“Enough with the act, Alex!” he snapped, his voice cold and sharp. “We’re not here for drinks or small talk!”
He stepped forward, cutting straight to the point.
“Let’s not waste time. The city redevelopment project is massive, and Reid Industries is trying to take it all for itself? That’s just pure greed.” His eyes narrowed. “You can’t handle it alone. So why not share the project… and profit with the rest of us?”
His words were immediately met with agreement from the crowd.
“That’s right! There’s more than enough money to go around—why should Reid Industries monopolize it?”
“It’s only fair that we all get a piece of the pie!”
One by one, the other company executives voiced their support, pushing for a division of the project.
Alex, however, remained completely unbothered by them or their remarks. He didn’t even bother sitting down, simply standing with his hands in his pockets, looking down at them as if they were insignificant.
After letting their demands echo through the room, he finally spoke.
“Are you all done?” His tone was calm, but there was a razor-sharp edge to it. The room fell silent. Alex’s smirk widened slightly, but the look in his eyes was pure disdain.
“The redevelopment project…” he began, deliberately slow. “Reid Industries secured it through skill, connections, and success rate and of course power. We earned it. So tell me—’why’ should we hand any of it over to a bunch of parasites like you?” His words struck like lightning.
The businessmen’s faces twisted in rage, but before they could respond, Alex raised both hands in a mock gesture of surrender.
“Of course, if you really think you have what it takes to snatch this project from Reid Industries hands…” His smirk turned ice-cold. “Then by all means… declare war or whatever you have in mind or whatever you are going to do.”
Alex’s declaration, “Reid Industries will take on any challenge!” His voice echoed through the vast conference room like a war drum.
His voice wasn’t loud, nor did he raise his tone, but there was an undeniable but the silence in the room made it resound. It wasn’t arrogance—it was absolute confidence.
Despite his calm demeanor, the pressure in the air was suffocating. It was the kind of presence that made people instinctively lower their heads, like a predator casually observing its prey.
The businessmen who had stormed in so aggressively just moments ago now found themselves silent.
They wanted to speak. They wanted to argue, to fight back. But under Alex’s gaze, their words died in their throats. None of them could muster the courage to challenge him directly.
The room, once filled with ambition and greed, now felt eerily still. Alex let the silence stretch, his expression one of mild disappointment.
“Hm?” He arched an eyebrow, glancing around the room. “Is that all?” Shaking his head, he clicked his tongue as if he had expected more.
“I thought you were here to cause trouble,” he said lazily. “I assumed you had something big planned.” His lips curled into a smirk.
“But this?” He gestured vaguely at them. “This is just… pathetic.” He exhaled dramatically, then pushed his chair back and stood up.
“Since this meeting has turned out to be a complete waste of time, I’ll be leaving now.” His tone was dismissive, as if he had already forgotten about them.
And just like that, he turned toward the door.
“Wait!” A sharp voice cut through the silence, stopping Alex in his tracks.
Ethan had finally snapped. His face was flushed with anger as he stood up abruptly, his eyes locked onto Alex’s retreating figure.
“Alex!” he shouted, his voice filled with righteous fury. “Do you really think that just because Reid Industries dominates the city, you can do whatever you want? That no one can stop you?”
Alex paused but didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he turned his head slightly, glancing at Ethan with an amused expression, as if watching a child throw a tantrum.
Seeing that he had Alex’s attention, Ethan smirked and continued, his confidence growing.
“Let me make this very clear,” he said, his tone sharp. “Reid Industries will hand over the redevelopment project. Not because I’m asking, but because we have something you can’t compete with.”
He straightened his back and pointed toward the woman standing beside him.
“You remember her, don’t you?” His voice was filled with triumph. “Your stepmother.” The moment those words left his mouth, a ripple of surprise spread through the room.
All eyes turned to Trisha, the elegantly dressed woman standing silently next to Ethan. A proud member of the Wells Family.
One of the three great families in the city. Ethan sneered as he continued, his voice dripping with arrogance.
“She is the family member and the eldest granddaughter of the Wells Family.” He narrowed his eyes on Alex. “And thanks to her, I’ve been welcomed into the Wells Family’s inner circle.”
He crossed his arms, his smirk widening.
“I even helped them with their estate management altering their future fortunes for the better.” There was a glint of triumph in his eyes as he leaned forward slightly, as if waiting to see Alex’s reaction.
“Do you understand what that means?” Ethan pressed on. “The Wells Family owes me. And when the Wells Family owes someone a favor, they pay it back in full.”
His voice grew bolder.
“Alex, do you really think Reid Industries can go up against one of the great families in the city without any setbacks? Do you honestly believe you can fight against the Wells Family?”
For a moment, Alex didn’t say a word. His eyes flickered with an unreadable expression.
‘Oh? This guy moves fast.’ Alex thought.
Just a few days ago, Alex had been at the Wells Family’s estate himself, offering his own Fortune Skills expertise. And now, Ethan had already wormed his way in and managed to secure their backing?
…
Bonus Chapters on: 500, 1000, 1500 Power Stones.
…
(A/N: Soon! Some Golden tickets guys!!!)
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