Chapter 207: Office Politics
Claire clenched her fists tightly. She thought back to last night, when Frederick had so easily agreed to let her go to work today. How convenient. It made sense now—he had a plan all along. She should’ve known. Frederick despised her. There was no way he’d let her off the hook so easily.
What puzzled her, though, was why someone like Frederick—powerful enough to crush her with the flick of a finger—would go to the trouble of coming to her workplace under the guise of “accompanying a client.” Or maybe… maybe it wasn’t about her at all. Perhaps he truly had business with Hiokeeh Group. After all, this company held the keys to the most elite and specialized talent across industries worldwide. Even as a high-ranking general overseeing all of Kingstown Security Department, Frederick stood to gain immeasurable advantages by aligning himself with Hiokeeh Group’s resources. And if he had aspirations for the presidency, securing these assets would be the ultimate power move. Yes, that had to be it. Not when he could’ve dealt with her in private at Halfmoon Manor.
Claire exhaled, her nerves easing slightly at the thought.
In his office, Antony was just as uneasy. From the moment he arrived at work and heard the news, he couldn’t stop worrying. After weighing all the pros and cons, he came to the same conclusion as Claire. If Frederick had any real intentions toward her, he wouldn’t need to show up at Hiokeeh Group to pull this elaborate stunt. Besides, Antony had always known how deeply Claire felt for Frederick.
What neither Claire nor Antony realized was the bigger picture: Frederick was one of Hiokeeh Group’s primary investors, a major shareholder. Ethan was merely following orders, playing along in a staged performance orchestrated from above.
For the rest of the day, Claire and the other five associates, including Danielle, shadowed Frederick every step of the way. They accompanied him on a company tour, sat through meetings, shared meals, and even joined him for leisure activities. By evening, after finishing dinner, the group made their way to Eclipse Nightclub.
The moment the van pulled up and Claire caught sight of the club’s neon sign glowing through the window, unease crept into her. Maybe it was the memories of her time working at this very club, or the unpleasant experiences she’d endured in its shadowy corners. Shaking off the thought, Claire followed Ethan, Antony, and Frederick inside, brushing aside her growing apprehension. Frederick might despise her, but this was a formal setting—there were company colleagues, superiors, and even Antony present. No matter how much he hated her, it couldn’t possibly get as dark or menacing as the shadows of Eclipse Nightclub in the past.
Tonight’s outing seemed like nothing more than an opportunity to entertain a client. At most, it would involve sharing drinks and singing a few songs.
As Claire stepped out of the car, she followed Ethan and the others into the nightclub. Danielle clung tightly to her arm the entire way.
“Claire, I’ve heard about Eclipse Nightclub. People say it’s the most exciting place in Kingstown… but also the darkest. They say it’s where all the city’s evil converges,” Danielle whispered, her eyes darting nervously around the entrance, her hands trembling.
“Don’t worry,” Claire reassured her, patting her shoulder. “Hiokeeh Group is a legitimate company. We’re just here to accompany a client. Whatever else goes on has nothing to do with us.”
Trying to convince herself, she added, “Hiokeeh Group is the largest headhunting firm in the world. A company that big wouldn’t let anything sketchy happen.”
When they arrived at their private room, Claire’s prediction seemed to hold true. The group ordered drinks, sang karaoke, and nothing more. Even Frederick, who sat beside Ethan the entire time, didn’t spare Claire a second glance. Danielle clung to Claire and stayed in a corner of the room, wary of the environment. Out of the six associates, only two of them were women, and in a place like this, they felt the need to be especially cautious.
Halfway through the night, after a round of drinks, Danielle whispered to Claire that she needed to use the restroom and insisted Claire come with her. Just as Claire stood up, Ethan’s voice stopped her.
“You. Yes, you, Claire. Come sit with Mr. Hawthorne. Antony, a word outside,” Ethan said, motioning for Antony to follow him.
Ethan stepped out to signal the staff for another round of drinks before leading Antony further down the hall. Inside, Claire froze for a moment, realizing the inevitable truth of the old saying—the tallest tree catches the wind. Still, Ethan had spoken, and with all eyes on her, she had no choice but to approach Frederick.
“Mr. Hawthorne,” she said with a calm, professional smile, “a toast to you.”
Frederick’s lips curved into a faint, knowing smirk as he lifted his glass. Leaning in as he passed her ear, he murmured, “What’s the point of just drinking? You know exactly what kind of entertainment Eclipse Nightclub offers, don’t you?”
Claire stiffened, her hand trembling so badly that the wine spilled from her glass.
Outside, Ethan took a long drag from his cigarette as he addressed Antony. “You know how it is, Antony,” he began, his tone cold and measured. “Office politics always come with a few dirty tricks. Claire is one of your people—you know what needs to be done.”