Chapter 79: Chapter 78: The Bait
The glass doors of the office building slid open, and Julius stepped inside the lobby for the first time in what felt like an eternity. The morning sun rushed through the large windows, hitting the floor.
The moment his feet touched the rug, the busy hum of the reception area immediately got quiet. Dozens of employees froze in their tracks. A group of accountants holding paper folders stopped talking.
Some of the older staff members looked at him with visible relief, their shoulders dropping as they realized their boss is actually alive. But many others quickly looked away. They lowered their heads, pretending to study their phones or their shoes, completely terrified to meet his gaze.
The rumors of the cottage attack, the gunfire, and his connection to the dangerous man known as the Enigma had already flooded every corner of the company. Julius didn’t say a word. He kept his chin high, his face completely expressionless as he walked straight past the front desk and headed toward the private elevator.
Ten minutes later, Julius entered the main boardroom. The room was already packed. Every director, department head, and senior staff member sat around the long table.
The air was incredibly thick with tension. As Julius took his seat at the head of the table, several older board members leaned forward, their faces full of forced concern.
"Julius, it is good to see you," a senior director named Mr. Diaz said, clearing his throat. "But given the... recent stressful events, we truly think it is best if you step back from company affairs. You need to focus on your recovery. The company can handle daily operations without you."
"Yes," another woman from marketing chimed in quickly. "The media is already asking questions about the company’s stability. Our reputation is at risk if you are constantly involved in these dangerous situations."
Julius just let them talk, hands flat on the table. He waited till the room got quiet again. Then he spoke, not loud or anything, but his voice cut through the place like ice.
"I am not stepping down," Julius said, his eyes scanning every single face around the table. "And I do not care about the media. I called this meeting to give you a warning. I know someone inside this network has been feeding information to my enemies. I know every move I make is being watched."
The board members looked at each other, their faces turning pale.
"I am running a full audit," Julius continued, his voice dropping into a chilling, calm tone. "Anyone connected to the conspiracy against me will be exposed. And let me make one thing very clear to everyone in this room. If I discover anyone here helped destroy my family, I won’t hand you to the police. I won’t hand you to the authorities. I will deal with you myself."
The entire boardroom fell into absolute, terrifying silence. No one dared to breathe. Julius stood up, buttoned his suit jacket, and walked out of the room without looking back.
Back in his private office, Julius closed the door and let out a long breath. The cold, harsh mask he wore in front of the board finally melted away. He walked over to his desk, pulled out his phone, and typed out a message.
Julius: Hi, Enigma.
Harrison: What are you doing?
Julius: Just finished a board meeting.
Harrison: How did it go?
Julius: Can you talk about something besides work?
Harrison: No.
Julius: Are all Enigmas like this?
Harrison: I don’t know. I’m the only one.
Julius stared at the screen, a small, genuine smile forming on his lips. He sat down in his chair and typed back.
Julius: You are always worrying about me. I can handle a few angry directors.
Harrison: I don’t know how not to worry about you. The world is not safe right now. Are you coming back to the office soon?
Julius: No. I am going to visit my mom I have some unfinished business to handle regarding some affairs and security.
Harrison: Alright. Give my regards. And be very careful out there.
Julius: I will. Bye.
Julius set the phone down, his smile slowly fading as his mind went back to the hidden threat. He knew Harrison’s shadow guards were outside the building, but he needed to draw the real enemy out into the light.
He reached over and pressed the intercom button on his desk. "Send the hiring manager in."
A few minutes later, his main HR manager, a middle-aged man named Thomas, walked into the room holding a digital tablet. "You called for me, sir? We have been processing the applications for the open administrative positions."
"Yes," Julius said, leaning forward. "I want to hire a new Personal Assistant immediately. I want the interviews to start tomorrow."
Thomas nodded, tapping his tablet. "Of course. I will filter out the best candidates with top degrees and clean backgrounds for you to review."
"No," Julius interrupted firmly. "Do not filter anything. In fact, I want you to do the exact opposite."
Thomas blinked, looking completely confused. "Sir?"
"I want you to accept every single suspicious application," Julius instructed, his alpha voice was calm but dangerous. "If an application is incomplete, accept it. If an applicant has a strange background, gaps in their employment, or fake references, accept them. I want every single unusual resume on my desk by tonight."
Thomas stared at him, his mouth open slightly. "Sir... with all respect, that goes against every company policy we have. It could be highly dangerous to bring someone unstable into your private office."
"I know exactly what I am doing, Thomas," Julius said, his eyes locking onto the manager. "Just follow my instructions. Do not turn anyone away."
"Yes, sir," Thomas muttered, bowing his head quickly before rushing out of the office, looking completely baffled.
Once the door closed, Julius sat back in his chair. He turned his computer monitor toward him, opening the live folder of incoming applications. The screen lit up with dozens of names and incomplete files.
His eyes narrowed as he stared at the glowing list. A slow, cold smile appeared on his face. He extended his hand and tapped the surface of the desk once.
"I know you’re watching," Julius whispered into the quiet room, his voice full of dark anticipation. "I know you’ll show yourself eventually, Sarah."
