Chapter 6
1148 Words
Seraphina stepped out from the passenger side, dressed in expensive jewelry and pride.
Noticing them, Tony turned away, but they had already seen him.
“Hey,” Steve said with a smirk, nudging Seraphina.
“Isn’t that your pathetic ex?”
Seraphina laughed coldly. “What’s he doing here? Janitor duty?”
Steve snorted. “Or fixing toilets.”
They walked toward him, full of arrogance.
“You again?” Seraphina sneered. “What are you doing here?”
Tony didn’t answer. He simply stepped aside.
Steve blocked him. “Still stalking her? Still desperate?”
Seraphina stepped in with a mocking tone. “Loser, how did you even get in here? I wonder who allowed garbage like you in this place. "Don't you have eyes to see that this place is outside your league?”
Steve chuckled cruelly, “Maybe he missed his way. The fool is so clueless! I'm sure his mother must have been trash too, to raise garbage like him.”
Tony’s expression darkened. How dare Steve call his mother trash? Was he insane?
Without a second thought, Tony slapped him hard across the face.
"The next time you pull that nonsense with me, you won’t get off this easy!"
Steve and Seraphina were seething. Steve raised his hand to strike back but froze when he suddenly remembered why he was there. CCTV cameras covered the area, and if he caused trouble, the authorities might easily deny him what he came for.
But the hatred in his eyes was unmistakable.
"You miserable wretch!" Steve barked, his voice shaking with rage.
"You think you’ve won? You’re finished! I swear, you’ll be begging for scraps when I’m through with you! You'll never set foot in this company again, not even as a cleaner!"
Seraphina gripped Steve’s arm tightly and snarled at Tony.
“You’re a disgrace! Worthless trash! You just destroyed your only chance!"
She shot one last contemptuous look at Tony as she dragged Steve away.
“Let’s not waste another second on this piece of garbage. He’s not even worth the dirt on the ground.”
As they walked inside, Tony took the private elevator to the top floor.
At the front desk, a young woman greeted him. She was Marie Jones, the company secretary.
She was sharp and graceful and known as a key part of Helium Holdings’ success.
With nearly ten years at the company, she had earned deep respect.
“Good morning, Mister Lakes,” she said warmly.
Marie had been informed that Tony was now the new owner of Helium Holdings. Her supervisor made it clear, treat him with total respect and follow all his instructions.
“Come with me to my office,” Tony said.
His office was large and elegant. A rich mahogany desk sat in the center, with soft leather chairs nearby.
Stylish gadgets and expensive art surrounded the space. A private bar and floor-to-ceiling windows completed the view of the city.
It wasn’t just an office, it was a symbol of power.
As soon as they were inside, Tony told Marie, “I won’t be around often. You’ll be in charge when I’m away. And don’t reveal my identity to anyone."
Given how powerful the Lake family was in the city, and even the entire country of Belton, Marie assumed Tony had bigger businesses to handle.
She nodded. “Understood, sir. Just tell me what to do, and I’ll take care of it.”
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
It was the junior secretary, Karen Brown, who knocked on the door.
"Miss Jones, the CEO of Emerald Consortium, Mister Steve Walden, and his fiancee are here to see you," she announced with professional poise.
Marie nodded calmly. "Please let them wait for me in the reception area. I’ll be with them shortly," she instructed without lifting her gaze.
At the sound of Steve’s name, a faint, knowing smirk played across Tony’s face.
The memory of the man’s arrogance from earlier was still fresh in his mind. This was the same Steve who had insulted him just moments before.
"Did you arrange for a meeting with him?" Tony asked, turning his attention towards Marie.
"Yes, Mister Lake. He submitted a request, and I approved it. That’s why he’s here now. Over the past few years, Emerald Consortium has collaborated with us on several projects."
"In fact, Helium Holdings was instrumental in launching one of their major public sector initiatives recently," Marie responded.
Tony leaned back slightly. "I see. Are you aware of the reason for his visit today?"
"No, sir. I won’t know until I meet with him directly."
Tony's tone sharpened.
"Miss Jones, I need you to find out exactly why they’re here. And under no circumstances should you entertain any proposal or offer from them today."
He paused, then added with unwavering authority, "Also, compile every piece of information available on Steve Walden and Emerald Consortium and send it directly to me."
"Understood, Mister Lake. I’ll carry out your instructions," Marie replied, rising to her feet and heading toward the door.
Just as she reached for the handle, Tony’s voice stopped her once more.
"Don’t disappoint me."
Marie turned her head and gave him a firm nod.
Her instincts as a seasoned secretary kicked in. She didn’t need more explanation, his tone said it all.
She had worked as a secretary for a solid ten years and knew exactly what it meant to follow her boss’s instructions to the letter.
"Yes, sir. I’ll handle it," she confirmed before exiting to meet the guests.
Meanwhile, in the reception lounge, Steve and his fiancee, Seraphina, sat comfortably and their expressions were radiant with optimism.
"If this deal goes through, I’ll be receiving a hundred million dollars as compensation," Steve told Seraphina with his tone soaked with pride.
"A hundred million? That sounds incredible," Seraphina said, her eyes glittering with anticipation.
Her thoughts were already on how she would persuade Steve to part with a good chunk of that money.
Steve had come to represent Emerald Consortium, seeking an eight hundred million dollar loan from Helium Holdings.
"I have no doubt the deal will pass. Emerald Consortium and Helium Holdings have had a solid working relationship over the years. We’ve built a strong foundation of trust," Steve continued, utterly convinced of his company’s leverage.
Their idle chatter stopped the moment they spotted Marie approaching. She was calm, composed, and unreadable.
Steve’s confidence only grew as they were ushered into the meeting room.
This wasn’t his first encounter with Helium Holdings’ respected secretary.
He believed the rapport they had previously built would be enough to push this deal through without resistance.
In his mind, the formalities were unnecessary. His company partnership with Helium Holdings had been long and fruitful.
Once seated, Marie looked at him squarely. "Mister Walden, kindly state the purpose of your visit."
- Writer
