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

new squad

such a grandiose reshuffling within the

supposedly because the Chief Commander, Thomas,

report directly to the Director? Doesn't that seem off to you?" Percival

why would he? To

so abruptly would sit

never cared about power. In fact, he only entered the Vanguard Agency to follow Percival. However, there was no

man, and the Sterling and the Ellington families had been allies for generations. This seemed like a blatant attempt to undermine Percival,

does. You'll find out soon enough,"

the day before. Without the details, Percival could say

the special squad was formed, it was under the Chief's sole command. Since when does the Director

saw Vance's agenda: to dilute Percival's

this was day one, what

rang with

for silence and picked up the

I've got a personal matter to

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

up?" Percival asked upon

two invitations embossed with the Brooks family crest. "My wife would like you and Ms. Hawthorn to join us for dinner tonight. She tried calling Ms. Hawthorn but couldn't get through, so she asked me to deliver

This surprised Percival.

invitations; indeed, they were from the Brooks family for a family dinner.

he was just a man doing business abroad. His role as head of the Edwards family

for the Brooks family, especially after the myriad of events that had befallen them. They hoped to ride the wave of good fortune

commit immediately but did not decline

niece who's got our Deputy so obsessed," Vance said, his tone carrying a hint

a token