Chapter 75: Cancel the Operation!!

The lunch in Miles’s office had ended on a warm note, with smiles and empty plates bearing testimony to Elena’s lovingly prepared meal. The scent of her cooking still lingered faintly in the air, a comforting contrast to the usual sharpness of boardroom sterility. With their appetites satisfied and spirits lifted, Miles rose from his seat, brushing the crumbs from his sleeves.

“Come on,” he said, gesturing with a small nod. “Let me give you a tour.”

Hope and Asher gasped in delight, bouncing in place like coiled springs. Elena followed them with a soft chuckle, her eyes trailing over her son’s confident stride. They moved through the polished hallways of Sterling Media Group, a modern cathedral of glass and steel, where professionalism walked hand-in-hand with precision.

Employees paused as the small group passed. Heads turned, and more than a few warm smiles appeared. Conversations lowered into whispers.

“They’re so adorable… are they the chairman’s kids?” one young staff member murmured, glancing at the twins holding Miles’s hands.

“Are you dumb?” her colleague whispered back with an amused grin. “They’re calling him big bro. Obviously not his kids.”

“Oh… then that lovely lady must be his mother.”

Elena overheard none of this, but the admiration was evident in every respectful glance sent her way. Her gentle aura, so unlike the corporate world she found herself in, brought a kind of calming grace to the otherwise sharp-edged atmosphere.

Hope and Asher were in awe. Miles took them through the media wing—a maze of softly humming control panels and digital screens. The twins peeked through the glass windows of the live broadcasting room, where anchors were delivering breaking news with practiced poise.

One of the crew members noticed the small spectators and gave them a playful wink during a short break. Asher laughed and waved enthusiastically, while Hope leaned closer to the glass with sparkles in her eyes.

“So this is how it works…” Elena murmured, watching the flurry of activity behind the scenes. She could see the teleprompters, the headsets, the quiet choreography of the unseen people making the show run. “There’s so much work going on behind every second of what we see.”

Miles smiled. “Of course, Mom. We have the best people here. Every role matters—on screen or behind it.”

Elena looked at him, eyes soft. “You’ve built something beautiful, Miles.”

A faint glow touched his expression, but he didn’t answer. He only gave her a slight, appreciative nod and turned to continue the tour.

By the time they circled back to the entrance, the afternoon light had begun to soften into amber hues, casting golden reflections on the marble floors. It was time to say goodbye.

Hope clung to Miles’s arm one last time. “Big bro, next time can we come again?”

“Of course,” Miles said, kneeling slightly to meet their eyes. “But next time, I’ll take you both to the tech wing. There’s a drone lab there.”

“Cool!” Asher beamed, already bouncing on his heels.

Elena stepped forward, pulling him into a gentle hug. “Thank you for this, son. And for everything else.”

Miles returned the embrace, firm and warm. “You’re welcome, Mom.”

The security detail escorted them back to the elevator, and Miles stood there for a moment, hands tucked in his pockets, watching until the doors slid shut behind them.

Then, with the laughter of the twins still echoing faintly in his mind, he turned and walked back into the quiet corridors of power.

The warmth of the afternoon faded slowly… and as twilight settled over the city, a colder tone would soon return.

It was almost evening when the amber sun dipped low, washing the city skyline in gold. From the high-rise tower’s glass window, Miles stood still—hands in his pockets, expression unreadable. The world below moved like a silent documentary: cars weaving through narrow streets, neon signs blinking to life one by one, and in the distance, the hum of a metropolis that never truly slept.

His phone rang, breaking the silence.

Miles answered without looking, “Yes.”

Monica’s voice came crisp through the line. “Boss, there’s a new finding.”

“Go on.”

“That property… the one we’ve been investigating. It’s been operational for decades. Quiet, continuous, and suspiciously untouched by government interference. No inspections. No enforcement. No disruptions.”

Miles didn’t interrupt. He could sense where this was going.

“So we ran a deeper check,” Monica continued. “Looked into the departments that should’ve had jurisdiction—property, taxation, electricity and water, even local police stations. And we found something interesting…”

A pause.

“In each department, there are multiple corrupt officials. Not just one or two—dozens. We hacked into their financial records. Traced their bank transaction histories. And found a common sender account.”

Miles’s gaze sharpened. “How many officials?”

“Thirty-nine, across different departments and zones in the city.”

He turned slightly, the glint of the setting sun catching the edge of his eye. “That many?”

“Yes. And the same account sent money to all of them.”

“Who owns the account?”

“That’s where it gets murky,” Monica replied. “It’s registered to a shell company. The company doesn’t legally exist—no office, no registration, no tax records. But the account is active… and it’s not in just any bank.”

Miles stiffened.

“It’s a VIP account,” she said, voice lowering. “Held in ACE Banks in Brightvale.”

The name made something click in his mind. A faint ringing sensation echoed through his ears. ACE Banks

. According to his grandfather’s letter ACE Enterprises ran by Sterlings . And it doesn’t took much time to hear its name again.

Miles’s voice was quiet. “What about the money? Who’s funding it?”

“That’s the thing,” Monica said. “There’s no electronic trail. Every cent deposited into that account is in cash.”

The silence on the other end stretched.

“No traceable digital deposits. No corporate wire transfers. It’s like the money appears out of thin air.”

Miles turned from the window, his mind already ten steps ahead. “Then the key isn’t the account itself. It’s the person depositing the cash.”

“Exactly. If we can identify the person making the deposits, we might find a lead to the Old Master.”

Miles nodded slowly. “Match every deposit date with surveillance footage from ACE Banks’ local branch. Search for a recurring face, or even a pattern.”

“I’ll begin the matching process right away,” Monica said. “Also… about tonight’s operation?”

“Cancel it,” Miles ordered. “Keep monitoring the location, but if we act now, we’ll alert them. The trail will go cold.”

“The theory is mutual, Boss.”

“Good.” His tone softened, ever so slightly. “Start tracking incoming logistics to the property. Follow the raw material shipments—where they’re sourced from, who’s delivering them. If someone’s funding that place, they’re buying more than silence.”

“That’s a strong angle,” Monica admitted. “I’ll assign teams to cover supply chains and front companies.”

“And one more thing.”

“Also?”

“Take some rest,” Miles said quietly. “Delegate. You’ve done enough for the day.”

There was a short chuckle on the line. “I’m resting enough, Boss. But thank you. You take care too.”

He smiled faintly. “Me? You sent June here—your carbon copy. What work do I have left?”

“Maybe read a book,” she teased.

That drew a quiet laugh from Miles.

“Alright, Boss,” Monica said, the warmth returning to her voice. “Good night.”

“Good night.”

The call ended. The sky outside had deepened into twilight.

Just as Miles was turning back from the window, his phone buzzed again. He glanced at the screen — another familiar name.

He answered with a calm, neutral tone.”Yeah?”

A playful voice greeted him.”So, the big-shot chairman has already forgotten me?”

Miles leaned slightly against the edge of the window frame, lips tugging into a faint smile.”Wait… are you drunk?”

There was a short pause. Then, Celina’s voice shifted into her usual composed tone.”Oops, no. Just tired. Stress makes me sound… creative.”

Miles chuckled quietly. “Right. So what’s up?”

“Well,” she began, “I was thinking of grabbing dinner. Thought maybe you’d like to join us.”

“Us?”

“Yes. The four of us.”Her tone softened.

Miles’s expression relaxed. “How are Rose and Becky doing?”

“The same as any fresh graduates suddenly buried in adult responsibilities,” Celina sighed with a dramatic flair. “Exhausted. So I figured… dinner, laughter, maybe something grilled. Just to breathe.”

“That doesn’t sound bad,” he said. “Where?”

“I’ll text you,” she replied, voice brightening. “Don’t worry, Chairman. We’ll try to make the seating fancy enough for your presence.”

He laughed under his breath. “Sure. See you soon.”

“Don’t be late.”

The call ended with a quiet beep. Moments later, a message popped up on his screen:

BBQ Heaven. 9 PM.

Miles stared at it for a second. A low chuckle escaped him — casual warmth slipping through the usual steel exterior. He tucked the phone into his pocket.

The skyline outside remained still, bathed in hues of gold and shadow. For now, the night could wait.

Miles drove through the city night, his car cutting through the glow of headlights and neon signs. The streets were alive — people chatting outside cafés, food stalls bustling, the occasional biker weaving through the traffic. It was the usual city rhythm, loud yet familiar.

He pulled up outside BBQ Heaven, a lively, wood-accented restaurant with warm lights glowing through the large glass windows. The valet approached just as he stepped out. Miles handed over the keys and adjusted the cuff of his black shirt, giving the place a quick glance before heading in.

The moment he stepped through the entrance, the air hit him — a mouthwatering blend of smoked spices, sizzling meat, and sweet grilled vegetables. Warm chatter filled the room, and soft instrumental jazz hummed in the background.

His eyes scanned the space briefly — and found them.

At a corner booth near the window, Celina sat with Rose and Becky. The trio looked relaxed, laughter dancing in their eyes, a bottle of sparkling water already open on the table.

Rose was the first to notice him. She nudged Becky with a smirk.”There he is.”

Becky turned, her eyes widening slightly. “Did he walk straight out of a CEO drama?”

Celina smiled and waved him over.”Come on, Miles. Grab a seat before these two starts interrogating you.”

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