The Million-Dollar Heart

"Damn it!"

Leopold was floored for a solid half-hour when he saw the personnel appointment circulate with the new appointments.

Just the other day, he was consoling Soren, warning him to watch his back with the new Director sniffing around for scapegoats. And now, it turned out he was the one who would be dancing to the Director's tune!

The joke was on him, and he was the last to know.

Anna clapped Leopold on the shoulder, a look of sympathy in her eyes. "Captain, looks like I'll be counting on you from here on out."

Soren walked over, tucking the insignia of the third squad into his desk drawer, but his words were for Anna. "Don't jump the gun calling him 'Captain' just yet. We're all drawing lots again to decide who ends up in which team."

Anna blinked in disbelief. She could not fathom landing in Soren's team in this fifty-fifty toss-up!

The whole organization was reshuffling. Anna pulled her lot. When she saw the number "1" glaring back at her, it felt like the sky was crashing down.

Soren glanced over and patted Anna on the shoulder, "Anna, looks like I'll be counting on you from here on out."

"Counting on my foot! More like a curse!" Anna screamed inside.

She raked her fingers through her hair, her real worry was not about who would be the captain.

It was whether she would still be tasked with her original assignment amid this grand reshuffle at the Vanguard Agency.

As it turned out, Anna's concerns were not unfounded.

"Effective immediately, Squad One is on lockdown. All assignments are on hold, and no one leaves without authorization," Vance announced at the morning briefing.

As a member of Squad One, Anna was naturally confined within the Vanguard Agency, ready for orders.

the meeting, Percival retreated to

over the new squad arrangements and

such a grandiose reshuffling

One was now under Vance's direct command, supposedly because the Chief

report directly to the Director? Doesn't that seem off to you?" Percival leaned back. "Has the Director sought

why would he? To apologize?"

stripped of authority so abruptly

cared about power. In fact, he only entered the Vanguard Agency to follow Percival. However, there was no way he would not be frustrated from

Percival's man, and the Sterling and the Ellington families had been allies for generations. This seemed like

he does. You'll find out soon enough," Percival said,

Leopold the day before.

When the special squad

agenda: to dilute Percival's power and render

one, what would the

office phone rang with

silence and picked up

office. I've got a personal matter to discuss

it a personal matter was unexpected. Percival straightened his suit before

up?" Percival asked

Hawthorn to join us for dinner tonight. She tried calling Ms. Hawthorn but couldn't get through, so she asked me

This surprised Percival.

they were from the Brooks family for a family dinner. The formality

to the Brooks and the Edwards families, he was just a man

the wave of good fortune to attract more business opportunities. The dinner would host many of Rivenwood's elite, all connected to the Brooks family in

not commit immediately but did not decline either. He took the invitations and said, "I'll ask

I appreciate it. I'm also eager to meet this legendary niece who's got our

token