It was a lovely morning at the office. The sun peeked through the blinds, casting warm golden rays on the sleek glass desk where Selena sat. She was rifling through stacks of papers, searching for an elusive sales report. Her brows furrowed in concentration, and a soft sigh escaped her lips. Selena was determined to meet their company’s big goals, but the pressure weighed heavily on her shoulders. Just then, Jack, her husband and business partner, stepped into the office. He carried a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and a thoughtful smile on his face.

 

“Selena,” he began, his tone gentle, “I spoke with Mr. Robinson’s office. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get an appointment for today.”

 

Selena froze, her pen dropping onto the desk. The tension in the room seemed to thicken. She turned to face Jack, her frustration spilling over.

 

“If you can't get an appointment with Mr. Robinson,” she snapped, “it's better if you don't show up to me anymore. You're not being helpful, do you know that?”

 

Jack’s smile faltered, but he took a deep breath and remained calm. “Selena,” he replied softly, “I’m doing everything I can because I want to help you. Mr. Robinson’s schedule is tight, but he agreed to meet with us next week. He’s eager to hear our proposal—I think it’s a big win!”

 

Selena paused, her expression softening as she

 

absorbed his words. She realized that Jack wasn’t the problem; her own stress had clouded her perspective.

 

“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice quieter now. “I didn’t mean to take my frustration out on you. I just feel like there’s so much riding on this proposal.”

 

Jack stepped closer, placing the coffee cup on her desk and taking her hand in his. “I know how important this is,” he said. “That’s why we’re in this together. We’ll make the best of next week’s meeting. For now, let’s focus on preparing.”

 

Selena smiled, the tension in her chest easing. “You’re right. Thank you for reminding me of that.”

 

The couple spent the rest of the day working side by side, their teamwork bringing fresh energy to their preparations. And by the time the sun set, they were ready to impress Mr. Robinson.

 

As they left the office, Jack turned to Selena and said, “You know, even when things get stressful, we make a great team.”  

Selena nodded, feeling grateful for his patience and support. “We do,” she agreed. “And next week, we’re going to show Mr. Robinson what we’re made of.” Hand in hand, they walked into the evening, knowing that challenges were simply steps toward success—especially when faced together. The next morning dawned quietly, but beneath the calm, danger stirred. Jack, determined to help Selena secure Mr. Robinson’s approval for their proposal, decided to visit Mr. Razel, a man known for his connections and influence.

 

Jack arrived at Mr. Razel's grand home, a sprawling estate surrounded by tall iron gates and lush gardens. He rang the bell, and moments later, the door creaked open to reveal the ever-smiling Mr. Razel. "Good morning, Mr. Razel," Jack greeted politely, stepping inside.

 

"Ah, Mr. Jack!" Mr. Razel’s voice boomed warmly. "Please, come into my humble home. How can I assist you today?" Jack sat down on a velvet armchair and leaned forward, his tone earnest. "Mr. Razel, I would like to ask for your advice. How can I persuade Mr. Robinson to

 

transact with us? His approval is crucial   

for our company’s future”

Mr. Razel stroked his chin thoughtfully before offering a confident smile. "Robinson and I have been friends for a long time. Simply tell him that I am your guarantor, and I am sure he will agree."

 

Jack hesitated, his brows furrowing. "Excuse me, Mr. Razel, but are you sure Mr. Robinson will agree immediately?"

 

"Yes, Jack," Mr. Razel replied with a nod. "And if he doesn’t agree, let me know right away. I’ll personally speak with him."

 

Jack felt a wave of relief. "Thank you very much, Mr. Razel. I’ll consider this a huge debt of gratitude once it’s done."

 

After their conversation, Jack left, his mind already planning his next steps. The sun was high in the sky as he walked down a quiet street, the sound of birds chirping in the background.

 

But as he passed a narrow alley, a voice called out, sharp and direct. "Are you Jack Robert?" Jack turned, his eyes narrowing as he faced a tall,

 

shadowy figure stepping into the light. "Yes, that’s me. How can I help you?" Before Jack could react, the man lunged forward, striking him hard in the stomach. Pain exploded through Jack's body as he fell to his knees, gasping for breath.

 

"What… do you want?" Jack managed to choke out,

 

clutching his midsection.

 

The attacker didn’t answer but leaned closer, his voice a

 

cold whisper. "This is a warning. Stay away from Mr.

 

Robinson."

 

And just as quickly as the man appeared, he vanished into the shadows, leaving Jack kneeling on the ground, his thoughts racing.

 

Jack remained kneeling on the ground for a moment, his breath shallow and his mind spinning. Whoever the attacker was, they clearly didn’t want him approaching Mr. Robinson. But Jack wasn’t one to back down, especially when Selena and their company’s future were at stake. Slowly, he stood up, wincing as pain radiated through his abdomen. His gaze swept the alley, but the attacker was long gone. Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. First, he sent a quick text to Selena:

 

"Ran into some trouble. I'm okay. Will explain everything soon."

 

Next, he dialed the local police. He reported the attack, describing the man to the best of his ability. The officer on the other end promised to send a patrol to the area and take his statement later.

 

Determined to continue, Jack straightened his tie and headed home to regroup. When he arrived, Selena was waiting at the door, her face etched with concern.

 

“Jack! What happened? Are you hurt?” she asked, ushering him inside.

 

 

“I’m fine,” Jack reassured her, though he winced slightly as he sat down. “But something strange happened after I left Mr. Razel’s house. Someone attacked me and warned me to stay away from Mr. Robinson.”

 

Selena’s eyes widened. “What? Who would do that? And why?”

 

Jack shook his head. “I don’t know yet, but it’s clear someone doesn’t want us getting that deal. Either they’re protecting their interests, or they’re trying to sabotage us.”

 

Selena sat beside him, her mind racing. “Do you think Mr. Razel might know anything about this?” “It’s possible,” Jack admitted. “But if he’s involved, we need to be careful. I’ve already contacted the police. For now, we should proceed with caution but stay focused on our goal.”

 

Selena nodded, admiration for Jack’s resolve shining in her eyes. “We’ll face this together. Let’s figure out our next move.” Over the next few days, Jack and Selena worked on their proposal with renewed determination. They also conducted quiet investigations, carefully reaching out to mutual contacts to learn more about Mr. Robinson’s circle and any potential

rivals.                                                         

In the meantime, Jack revisited Mr. Razel, this time with Selena by his side.

 

“Mr. Razel,” Jack said cautiously, “I appreciate your help, but something troubling happened after I left your house. Someone attacked me and told me to stay away from Mr. Robinson. Do you have any idea who might be behind this?”

 

Mr. Razel’s face darkened, his cheerful demeanor replaced by concern. “An attack? That’s

 

unacceptable! I assure you, I had no knowledge of this. But I will make some inquiries. If someone is trying to interfere, I will put an end to it.”

 

Jack and Selena exchanged a glance, unsure whether to trust him completely but hopeful his influence could help.

 

The days leading up to their meeting with Mr. Robinson were tense, but Jack and Selena stayed focused. They sharpened their proposal, strengthened their network, and prepared for any surprises.

 

When the day of the meeting finally arrived, Jack entered Mr. Robinson’s office with confidence, determined to overcome any obstacles. As he and Selena presented their case, the events of the past week only fueled their drive to succeed. And somewhere in the shadows, unseen eyes watched, waiting to see if their efforts would

 

prevail.                                                       

Jack and Selena walked silently back to their car after the canceled meeting. The news had come as a shock: Mr. Robinson had abruptly canceled their appointment due to an “urgent matter.” Jack couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that someone was pulling strings behind the scenes.

 

As they passed a quiet playground on their way,

 

the sound of laughter from nearby children offered a fleeting moment of peace. But their calm was shattered when three imposing men stepped out from the shadows, blocking their path.

 

“Are you Jack Robert?” the leader growled, his voice low and menacing. Jack instinctively moved in front of Selena.

 

“Who’s asking? Without warning, the man sneered. “I told you not to continue with that transaction, but you didn’t listen. Now it’s time for you to disappear.”

 

Before Jack could react, one of the men lunged at him. This time, Jack was ready—he sidestepped the punch and countered with a quick jab to the man’s ribs. But the leader barked an order, and two others grabbed Selena.

 

“Jack!” she screamed, thrashing against their grip.