Charles drove back to the hotel, the form given to him by the party president safely tucked away in his pocket. This form marked his official entry into the upcoming elections, a significant step in his journey to challenge Mr. George, the corrupt governor. With this form in hand, George would no longer have the rights to shut down his company. He placed a call to his manager. “Hello, what is going on there? Are they still evacuating the staff?” “Yes Sir!” The manager responded. “In fact, they are harassing some of them. The officers are beating up some of the staff who do not want to leave.” “Just stay there. I’m on my way.” Charles told him and ended the call. He grit his teeth in anger as he drove to the hall with an increased speed. Arriving at the hotel, Charles was shocked to see that some reporters were already there. He knew that George had already fed them lies to tarnish his image. But he considered it as one of the challenges he would face. He had faced setbacks and challenges, but he was resolute in his pursuit of justice and change. He knew that standing up to the powerful governor would not be easy, but he was prepared for the battle ahead. “Mr. Charles, can you tell us what happened here?” One of the reporters asked, as he tried to enter the hotel. “Is it true that your hotel has been involved in some illegal activities?” Charles cleared his throat and turned to her. “My hotel has never carried out any illegal activity. What is happening today is clearly the act of a corrupt man. I stood up to George in Autoair when he tried to bully me and this is what he is trying to do to take revenge.” “Unbelievable!” One of the reporters chimed in. “Are you saying that Mr. George lied to obtain the permit to shut down your hotel?” “Yes. I would like him to present evidence that my hotel has been carrying out illegal activities.” He replied. “That’s all I have to say for now.” With that, he pushed past the swarm of reporters and entered the hotel. As he entered the hotel lobby, Charles's eyes quickly fell upon a scene that filled him with a mix of apprehension and shock. Mr. George was engaged in a conversation with Vera, Charles's loyal personal assistant and confidant. He didn’t know what they were saying but he was certain George was trying to win Vera to his side. As he got closer, he began to hear their conversation. “What is that man possibly offering you for your loyalty?” Mr. George asked Vera. “Come and work for me. I assure you that you will enjoy it more than you are doing now. I will replace your salary with a bigger amount.” “I’m not interested in your offer. My loyalty remains with Charles.” Vera replied firmly. “Really? Do you know the consequences of taking his side? You’re supporting a man that’s already losing. You’re confirming your loyalty to a loser. Isn’t that a bad decision?” “I still insist that I will be loyal to Charles no matter what happens. You have accused him falsely and I’m sure the truth will be revealed in no time.” “I will give you $20 million dollars if you abandon Charles and work for me instead.” He offered. “Isn’t money the reason you’re working for that wretched man? I can pay you twice of whatever he’s giving you.” But Vera, her eyes unwavering, responded firmly, "My loyalty remains with Charles. I will never betray him." The tension in the air was palpable as the governor and Vera engaged in a battle of words. Vera's loyalty to Charles was unshakable, a testament to the bond they shared and her unwavering belief in their cause. Just as Charles approached the conversation, his presence interrupting the intensity of the moment, Mr. George's eyes shifted to him. There was a cruel gleam in the governor's eyes as he mockingly remarked, "Ah, Charles, have you come back from crying at home? Are you here to beg me? Save your strength because no matter how much you beg, I won’t pardon you.” Charles's response was not what Mr. George expected. Instead of showing any sign of defeat or weakness, Charles chuckled and confidently held out the form he had received from the party. George, taken aback, snatched it from his hand and began reading it with a mix of shock and disappointment. "What's this?" George demanded, his voice laced with frustration and disbelief. "You can't possibly have obtained the party's approval this quickly. Are you forging documents now? And how did you even pay for a form to contest for an election? This is clearly a forged document!!” His voice thundered. Charles met the accusation with a calm and unwavering gaze. "It's the benefit of being a wealthy man, George. When you have the means, doors open faster. I've invested a substantial amount of resources into this campaign, and it's not a decision I took lightly." George, unwilling to accept defeat, refused to let go of his stance. He argued, "Even with this form, it doesn't change the fact that you were conducting illegal activities in your hotel. I have evidence, and I won't hesitate to shut down your company." Charles leaned in, his eyes locked with the governor's. "If you have evidence of illegal activities, present it. I challenge you to bring forth any proof before attempting to shut down my business. And let me remind you, George, I won't hesitate to take you to court if you present false evidence."George's expression shifted from disbelief to frustration. He took out his phone and dialed the minister of business, recounting the situation and his desire to seize Charles's hotel. However, the minister's response was not what George had hoped for. The minister informed him that, given the circumstances, he no longer had the authority to take such action. George was left disappointed, his plans thwarted by the system he had used to wield power for so long. George turned to Charles with a bitter and angry look on his face. "You may have lost this battle, Charles, but the war has just begun. I will take away everything you have and ruin you. You’ll beg for mercy at my feet and mercy won’t be given to you." Charles chuckled, ignoring his threat. “Instead of worrying about me, I suggest you worry about the election. Watch your back because you might lose your position soon.” George scoffed before dashing away in anger. His team and officials left with him, leaving Charles' staff rejoicing. “We did it!” The manager said, beaming with smiles. “I knew you would do something.” “Ensure that everyone returns to their work office and also talk to the residents of the hotel. Apologize for the inconveniences caused.” Charles instructed him and he hurriedly left to do his bidding. Charles pulled Vera into a tight hug. “Thank you for standing with me.” ********************************* The evening was settling in, and Charles sat in the comfort of his living room, watching the news with a sense of anticipation. He knew that the events at the hotel earlier in the day would likely make headlines, and he wanted to see how the media would report the truth. As the news anchor began the segment, Charles's face popped up on the screen. The reporter confirmed what had transpired in the hotel, how Mr. George had attempted to shut down Charles's hotel with false information, and how he had been unable to present any evidence to support his claims. Charles couldn't help but smile to himself as the media reported the situation accurately, revealing the governor's failed attempt to abuse his power. The news reporter then dropped the bombshell that Charles was waiting for. They announced that Charles was running for the position of city governor. It was an unexpected turn of events, and the city had not seen anyone challenge Mr. George's reign in years. The shock in the reporter's voice was evident as they highlighted Charles's courage to challenge the corrupt governor. Just as Charles was listening to the news, his phone rang with an incoming call from an unknown number. He hesitated for a moment before answering, and a voice, disguised and full of urgency, spoke on the other end, "Charles, be careful. I'm calling to warn you that there's a plan to harm you. Watch your back." The warning sent a shiver down Charles's spine. He knew he had gained a lot of enemies recently and the warning was possibly true. But who could this person be? And why was he warning him? “Thank you for informing me but why —” the phone beeped signaling that the caller ended the call. Charles sighed and began to pace his living room. “It has to be George. He is the only one who would want me dead at this point.” He said, running his fingers through his hair. “I need to file a police complaint.” But as he picked his phone, he received a message from the same number. “Your enemy is closer than you think.” And then the message vanished, leaving no trace of ever being received.