Chapter 170- One Year Later
One Year Later
At Black Rock Co. headquarters, a sleek black Bugatti Veyron screeched to a sharp drift and came to a smooth stop in a reserved parking spot. A tall, lean figure stepped out of the car, clad in a perfectly tailored black Armani suit that hugged his upright frame. His sculpted features bore a cold, hard edge — even from a distance, he exuded an oppressive aura.
Charles shut the car door with one hand and strode into the Black Rock Co. lobby. Two neat rows of employees stood on either side, a formation as imposing as when he had first entered this company two years ago. He closed his eyes briefly, exhaled deeply, then stepped forward, flanked closely by his right-hand aides, Giles and Novia.
"Boss, welcome back!" From the opposite direction came August, wearing a white suit and a sunny smile. He extended a friendly hand toward Charles. Their hands met — long, slender, and strong — and the resemblance in their expressions was unmistakable. Charles smiled with approval, noting how much August had grown over the past year of rigorous training.
Their handshake was firm.
"Thanks for your hard work," Charles said, patting August’s shoulder before stepping past him toward the elevator.
His gaze casually flicked to the corner behind August — but the delicate figure he had once noticed was nowhere to be seen.
Charles gave a self-deprecating smile. As the elevator doors slid open, he stepped in calmly, rising above the lobby like a king ascending to his throne.
Back in his long-unvisited office, nothing had changed — even the secretary’s room outside retained its usual style. Yet everything felt different. Charles’s side was now empty. Janet was gone.
It had been a year since Reyn had taken her to Italy — and since then, Janet had disappeared.