10

The next day, Paul arrived at the company. As soon as he stepped into his office, his secretary sent someone to deliver a thick stack of documents detailing projects that Kruk had previously worked on.

Looking at the hefty pile of materials, Paul felt a tingling sensation on his scalp, but he gritted his teeth and dove into studying them.

For the entire day, Paul locked himself in his office, meticulously going through the documents. Whenever he encountered something he didn't understand, he quickly looked it up online or called Thomson for clarification.

Through his hard work, he genuinely gained a deeper understanding of the company's operations, and his confidence grew a bit stronger.

A few days later, the company held another project meeting, with department heads gathering to report on their progress.

This time, Paul sat behind his desk, doing his best to project an air of confidence and composure, just as he imagined Kruk would.

After the marketing department head finished presenting their promotional plan, Paul nodded slightly and said clearly, "The overall direction of this plan is solid, but in terms of channel selection, I think we could add a few more online new media platforms. Most of our target audience is active on those platforms, which would expand our reach. Also, the budget needs more refinement—make sure every penny is spent wisely. Go back and polish it up."

The marketing head's eyes flickered with surprise, followed by a look of admiration. He nodded quickly and said, "Kruk, you're absolutely right. We hadn't considered that. We'll revise it immediately."

Next, the finance department head reported on the company's financial status. Paul raised a few targeted questions and suggestions, his professional demeanor prompting the finance head to praise him: "Kruk, your thinking is so clear. With your guidance, we're much more confident. It looks like you've really gotten back into top form!"

Paul secretly felt a surge of pride, but he maintained a serious expression and said, "Well, we can't afford to be careless with company matters. Everyone needs to stay sharp and work together to make this project a success."

After the meeting, Paul felt as if he'd won a battle. The cloud of worry that had been hanging over him seemed to lift a little.

Back in his office, he leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath, thinking that he'd finally managed to ease the crises on both fronts, at least for now.

Meanwhile, at the villa, the women had been observing Paul over the past few days and noticed that he seemed like a changed man. He was no longer making the mistakes he used to at the company, and at home, he was more attentive than before. Their suspicions about him gradually faded.

That evening, when Paul returned to the villa, Ava greeted him with a smile and teased, "Kruk, how was work today? You seem to be in good spirits—project going smoothly?"

Paul smiled back and replied, "Yeah, it's going alright. Thanks to your understanding and support, I can focus on work without worry."

Beatrice came over, gently taking his arm, and said softly, "Darling, as long as you're doing well, that's what matters. We don't want to add any pressure on you. If you're tired, just talk to us, okay?"

Feeling the warmth of this relaxed atmosphere, Paul was filled with emotion. He smiled and said, "With you all by my side, no amount of exhaustion feels too much."

Tracy, watching them from the side, gave a faint smile and said, "I hope we can all stay happy like this and avoid those heart-wrenching troubles."

Paul nodded in agreement. At that moment, he felt as if he had truly blended into this family, fully embodying Kruk's role, temporarily casting aside the dangers and conspiracies lurking in the background.

In the secret room three floors underground, the real Kruk was still waiting. He remained unaware that his disappearance hadn't caused any ripples in the outside world.

But he never gave up hope, staying near the ventilation shaft, longing for the dawn that would bring him back to the light.

As night fell over the city, the villa was filled with warmth and harmony, and the company seemed calm for the moment. But beneath this serene surface, undercurrents were still stirring.

The hidden truth was like a bomb waiting to explode, needing only a single spark to shatter this seemingly perfect facade.

The days passed in apparent tranquility, and Paul grew increasingly confident that he had everything under control. But unbeknownst to him, danger was creeping closer.

That day, while Paul was in his office handling documents, his secretary, Hannah, knocked on the door. Looking uneasy, she said, "Kruk, there's someone outside claiming to be an old friend of yours who wants to see you. He doesn't have an appointment. Should I…?"

Paul's heart skipped a beat. An old friend showing up unannounced? That didn't sound right. Something felt off. Still, he forced himself to stay calm and said, "Oh? Let him in. Let's see who it is."

Moments later, a man in casual clothing walked in. He looked at Paul with a cryptic smile and said, "Kruk, long time no see. Didn't expect to find you here."

Paul stared at the unfamiliar man, his heart racing, but he maintained his composure and said, "You are…? I've been so busy lately, I might've forgotten. Sorry about that."

The man stepped closer to Paul, lowering his voice. "Kruk, stop pretending. You think you can keep posing as Kruk forever? I know your secret."

Paul's face turned pale. His eyes widened in panic as he stammered, "W-What are you talking about? I don't understand. I *am* Kruk."

The man sneered. "Still playing dumb? I've got evidence. If word gets out that you're impersonating Kruk, what do you think will happen to you?"

Paul's hands began to tremble uncontrollably. He knew that if his cover was blown, he was done for. Struggling to speak, he said, "Y-You… What do you want?"

The man smiled and said, "Nothing too complicated. Just do as I say, and I'll keep your secret safe. Otherwise…"

Paul's mind was a tangled mess. He had no idea who this man was or what his motives were, but for now, he could only try to buy time. "Tell me what you want me to do," he said.

The man glanced around to ensure no one was listening, then said slowly, "It's simple. Get me a copy of the detailed documents for the company's latest big project. And transfer a sum of money from Kruk's personal account to me. I'll send you the amount later. Do that, and I'll act like I never saw anything."

Paul's heart sank. Following through would not only harm the company but could also drag him into deeper trouble. But refusing meant this man would expose him. What was he supposed to do?

As Paul hesitated, the man added, "Don't think about stalling or calling the police. I came prepared. If you don't cooperate, I guarantee the whole city will know you're a fraud by tomorrow."

Paul bit his lip, feeling trapped in a corner. He didn't know what to do but said, "Alright… I'll think about it. Give me some time."

The man seemed to have expected this response. He nodded and said, "Fine. You've got one day. I'll expect your answer tomorrow at this time. Don't do anything stupid." With that, he turned and left.

Paul collapsed into his chair, his mind blank. He never imagined that just as things were starting to stabilize, this mysterious man would throw everything into chaos again. What was he going to do?

He needed to talk to Thomson right away to see if they could come up with a plan to handle this.

But whether they could navigate this crisis remained uncertain. The unknown fear enveloped Paul once more, making it hard for him to breathe.