Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



The video feed was a mess, showing the internal chaos at Inko Group, with financial news reports flashing about the stock market's drastic plunge. In the video, key shareholders of Inko Group were at each other's throats, blaming one another and even threatening to split the profits and pull out their shares.

Outside the company, one partner after another was bailing out, citing Inko Group's sudden turmoil and the fact that the chairman had turned into a vegetable, with no hope of waking up.

The situation was bad enough with no one to handle it, but internally, a mole had leaked Inko Group's latest technology, causing a massive leak of core values.

This had the partner companies smelling blood in the water.

Rumors were flying, and Inko Group's reputation in Harmonia Country took a nosedive. With the chairman's unfortunate incident making waves in Emperor City, there was talk that Inko Group might face the biggest crisis in its history, perhaps even crumbling to bankruptcy.

Parisa clenched her cold fingertips, getting angrier the more she watched.

She had a bad feeling earlier, but she hadn't expected things to go south this fast.

With Phineas, the director, taken out, Inko Group's shareholders were scattering.

The core technology leak caused a huge stir in the industry.

Partner companies were dropping their contracts one after the other.

At this rate, Inko Group's stock wouldn't last another fortnight.

She rested a hand against her temple, her pupils cold and dark, her mood foul.

Just then, she heard Florence barge in. Parisa had no time for distractions, lifting her gaze sharply, her look so piercing it made Florence freeze. Noticing it was her daughter, Parisa softened her fierce expression a bit.

Still, seeing Florence barge in without knocking, she frowned slightly, her voice dropping, "Florence, what are you doing here?"

Florence detected the displeasure in her voice. This woman was incredibly strict when it came to work, showing little compassion for her own daughter.

Trying to look pitiful, Florence's doe eyes welled up with tears, "Mom, I'm sorry, I didn't know you were in a video meeting."

"It's not a meeting, but the company is facing an emergency that needs my immediate attention," Parisa replied with a forced smile, her eyes not reaching the warmth of her lips, trying to sound as gentle as possible, "Florence, I really can't entertain you right now."

"But Mom, I have urgent news for you too!"

Ignoring her mother's hints to leave, Florence stepped further into the room.

Parisa frowned, about to speak, but Florence cut in, "I heard from Bryce about a terrible tragedy, Mom. Mr. Wilson was attacked and now he's a permanent vegetable."noveldrama

"Oh my god, it breaks my heart. Ludwik is behind this, he must be gloating now, planning his next move against Mr. Wilson's company. He's in cahoots with Whitney, who knows what they're up to?"

"Mr. Lutz expressed his concerns about the situation in Emperor City. His company just got crushed by Ludwik. If Ludwik targets Inko Group next, he'll have Emperor City under his thumb. People like Bryce, who got unjustly sidelined by him, will have nowhere to turn. Emperor City's business world will be washed in blood.

Mom, you're a global chairman. Are you really going to watch one of your branches fall into Ludwik's scheming hands?"

Parisa looked at her, already aware of Mr. Wilson's unfortunate fate.

What was unexpected was Inko Group's internal turmoil!

Florence, seizing the moment, suggested, "Mom, Mr. Lutz is a business genius, I've mentioned him before. You're far away in Germinia, out of reach and unfamiliar with Emperor City, unable to return to Harmonia Country. I have a proposal: if you trust me, I recommend letting Bryce, this rare gem of integrity and talent, manage the current situation at Inko Group. You can absolutely trust him! This way, we can keep tabs on the domestic situation from Germinia without further loss. Mom, I came to discuss Mr. Wilson's issue with you. I didn't want you to worry, especially with your recent migraines. Bryce helped me when I was in trouble; he's a genuinely good person. His Lutz Group was thriving in Emperor City before Ludwik's crackdown. Despite losing everything, he's still concerned about Emperor City's business community and Mr. Wilson. I really think highly of him, Mom. A call with him, and you'll see how insightful he is."

Parisa raised an eyebrow in surprise.

She hadn't expected her daughter to worry about her company's affairs.

She learned of Mr. Wilson's tragedy through Bryce, but her daughter's immediate recommendation of Bryce to manage Inko Group's affairs seemed abrupt.

Parisa could appreciate her daughter's good intentions to share her burdens.

However, entrusting a stranger with one of her branches was not as simple as it seemed.

Parisa gave a wry smile, "Florence, I appreciate your willingness to help and your belief in Mr. Lutz's character and business acumen. He might be a fine young man.

But you're unaware of Inko Group's current predicament. It's in deep trouble.

I doubt this is something a young entrepreneur can easily stabilize."

Parisa turned the laptop around without hesitation, showing Florence the latest news from back home.

Beneath her sharply defined brows, a shadow seemed to fall over her face, her long lashes fluttering with a chill determination as she spoke, "With Mr. Wilson so gravely ill, and the Inko Group on the verge of falling apart, it would be against both my heart and my principles to just sit back and do nothing here in Germinia.

I've made up my mind, I'm going back to take control of the situation at our branch office!

Those shareholders, I need to shake them up.

And there's a traitor in our midst, leaking company secrets. That's unforgivable, and they must be rooted out.

It seems only my direct intervention can bring those old timers to their senses, stabilize morale, and prevent the company from going under. I won't allow it!"

"Mom, what...you've decided to go back to Harmonia Country?" Florence was visibly shocked, caught completely off guard!

Her eyes were glued to the laptop screen, watching Inko Group's stock plummet, with the news broadcasting all sorts of negative commentary about the company.

She couldn't believe it.

Had she really been away in the countryside for just three days, only for such a disaster to strike Inko Group?