The top floor conference room of the Kobeck Group had such low air pressure that it was suffocating. Ronald slammed the tablet against the wall, the sound of the screen shattering causing all the executives to flinch simultaneously. "Three days! In just three days, the market value evaporated by 50%! His eyes were bloodshot as he scanned the crowd. "Who leaked the news of financial fraud?!" The financial director cautiously spoke up, "Mr. Kobeck, the audit report does show that there are indeed 8 billion dollars of funds with unknown whereabouts..." "Shut up! Ronald grabbed his tie, "Did I raise you to come and cause trouble for me?" He turned to the legal team and said, "Immediately sue the Nygard Group for commercial defamation!" The legal director wiped his sweat: "Mr. Kobeck, the evidence chain Mario disclosed is too complete, even including secret recordings between us and the bank..." Ronald suddenly became quiet. He let go of his hand and walked slowly to the floor-to-ceiling window. Outside the window was the busiest financial street in Los Angeles. "Good, very good, he chuckled, dialing a number. "Vincent, initiate Plan B." On the top floor of the Nygard Tower, Eloise was leaning against Mario's desk, flipping through documents. "The Kobeck Group sold off all their overseas assets, she pointed to a line of data, "It looks like they are going all in." Mario didn't even look up as he signed the documents: "The Bristow family and the Dester family terminated our three collaboration projects this morning." "Tobias is even more ruthless, Eloise chuckled, "he actually wanted to poach our chip development team." 06:19 Chapter 18 288 Vouchers. Mario finally looked up, a cold glint flashing in his eyes behind the golden wire glasses. "Let him dig." Eloise raised an eyebrow. "The core members of the team had already signed non-compete agreements, Mario took off his glasses and rubbed his forehead, "Tobias will have to pay at least two billion in liquidated damages." Eloise suddenly bent down and ran her fingertips over the creases on his forehead, saying, "Mr. Nygard looks quite sexy when he stays up late." Mario grabbed her wandering hand and said, "Ms. Patnick, this is the office." "So what? she said, her red lips curling slightly, "It's not like... Before the words had even finished, Kody suddenly knocked on the door and entered, saying, "Mr. Nygard, Ronald, along with the four major families, were shorting our new energy segment!" Eloise and Mario locked eyes and both smiled. In the following week, the business world witnessed a thrilling siege and counterattack. Ronald used all his connections to suppress the stock price of the Nygard Group, while Mario took advantage of the situation to buy back at a low price. Vincent poached the core team, only to be dragged down by the non-compete agreement and cash flow issues. Leonel spread rumors about the product quality, and Eloise directly live-streamed the production line to debunk them. Tobias had the worst luck, as his blockchain project he invested in was exposed as a Ponzi scheme, making him a laughingstock overnight. "Ms. Patnick, Mr. Nygard. The latest news, Kody walked quickly into the president's office, "Ronald has mortgaged the Kobeck family ancestral home." Eloise was tying Mario's tie when she heard this, she paused and asked, "Is he crazy?" Mario held her hand and said, "Desperate times call for desperate measures. Eloise laughed and fell into his arms. Chapter 18 788 Wouchere But the Kobeck Group at this moment had already become a mess. "Waste! It's all a waste! Ronald smashed the office into a mess. "Where is the bank? Why won't they renew the loan?" The secretary answered nervously, "Mario... convinced the central bank to intervene in regulation..." Ronald froze suddenly. He grabbed the car keys and rushed out the door, only to be surrounded by a group of reporters in the underground parking lot. "Mr. Kobeck, what is your response to the embezzlement of employee pension funds?" "Mr. Kobeck! I heard that your father has already revoked your inheritance rights, is this true?!" "Ms. Rifkin claimed that she was pregnant with your child, may I ask..." Ronald awkwardly climbed into the car, only to find Cecilia already sitting in the passenger seat. "Ronald, she said, her eyes red with tears, "I have a way to turn things around for you..." "Get out of here! Ronald pushed her away, "If it weren't for you provoking Eloise, things wouldn't have turned out like this!" Cecilia was pushed and hit against the car door, the tears in her eyes instantly turning into bitterness. Late at night, Eloise drove back to the apartment alone. She had just parked the car when she heard hurried footsteps behind her. Before she could turn around, a handkerchief soaked in ether covered her mouth and nose. Struggling, she caught a glimpse of Cecilia's contorted face: "Ms. Patnick, it's time for you to pay back..." In the last moment before losing consciousness, Eloise felt the phone in her pocket. Mario was in a meeting when his phone suddenly vibrated. A location message popped up on the screen, followed by a red exclamation mark: "SOS triggered." Everyone watched in horror as their boss slammed his fist on the table: "Prepare the car! Immediately!" 06.10 Title: Committed In CrushReel's ongoing novel "Committed," a man, grappling with the pressure to propose to his girlfriend, finds himself at a crossroads when he unexpectedly encounters a runaway bride. Seeking an escape from his relationship's demands, he embarks on a journey to Greece where he crosses paths with the enigmatic former... Exploring themes of love, commitment, and serendipity, this modern romance delves into the complexities of relationships and the unexpected turns life can take. As the protagonist navigates between duty and desire, readers are drawn into a tale of opposites attracting amidst picturesque Greek landscapes. What sets "Committed" apart is its heartfelt portrayal of emotional conflict and the pursuit of true connection. Dive into this sweet romance that promises twists of fate and heartfelt revelations. Available to read online at CrushReel for those seeking a story that resonates with the beauty of unexpected encounters.