Andrew drank an alarming amount of energy drink to recharge himself. He had pushed himself to gather all the supporting evidence they needed in a limited amount of time. There was still a lot to be done. He was doing this without Allen, and Andrew was feeling the heavy pressure on his mind. He hadn't intended to leave Luiz and Uncle Karlito behind in the precinct, but they convinced him otherwise.

"Secretary Andrew," Luiz called to him and shook him out of his daze. He flashed a confident grin at Andrew. "Leave this to us. We will file all the evidence and get that warrant immediately. Trust us, alright?"

"But—"

"Son," said Uncle Karlito. "Trust us. This squirt and I will handle this. You need to do one thing. You delay that meeting no matter what. Got it?"

Andrew glanced at Luiz and the goons behind Uncle Rio, who also spared him a smile. Andrew nodded. Before he left, he turned and told Luiz, "We'll save your company, Luiz. Its employees, its reputation, and your brother."

Luiz huffed with a knowing curl of his lips. "I never doubted you for one second."

Andrew rushed out to make a call to an old friend. He found himself in a media van with a plastic bag of empty energy drinks beside him, and Kris and his cameraman. They were parked on the other side of the street in front of Lopez Co. There was already a massive wall of press and flashing cameras blocking the entrance. The only thing preventing them from flooding the building was the cordon and Leon Security personnel.

"I'm sure the media had to be informed ahead of time that the meeting was rescheduled. How come they weren't able to get in?" Kris asked as he grabbed his mic and equipment. The ex-Lopez Co. employee turned journalist. He looked happier.

"Rhea and Sanrio purposely gave them the wrong time," said Andrew. He made sure to remember to thank them someday for accommodating his request.

"How are we going to get inside?" The cameraman asked as they peered from inside.

Andrew glanced past his shoulder and smirked.

"We're going through the side garden until we reach the back staff entrance meant for sanitary requirements. Come on, this is the news that will get you your promotions."

"Andrew, you're shaking." Kris reached out and held Andrew's hands.

Andrew was anxious and afraid. His heart was drumming loudly inside his chest.

"You're going to be alright, Andrew. We're with you." Kris ruffled Andrew's hair and gave a gentle pat on the back. You're the best, remember?"

Andrew breathed out deeply to regain his momentum. They stepped out and crossed the street incognito. They attempted to sneak past the wayward paparazzi dotting the sidewalks, but their hungry eyes immediately recognized the secretary that shook the nation. The others came to him like an engulfing wave. They jumped over the velvet ropes that caged them while the trio was frozen in place.

Suddenly, the main lobby doors flew open with a bang. Dennis came out with a megaphone and yelled, "Step away from the small secretary and his media outlet friends."

From behind him, a battalion of Leon Security poured out and formed a human barricade to surround the frenzied paparazzi.

"Protect Secretary Andrew at all costs." They chanted in unison.

It was kind of hot.

When Dennis waved from inside the building, he realized he shouldn't be frozen here, and they ran to get inside. They got inside panting and out of breath.

"How did you know I would be here?" Andrew asked, bent down with his arms on his knees, taking quick breaths.

Dennis and two other employees took them by the arm and pulled them towards the main elevator. Someone was also holding open the elevator.

"No time to rest," said Dennis. "Luiz has been updating Sonna of your plan. We knew Allen would be too busy with the stockholders, so we came to help you out. Hey Kris, good to see you. You look exhausted but happier."

He shoved the trio into the open elevator. "Don't worry. We've done the best we can. Everybody's guarding the elevators on every floor, so it'll go up with no stops."

He nodded and pressed the button for the topmost floor, before thanking Dennis. The elevator flew past all the floors. People were waving at him as they passed. Andrew couldn't believe the support he was receiving. Even the uptight accounting floor was helping him.

They reached the executive floor, but when they stepped out. Several guards were blocking their way. They were obviously working for Alex. That stupid twink.

"Let us through," Andrew demanded, eyeing the doors at the end of the hall. His attempts at breaking through were met with strong arms pushing him back like he was made of paper.

Kris stepped in front of him and brandished his media ID with a smirk.

"We're from the media," he said. "Let us through."

The man quirked his eyebrow and smirked. "Late entries are barred from coming in. You should've come early."

Out of nowhere, a dozen cleaning carts came crashing towards the men. Effectively distracting them for a hot minute. Andrew used it as an opportunity to dash forward. He glanced past his shoulders and saw Mrs. Garcia and the rest of the janitorial staff clawing at the guards asking for help to clean up the mess.

They reached the end of the hallway and came to a pause. They nodded at each other. Kris immediately cleaned himself up while the cameraman was fiddled with his camera, ready to go live. Andrew counted down to three before he slammed the doors open to the boardroom. Andrew's eyes fell to the two men on the floor.

Allen pushed Alex to the ground. Allen was visibly furiously as he held Alex by the collar of his shirt. Alex's lips curled into a satisfied smirk. The stunned board members were all at an awkward limbo between sitting down and standing up.

Everything happened in a flash. Alex lifted his head and whispered something into Allen's ear, and Allen looked clearly provoked. He slammed Alex to the ground, gritted his teeth, and raised his fist in the air. But he froze when Andrew called him.

"Do the collar victim!"

Allen's gaze darted from Andrew to Kris, and finally to a bewildered Alex. He grabbed Alex's hand and flipped them both on the ground—positioning Alex above him. Mirroring their previous position but now reversed. He took Alex's hands and shoved them on his neck.

Kris and his cameraman finally entered the scene. He was speaking to the camera, holding a microphone, as he walked backward.

"We are inside Lopez Co.'s boardroom—just as new evidence has surfaced of Alex Ceron's involvement with the illegal Torch Lending group. Let's hear from his side, shall we? But he seems to be in an impasse with the man of the hour, the young Mr. Lopez."

They rushed to Alex's side. And based on his panic-stricken face, he didn't want to be caught on camera in such an incriminating position. He pulled his hands away from Allen and hurried to stand on his feet, but Allen coughed loudly for good measure.

"Sir Alex, what can you say about the allegations that you forged the signature of an employee for a loan?" Kris all but shoved the mic to Alex.

"I did no such thing," Alex hissed at Kris. "What is this? What are you doing here? You are not allowed to record in here. Guards!"

Kris didn't falter under Alex's pretenses. "Any comments about the allegations made stating that you instructed the men of Torch Lending to specifically target Lopez Co. employees?"

"I did no such thing," Alex fumed at Kris. His clenched jaw and lowered eyebrows all disappeared when it dawned on him that the camera might be broadcasting live. With the eyes of the board members watching him, he flashed a professional smile.

"I deny these allegations," he said, smoothly. "And to whoever is making these fictional claims must be put to justice."

Kris furiously nodded. "So, are you saying you don't have a grudge against the Lopez as opposed to what the viral videos and witness statements have suggested?"

"Viral videos?" He mumbled, weakly.

On the projector screen, a news channel started broadcasting a video of Alex slamming Andrew on a hotel wall was being played on repeat while a news anchor spoke:

"Witnesses have come forward that the Torch Lending employees were instructed, and were incentivized, to harass and attract Lopez Co. employees by Alex Ceron. While a new witness has come forward saying that her signature was illegally forged, and her valid government IDs were stolen by Alex Lopez himself."

A discreetly taken photo of Sonna with her face blurred out and a distracted Alex was displayed side-by-side with the video.

"Alongside the viral video of Alex's act of violence toward the infamous lover of Allen Lopez. The internet has asked; did Alex Ceron launch a smear campaign against the family who bought out their family business. Some believe it to be true. The Lopez Co. stocks have hit a record-breaking all-time low. Alex Ceron has swooped in at this prime opportunity to purchase a massive volume of shares. He denied these allegations earlier, but the brawl we saw at the boardroom suggests otherwise. Let's get back to our on-the-ground correspondent, Kris."

The channel went back to a live feed of Kris and Alex while Allen was nowhere to be found. During the report, Andrew pulled Allen away and hid behind a back room with the rest of the team. Claire was the one controlling the screen outside. They opened the door slightly to watch.

Alex recovered from his shock and motioned to leave, but all the media staff from outside the building has swarmed the boardroom. They surrounded Alex in a circle. Questions were flung his way. Cameras and bright lights eradicated his personal space. The board members were backed up to the wall.

Just as things were about to reach their crescendo. A group of policemen entered the boardroom with Uncle Karlito leading them. They marched towards Alex while the media cleared from their path.

Alex was caught between two policemen. Another held his arms behind his back and handcuffed him.

"What's the meaning of this?" His voice thundered. His attempts in freeing himself only resulted in more policemen holding him down.

Uncle Karlito flaunted a warrant of arrest in front of him.

"Alex Ceron you are under arrest for the following charges. Being the prime suspect for being the legitimate owner of Torch Lending. A lending business that exceeded the legal limit for loan interest rates and practiced excessive collection methods which have resulted in multiple injuries to victims. Forging of signatures and identity theft. And lastly, the illegal distribution of private photos on the internet which you are being sued for defamation. Take him away boys."

"This is police cruelty! You have no evidence! I am innocent!" He pleaded in front of the cameras. His eyes were wide and doe-like.

"You do know that the Lopez's has a private security firm at their beck and call, right? Aside from the CCTV footage of you picking up Luiz's phone, the IP address that was traced back to your residential house, or the dozens of witnesses that came forward, the investigators are pulling out all your banking transaction as we speak. Thanks to the public outrage and this piece of paper I'm holding."

Uncle Karlito hummed, pleased at himself. He continued, "I wonder how those bank transfers are going to match with the finance sheets of Torch Lending?"

Alex's eyes changed. He struggled and thrashed under the hold of the policemen. His face became flushed. He bellowed in anger—calling out to Secretary Andrew.