Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

"By the way, Mr. Dorsey, the remaining execs just handed in their resignation letters," the assistant said, feeling a chill run down his spine under William's piercing gaze. It was like the man wanted to eat him alive. But really, what did that have to do with him? It wasn't his fault everyone was fed up with William.

Back when Max ran Dorsey International, he commanded respect. Just one look from him, and you knew not to mess around. His authority was undeniable.

William, though, was a different story. He was all about building alliances and playing favorites. It was either you're with him, or you're out.

A workplace should be about finding common ground despite differences. But under William's leadership, only the suck-ups thrived. Those who figured out his game had already started kissing up to him like crazy. Now, the remaining staff at Dorsey International were just a bunch of brown-nosers with zero real skills.

"Damn it! A bunch of useless twits! Get HR on the line and tell them to hire new people ASAP. With the salaries we offer, I refuse to believe we can't find anyone willing to join!" William barked.

The assistant hesitated, eyes downcast. "We've got plenty of new hires, but they don't know the ropes yet. They need time to get settled and work well with the team. And more importantly, Mr. Dorsey, we've got major issues with our overseas projects. We need to send people out, but we're already stretched thin."

It was a humiliating admission for a company of Dorsey International's stature.

William's eyes narrowed as he slumped back into his chair, wondering how it had all gone so wrong.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

His lips trembled as he noticed a pop-up message from Stellar Stage Entertainment on his screen. Every media outlet was raving about their latest movie's success, estimating profits well over a hundred times their investment. The film's budget was in the tens of millions, but it was smashing box office records daily. Plus, it had turned Aubree and Ricardo into overnight sensations, with international luxury brands now lining up for endorsements.

Their striking looks were undeniable assets. If Stellar Stage Entertainment played its cards right, they had two veritable gold mines on their hands.

"Damn it all!" William cursed, hurling his laptop to the floor. Was he really going to have to go overseas himself?

But the old man's stance was unclear. He'd promised shares, but William hadn't seen a dime. If the patriarch found out about the mess he'd made of Dorsey International, William wouldn't just lose his chance at those shares-he'd likely be kicked out of the Dorsey family altogether.

No, he couldn't let things spiral any further.

Then there was the matter of Brielle. William hadn't made any headway, and while he considered targeting Stellar Stage Entertainment, they were untouchable thanks to their recent hit. Going after Brielle personally was a no-go; she'd barely stepped outside lately. He took a deep breath just as Antonio walked in.

A flicker of cunning crossed William's eyes-maybe he could pin recent failures on his son.

"Ashton, you've been visiting your grandfather again. What did he say?" William asked.

William coveted the CEO seat, and Antonio was his most likely rival.

"Grandpa wants to see the company's recent performance."

That was a sore spot for William!

With Dorsey International in chaos, he couldn't possibly present an impressive report to the old man.

William's eyes gleamed with malice he wouldn't allow his position to be threatened.

If the old man was dissatisfied with him, getting rid of him seemed like the logical solution. That way, the shares would fall to him as the primary heir.

His heart raced with excitement-he didn't need to listen to a man with one foot in the grave.

"You've been cozying up to your grandfather lately," William remarked.

Antonio knew William was suspicious. He lowered his head "Father our priority should be to sort out Dorsey International's issues. If we can't make it to court, the case with Max will drag on."

But clearly, they were too swamped to appear in court.

William rubbed his temples, not bothering to hide his ambition.

"Dorsey International is a mess. If Grandpa finds out, we're both in hot water. Ashton, Grandpa's too old to get involved in the business. Instead of worrying about being kicked out of the Dorsey family, we should strike first. We'll split his shares."

Antonio almost laughed. This man was truly the patriarch's protégé, skilled at making empty promises.

Antonio knew all too well that if he

did the dirty work and took care of Michael, he'd be the next in line for prison. That would leave William to reap the benefits.