"I know what I'm doing," Alaric cut him off firmly. "If you need a reason, I'm not keeping a snake in the house just to protect our image."
"But Mr. Niel has to be in the loop—"
"I'll repeat. Immediately. Today." His voice dropped an octave, cold.
"You know I'm not the type to speak without reason, Rafael. Just do it."
Rafael paused for a few seconds. Then replied reluctantly, "Understood, Master Alaric."
Click. The call ended. (MIRING)
Alaric took a deep breath. His hands trembled slightly. Whether from adrenaline or unease, he didn't know. But he knew this had to be done. This wasn't rebellion. It was prevention.
Meanwhile, at Helix Group headquarters, Niel Greg walked down the marble corridor. His white shirt crisp, tie slightly loose, but his demeanor calm as always.
He was on his way to the meeting room when his personal secretary approached with an uneasy expression.
"Sorry, sir... something urgent just came up. The legal and operations departments just executed a unilateral contract termination under the company's name."
Niel furrowed his brow. "With whom?"
"With Mr. Harry Satria, sir."
He stopped in his tracks.
"What?" he asked sharply. "Who authorized this?"
The secretary swallowed before answering, "Um... young master Alaric, sir. He called Rafael directly earlier."
Silence.
Niel didn't react immediately. His gaze drifted toward the nearest window, staring at the silhouettes of tall buildings outside
His hand slid into his pocket, and his body stood still. There was no anger... just confusion slowly turning into realization.
"Alaric..."
He knew his son had changed lately. The way he spoke, the way he looked at people, the way he made decisions. No longer the boy who used to hesitate when speaking firmly to his subordinates. No longer the naive young man who was too honest. There was a new aura—decisive, mature, and hiding something not yet fully understood.
"Does he know something I don't?"
Niel took a long breath, slowly. One side of him wanted to reprimand. But another... couldn't deny the truth that Alaric never acted without reason. And that boy was not the type to stain the family's name out of personal ambition.
"What is it you're seeing, Alaric?"
-
The main lobby of Helix Group looked as elegant as ever. Shiny marble floors, a polite receptionist greeting every guest, and a dedicated barista in the corner pouring coffee while giving a quick smile his way.
But to Alaric, that afternoon felt colder than usual.
His steps were steady as he walked through the glass corridor toward the eighth floor—home to the financial and operations division. After the sudden termination of the partnership with Harry Satria earlier that morning, he knew it was only a matter of time before his father called for him.
And right on cue.
As he stepped toward the lift, a deep voice he knew all too well echoed behind him.
"Alaric, wait."
He stopped.
But didn't turn around. Just stood still for a moment, then took a deep breath before slowly turning back. Niel Greg stood a few meters behind him. His face was calm, but his eyes sharp, calculating.
"What is it, Dad?" Alaric spoke first. His tone was flat, but there was tension underneath. The kind of tension that comes from someone tired of not being heard.
Niel took a few steps forward. "Can we talk for a moment?"
Alaric didn't reply. He just gave a small nod.
They walked into a small lounge next to the lift—two leather chairs and a bookshelf no one really touched.
As soon as they sat down, silence crept in. The atmosphere turned awkward, somehow even more awkward than two coworkers who barely knew each other.
Niel finally spoke, his voice low but careful. "I'm not calling you here to scold you, Ric."
Alaric stared back without expression. He didn't respond.
"If you acted on your conviction... I won't dismiss it outright," Niel said, rubbing his temple, his breathing slightly heavy.
"But I still need proof. You know how I operate. We can't make decisions that affect the future of many people based on a hunch."
Alaric looked down for a moment. His lips tightened. He had expected this. He had seen it coming.
It's always like this... Dad always trusts principles more than instinct, he murmured silently, holding his breath for a beat.
But this time, he didn't want to argue. No more debates on morals or intuition.
"Alright," he finally said. His voice was cold, steady. "I'll gather the evidence. As soon as possible."
Niel looked at his son closely. He noticed something in Alaric's eyes. A seriousness he had never quite seen before. Alaric used to be soft, a little awkward, too honest for the crooked world of business.
But now?
He sat there like someone who knew exactly what he was facing—and more importantly, what needed to be done. Perhaps even one step ahead of his own father, the founder of the company.
"Ric..." Niel started to say something, but the words stuck in his throat.
Alaric stood up slowly. "I'll get going now, Dad."
His footsteps echoed again through the hallway. But this time, faster, more certain.
And Niel just sat frozen on the leather chair, hands in his pockets, staring out the window.
"What exactly did you see, son? And... since when did you become someone even I can't read?"
—
Alaric quietly shut his office door. The overhead light cast a pale glow on the long desk now cluttered with files and tablets. No smile. No sense of relief from the earlier conversation.
Only one thought filled his mind:
I have to finish this. Cleanly. Without a trace.
He turned on his internal system. Opened the file he had flagged the night before. Every transaction, partner, and affiliate that had ever interacted with Harry Satria and his circle.
One by one, he noted the names.
One by one, each company was cross-checked by the system on his laptop.
One by one, internal emails and memos were verified for authenticity.
Alaric didn't just want to remove one man. He wanted to cut out the root of the entire network that had long been dismissed as insignificant by the board.
If people thought Helix Group was strong because of its stability...
Then I'll make them see that stability is just an illusion when surrounded by well-dressed traitors.
His hand paused over the keyboard.
His eyes caught his own reflection in the black screen of the tablet beside him.
From now on... I'll be the poison for anyone who tries to take my family down from within.
And right around noon, as Alaric was mapping out the next phase of his internal cleanup, his phone buzzed.
A call from an unknown number.
He stared at it for a moment before answering. "Hello?"
"Good morning, Mr. Alaric." The man's voice on the other end was formal, but carried a subtle pressure.
"I'm from the business relations team of Arta Flex, under Mr. Harry Satria. He would like to request a direct meeting with you. Would you be available today?"
Alaric paused for a few seconds. His eyes narrowed.
"A direct meeting?"
"Yes, sir. If possible, even... right now."
Alaric frowned. He stood from his chair and walked to the window, staring at the increasingly busy street below. His mind weighed the options.
Right now? It's too rushed. But maybe that's exactly why I should agree. I want to see for myself… the man behind the boardroom mask. The one who almost dragged this company down.
Straightening his posture, he answered flatly, "Send the location and time. I'll be there."
The meeting was set in a luxury lounge atop a business hotel in the SCBD area. Private enough, expensive enough, and safe enough for someone like Harry Satria who thrived on subtle games.
Alaric arrived five minutes early. Dressed in a black shirt and grey coat, formal but not overdone. His eyes were sharp and every movement deliberate.
As he entered the room, the man across the table immediately stood and smiled politely. That man... was Harry Satria. In his forties, wearing a dark grey suit with a navy tie. His gaze full of strategy, like someone who had lived too long with rhetoric and deception.
"Alaric, glad we could finally meet face-to-face. I've been meaning to sit down with you," he said, extending his hand.
Alaric shook it, expressionless. "I came because you asked, Mr. Harry."
They sat down.
Harry chuckled lightly. "Straight to the point, huh? Just like your father said. Firm, but economical with words."
He took a sip of warm water in front of him, then continued, "So, I heard our partnership was terminated. I just want to understand why. Is... something wrong?"
Alaric held his gaze. Long enough to read more than what the ears could catch.
Finally, he spoke calmly and clearly, "We're restructuring our network of partners. Focusing on maintaining those of quality."
"Ah, I see..." Harry nodded, chuckling softly. "Nice choice of words: quality. But haven't our relations been fine all this time?"
Alaric leaned back slightly in his chair. "Sometimes, fine isn't enough. Especially when there are cracks that go unnoticed... because those are the ones that can destroy the foundation down the line."
Harry paused.