Page 65 of Sebastian.

Despite my attorney's attempts to take control of the situation, I feel compelled to speak up once more. There's an underlying belief, perhaps irrational, that there exists a connection between Karl and me, a bond that might compel him to reconsider.

“I'm sure there'ssomethingyou want, Karl,” I suggest, searching for the answer in his dark, brown eyes. “Something I can provide in exchange for ending this ordeal. Let's find a way to make all of this go away.”

My attorney shoots me a stern look, a silent plea to let him handle the negotiations. The energy in the room crackles as Karl's audacious proposal hangs in the air. Karl’s attorney leans back in his chair and looks at his client, raising his eyebrows at Karl and giving him the opportunity to speak.

Karl remains resolute, his eyes locked onto mine as if he's daring me to challenge him. “I'm not interested in more money, Seb. Five years is a long time in jail and no money can buy me the time I will lose there,” he says, his tone even and resolute. His determination sends a shiver down my spine. Fuck, why won’t he crack? Does he have any idea the amount of money I would gift him right now to make this go away?

My attorney steps in, trying to coax Karl with the prospect of a reduced sentence. “I’m sure we can talk to the prosecutor and get you only two years behind bars, three maximum, and then do the rest in home detention.”

I steal a glance at Karl, trying to gauge his reaction, but his expression remains inscrutable.

“And, in exchange, my client agrees to give you two million euros," my attorney adds, looking at both Karl and his own attorney, searching for an hint of reaction in their gaze. But the duo remains just as stoic. “It’s a very generous offer. One million per year you spend behind bars.”

After long seconds, Karl sighs and shakes his head. “I already told the both of you that I’m not interested in money.”

My jaw works as I respond, “So what the hell do you want then, Karl?”

“If you can reduce it to two years in jail and the rest in home arrest with the prosecutor, as your lawyer says, I can do that,” he tells me, his voice steady.

I sit forward, more than ready to agree to this, but he isn’t done.

Not by a long shot.

“In exchange for leaving you out of this, Seb, once I’m done serving my time…I want to be named CEO of the company.” Karl's proposition slices through my thoughts like a dagger. The room becomes an echo chamber of silence as his demand hangs in the air, all at once shifting the balance of power.

“What?” I snap in disbelief, my jaw dropping as I absorb the gravity of his request. I can hardly believe what I'm hearing. The idea of Karl assuming the role of CEO of Van den Bosch Industries is not only preposterous but a direct threat to everything I've strived for.

“You can become chairman,” Karl continues, as if this is a reasonable proposition. “Just like your father did when you took over.” My anger surges, eclipsing any doubt or hesitation. I can't let this happen. “I think it’s totally doable and a fair deal.”

“You are totally out of your mind!” I exclaim, outraged. Was this deal his attorney’s idea? In what world would I ever consider handing my position over to Karl? Absolutely not. It’s an impossibility.

I can't sit still. Karl's ridiculous demand to become CEO gnaws at me, and I find myself jumping out of my seat, pacing the boardroom, hands clenching and unclenching. Like an out of control teenager, I want to hit something, break it under my fists until I feel in control again.

“I don't see why. I'm the head of sales, I've poured over two decades of my life into this company, mastering every facet of it, helping it grow.” While I’m burning of rage inside, Karl sounds completely calm, hands folded on the table in front of him as he continues trying to rationalize his outrageous request.

My patience wears thin, and fire simmers beneath my skin. “This company, Van den Bosch Industries, is a family legacy. The CEO position is reserved for a Van den Bosch—my birthright. I've dedicated my life to this business, Karl. So no, I won’t be agreeing to that nonsense.”

But what Karl utters next sends a chilling shiver down my spine and freeze instantly.

“Ah yes, a family legacy…” Karl starts, his tone filled with irony. “Speaking of which…” he leans back in his chair, a sly grin forming on his lips. “You wouldn't object to a little blood test, would you?”

I halt in my tracks, stunned by his audacity. A blood test? How in the world could he have any inkling of the secret of his paternity? I’ve kept it close to my chest for decades. Now, the only living people who know about it are Karl’s mother, Margaret, Julia, Alex, Andries, and myself.

Karl's attorney seizes upon the moment of silence in the room, his fingers drumming nervously on the polished table. “My client has reason to believe that you two might share more than just a business relationship. He suspects you share the same bloodline.”

As the seconds tick away, I realize that this moment could reshape not only the company but also the foundations of my life. I’ve spent so many years protecting this secret that having it out in the open air makes my stomach roll. I pause in my pacing, gripping the back of one of the leather chairs as tightly as I can, trying to keep myself in check. It feels like the room is spinning.

Then, like a strike of lightning, the panic that his words brought disappears, replaced by something much more powerful. Fury surges within me, and I can't hold back any longer. “You’re out of your damn mind! You son of a bitch! Don't even try that shit on me! Just because my dad treated you well doesn't mean—”

My words crash against Karl and his attorney, but before I can unleash my full anger, my own attorney interjects, seeking to defuse the explosive situation. “Calm down, Seb! There's no need for that kind of language. Let's not escalate this unnecessarily. Besides, maybe Karl has something to offer in this role.”

Karl, once more wearing a smug expression, nods slowly. “Exactly. If you want me to take the fall and go to jail while you continue living the high life, then make me CEO in return. Give me a handsome compensation package, toss in some equity, and we can strike a deal.”

What the fuck is he thinking? Five years behind bars, and then he waltzes back into the company as CEO, reaping the rewards of my years of dedication and hard work? It's preposterous. This isn't just about me; it's about the future of Van den Bosch Industries, the legacy my father entrusted to me. Handing the reins to a criminal like Karl would shatter our reputation and jeopardize everything I've worked for, not to mention the inevitable backlash from Elise and the rest of the family.

And now my attorney is starting to agree with him…what in the hell is happening to me right now? This is the worst possible deal, and I can’t believe anyone in this room is even considering it. I'm painfully aware that I'm cornered, faced with an excruciating choice: betray my principles and the Van den Bosch legacy or let Karl's recklessness destroy everything we hold dear.

Maybe something terrible can happen to him in jail,a sinister inner voice suggests. But no, I can’t do that, as much as I hate him right now, I can’t hurt the man that has always been there for me. He’s the only sibling I’ve got left, for better or for worse. I might be able to reconcile letting him go to jail, but having him killed? It’d destroy any semblance of honoring my father’s last wishes completely.

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