could easily spread throughout the company like wildfire.

Ramona’s smile remained composed, as if she wasn’t the least bit concerned. Holden realized she wasn’t hiding her intentions at all.

“I heard Nova resigned?” Holden said, taking a seat and glancing at his watch—twenty minutes until the Holt Group meeting.

“She’s considering it, but I haven’t approved anything yet,” Ramona answered, scrolling through her phone with a cool tone. “If an employee wants to leave, I need to know why. Nova’s a good kid—hardworking, with excellent results. She wouldn’t quit on a whim.”

“At Covington Group, we take resignations seriously. If there’s any suspicion of unfair treatment, bullying from management, or other special circumstances, employees can request an internal investigation. HR handles it thoroughly. I plan to start looking into it myself.”

Holden’s face shifted from pale to green, then nearly black. He stared at Ramona, certain she was hinting at him.

Had Nova really told Ramona everything?

Holden prided himself on his ability to read people—years of corporate experience had sharpened his instincts—and he had never lost his edge in manipulating situations.

Just then, his assistant knocked and hurried in, whispering something into Holden’s ear.

Startled, Holden shot to his feet. He opened his mouth to speak but found the words stuck. Instead, he looked at Ramona.

She seemed to sense something was wrong. Putting her phone away, she looked up at Holden with a bright, pleasant smile.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“You can leave for now,” Holden told his assistant quietly.

He met Ramona’s gaze again. Their eyes locked, both shining with a frosty gleam, but Ramona’s were calm and unreadable.

“Our partner can’t make it today. The deal might be canceled,” Holden said coldly.

His assistant had just informed him that Holt Group had called—there was a major issue with the project. Government investigators were at Holt Group’s office, and no one was allowed to leave.

Only three days had passed, and disaster had already struck Holt Group. It was hard to believe it was merely bad luck.

“I see,” Ramona nodded slowly, standing up and preparing to leave.

“Ramona,” Holden’s composure cracked for the first time. He let out a bitter laugh. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”

“Say what?” she replied coolly. “My opinion of Holt Group? I’d say this, Mr. Covington: when a company is rotten to its core, it’s only a matter of time before everything falls apart. Wouldn’t you agree?”

She glanced back once more, her smile vanished, replaced by eyes as cold and sharp as ice.

The chapter closes on a tense and fragile equilibrium, where trust has been shattered and alliances tested. Holden’s discovery of Nova’s betrayal and Melinda’s manipulations reveals the precariousness of power within the company, while Ramona’s poised confrontation signals a shift in control. The emotional undercurrents—frustration, suspicion, and a simmering rivalry—underscore the complexities of ambition and loyalty in a high-stakes corporate world.

Amidst the unfolding chaos, Ramona’s calm strength contrasts sharply with Holden’s unraveling composure, hinting at a deeper resilience beneath her polished exterior. The looming crisis with Holt Group serves as a stark reminder that no empire, no matter how mighty, is immune to collapse when built on deceit and internal strife. This chapter leaves us contemplating the cost of power and the inevitable reckoning that follows when truth surfaces.

The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the escalating corporate intrigue, where alliances are tested and true intentions come under scrutiny. Holden’s growing frustration and Ramona’s composed yet piercing demeanor set the stage for a tense confrontation that could shift the balance of power within the company. As secrets begin to unravel, the fragile trust between characters will be pushed to its limits, revealing who can be relied upon and who is merely playing a dangerous game.

Emotions will run high as the fallout from the Holt Group investigation threatens to engulf everyone involved. The stakes are rising, and with Ramona’s sharp insight and Holden’s desperation, the coming chapter will explore the thin line between victory and defeat in a world where one misstep can mean ruin. Readers will find themselves on edge, eager to see how the characters navigate the treacherous waters of corporate warfare and personal vendettas.