Revenge is Best Served After Reborn (James)

"Yeah, yeah, she was going on and on about the stakes, and I couldn't make heads or tails of it. But somehow, I managed to wing it. Still, I don't have the final say on whether we collaborate or not. What if she keeps pushing me for answers?"

"S Corporation is doing so well right now, why does she want to partner with you?"

"I have no idea!"

"Is S Corporation in some sort of trouble?"

"I don't know!"

"Did Reeves International launch an attack on S Corporation?"

"...How on earth would I know that?"

Angelo was completely clueless.

On the other end of the line, James felt a headache coming on. He rubbed his temples and asked, "What did you two talk about? You must remember something."

"Basically, she said the Reeves family wanted to get shares in Burke International but couldn't. She also mentioned that if the Pollard family teamed up with them, we could dominate not just overseas markets, but Devonport too... In the end, I told her I needed to discuss it with my company. She then said I called the shots for our overseas operations. How did I bluff my way through? I told her the Pollard family didn't have any assets in Devonport. Sophie then mentioned that our family had been running branches there for over a decade, which threw me off, so I quickly corrected myself. Lucky for my quick thinking, or I would've blown our cover!"

James's face turned dark as he listened.

"Why the silence? What's wrong?"

Angelo asked, puzzled by James's silence.

James replied, "The Pollard family doesn't have any business in Devonport. You're a Pollard, how can you not know your own family's assets?"

"...The Pollard family has no business in Devonport?"

Angelo was bewildered, "Then why would Sophie say that? Could it be... she got it wrong?"

"

James was beyond frustrated. Grinding his teeth, he said, "Sophie is suspicious of your identity! That whole conversation was a setup to test you! And you fell for it, hook, line, and sinker. You really are something else, my dear apprentice!"

"What? Sophie, of all people! I thought she was a good friend, but she's been playing mind games with me! She was fishing for information!"

Angelo was hopping mad.

What was he to do now?

If Sophie found out he was impersonating Kiran, the old man would kill him!

"James, I came to Devonport alone, risking everything for you. You have to help me fix this! Otherwise, when the old man comes to spank me, you'll have to take the beating for me"

"Now you've dragged me into your mess."

James had hoped for some peace, but now Angelo's cover was blown.

The Pollard family considered

Kiran's death a top-level secret et

this news leaked, the Pollard

would face threats from both inside

and outside. Content bede

James said, "There's only one way out."

"What's that?"

"Come clean."

"Come clean?"

"Confess to Sophie that you're Angelo, but you must not reveal that Kiran is dead."

"What should I say then?"

"Say you were just having fun, or whatever Just find a way to smooth things over. As long as Sophie knows you're not a threat to her and

not targeting her, she'll still treat you

as a friend."

To Angelo, this sounded like a daunting task, but to keep Kiran's death a secret, he resolved, "Alright! I got it!"

With that, Angelo hung up the call.

In the evening, Angelo knocked on Sophie and Colby's door, all serious.

Then he sat in front of them, the three exchanging tense looks for a solid ten minutes.