Cheated on for being poor—marry a CEO and I’m the REAL billionaire!
Cheated on for being poor—marry a CEO and I’m the REAL billionaire!
“Mr. Miller, this isn’t just fixing. It’s art. I’ve never seen power modifications like that before. Would you work with us? We can pay you more than whatever you make here.” “No, wait, Mr. Miller. You must be the world’s greatest, and I mean greatest, energy visionary. I mean, you are the one they call Prometheus. Projects, resources, status, you name it. We’ll provide everything. Just please work with us.” “Prometheus? Well, could that be true?” “I can pay double.” “Prometheus or not, we will triple their offer. We are prepared to offer you ten percent equity. We are begging you, Mr. Miller. Partner with us.” “Sorry, I can’t do it.” “Well, you’ll never get a better deal, but we can wait. Whenever you’re ready, Mr. Miller, what will it take?” “You can marry my daughter.” “No.” “Work with me. I’ll give you my whole company.” “Thank you, gentlemen. But I’ve got to go get married.”
I walked out of that meeting with my head spinning. My name is Alex Miller. I’m a mechanic. An orphan. A man who had spent his entire life being told he wasn’t enough. The world had never handed me anything. I’d built everything I had with my own two hands—my skills, my reputation, my small but loyal clientele. But I’d also built a life around a woman who didn’t deserve me. Aurelia. I had loved her. I had worked double shifts to buy her a car. I had pulled all-nighters to solve problems she took credit for. I had believed in her. And she had repaid me by standing me up on our wedding day to be with someone else. “Where is Aurelia? She should have been here by now.” “You must be the arranged match my assistant set up online. Not bad. Let’s go.” “Whoa. No, miss. Uh, you got the wrong guy. I’m here to meet my fiancée. Sorry.” “My apologies. It’s fine. Maybe something’s wrong. I should call just to be safe.”
My phone buzzed. It was Aurelia. “Aurelia, what are you doing? Today’s our wedding day.” “A wedding? Oh, you can’t be serious. Marry a broke mechanic orphan like you? He’s a magnate and visionary. And he’s the man that I want.” The words hit me like a physical blow. I had given her everything. And she had thrown me away like garbage. I sat on that park bench for what felt like hours, trying to understand where I had gone wrong. Then a woman approached me. She was tall, elegant, dressed in a suit that cost more than my entire workshop. She looked at me with the kind of eyes that had seen too much disappointment. “I’m looking for a husband. Any interest in the position?” I blinked. “What?” “Great.” Before I could process what was happening, she was pulling me into a small chapel. She had a license. She had a witness. She had a plan. “By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride.” I kissed her. It was the strangest moment of my life. “I just got married.” Her name was Victoria Chase. And I had no idea who she was.
“Husband acquired. Next step, a child. Hey, are you fertile? Do you have ED or something?” “Of course not.” “Great. And you’ll do just fine.” I couldn’t believe what was happening. She had literally picked me off the street and married me. She was beautiful, brilliant, and completely unhinged. And for some reason, she had chosen me. I found out later that day exactly who she was. Victoria Chase. CEO of Chase Group. A woman who had inherited an empire and spent her life fighting to keep it. Her family’s legacy demanded she marry the Rockefeller heir. She had been engaged to Carter Rockefeller since childhood. But Carter was a monster. He was cruel, entitled, and utterly without conscience. She had been looking for a way out. And I was it. She took me to her doctor the next day. “Your husband’s overall physical health is excellent. Sperm motility and quality are well above standard. Highly suitable for conception. There is one note. Uh, he has a somewhat rare blood type similar to patterns seen in the Rockefeller lineage. We’re running additional panels and we’ll have a full report for you shortly.” “Pack your things. You’re moving in with me.” “Secure residence. I’m married. That was fast.” “Ma’am, would you like to maintain a low profile initially?” “Okay, go ahead.”
I didn’t know what I was getting into. But for the first time in my life, someone was treating me like I mattered. And that felt incredible. Aurelia showed up at the house the next day. She was furious. “You bastard. What the [ __ ] is wrong with you?” “Alex, stop. Have you lost your mind? Stop.” “How could you do this, Aurelia? I gave you everything. I bought you this car by working doubles and skimping and saving. And while I’m at the courthouse, you’re [ __ ] this guy. What is wrong with you?” “Pathetic. You actually thought that I was going to marry you. And as for the car, you gave it to me. It’s mine. Who I’m with and what I do in it is my business, not yours. And let’s be real, the Rockefeller heir or a broke bottom-rung mechanic orphan like you. Who would you choose? Just get the [ __ ] out of my sight.” “Watch your tone. Keep it up and you’ll lose your place.” “How’s my pathetic little laptop?” “Come on, baby. Forget this loser. I’m going to take you back to my penthouse. Oh, and I know how much you’re desperate to keep my attention. So, I’ll give you three days to apologize to me.”
I stood there as she drove off with another man. The woman I had loved. The woman I had given everything to. And she had just proven that she never cared about me at all. Victoria found me in the garage later that day. “You wanted to see me?” “Yeah. Let’s talk about your results. Your sperm motility is exceptional, and I happen to be ovulating. It’s the perfect window. So, you called me here to—” “Come here.” “What are you doing? What’s the rush? If we’re going to try for a baby, you should study the technique. Unless you’re already an expert.” “No, I’m not.” “Watch and learn.” “Wait, I’m sorry. I had a girlfriend, but we never—I’m—” “Can you go again?” “Of course I can.”
Victoria was relentless. She wanted a child. And she had decided that I was going to be the father. I couldn’t say no to her. She had given me a home, a purpose, a chance to be something more than I had ever been. “Miss Chase, we’ve just completed the panels. Alex’s blood type isn’t just rare. It’s a perfect match for the unique generational marker carried exclusively by the Rockefeller family. A Rockefeller heir went missing as a child. Could he be—” My heart stopped. Rockefeller. The name echoed in my head. My blood type matched the Rockefeller lineage. “Mr. Rockefeller? My apologies, sir.” “Still no trace of your grandson, Alexander Rockefeller. All these years.” “If Alex was still with us, he’d probably be married to Victoria Chase by now. Maybe even have a child.” “Grandpa, you got to let this go. It’s been ages. My cousin, he’s probably gone.” “No, don’t you dare. I know Alex is alive, and I will find him.” “Still cling to that ghost. I will marry Victoria, merge the Chase Group, and show you who the true heir is.” “Could he really be the missing Alexander Rockefeller?” “Only a DNA test can prove for certain.”
I felt like the floor had dropped out from under me. I was an orphan. I had no family. No past. No one who had ever cared about me. And now, I was being told that I might be the heir to the Rockefeller fortune. “Ow. What was that for?” “I thought you were going to—” “Thought I was going to what?” “Uh, darling, where’s my present? Here you go, baby. Happy birthday, Aurelia.” “Honey, why did you get me these? Where is my diamond necklace?” “Be good. Okay, just a bit tight on cash right now. Next time I will get you the very best.” “My mom said Victoria Chase is fiancée material. You’re just an easy lay. Why would I waste real gold on you?” “Really? So, you’ll come to my work party tomorrow and we can finally put Alex in his place.” “Of course, baby. I won’t let that bastard off the hook.”
The party was a disaster. I walked in and everyone stared at me. “Is Alex driving the new Athereus Chase Group collab? I mean, that’s unreleased.” “Get real, Kevin. The Athereus isn’t in production yet. The only one in existence is with Miss Chase herself. He probably borrowed it from the store he works at. Or it’s a replica.” “And here he is, a pity hire from Aurelia Thorne. Think a grease monkey like this could afford that? Come on.” “Mr. Rockefeller.” “Hey, sorry buddy. This venue is reserved by our CEO, Miss Chase, for corporate employees. Not low-level blue-collar staff.” “My access is not your concern.” “Everyone, get a load of this. This mechanic is trying to crash the executive’s party. That’s really hilarious.” “Well, look who decided to show up. You just can’t take a hint, huh? You came all this way to play rich, hoping I’d run back to you. So, this is how you got your foot in the door? What rich wrinkled sugar mommy is funding you now? Pathetic. No wonder Aurelia dumped you. A worthless loser destined to die alone.” “I carried ninety percent of my shop’s workload and revenue. I’ve never leeched off of anyone. And there’s no sugar mommy. I’m newly married.” “Oh, please. I know that you’re just trying to make me jealous, but a fake ring? You really think that’s going to work on me? So, what if he got hitched? What kind of respectable woman would ever marry a mechanic? She’s probably some two-bit [ __ ] he picked up.” “You dare lay a hand on Carter? Who the [ __ ] do you think you are? A tycoon? Or is your wife one? Know your place, you pathetic nobody.” “You insult my wife again and the next one won’t just be a warning shot.” “Drop the act. Everyone knows you’ve been coasting on Miss Thorne’s coattails for way too long. Every job a handout, and now you’re biting the hand I fed you. Anyone with half a brain knows I carried that company and she just took the credit.” “You’re just a mechanic.” “Watch your mouth.” “One word from Carter and you can be blacklisted from the whole industry.” “You know what? The guard shack at my place is empty. It’s a perfect fit for someone like you. I’d be doing you a favor. No kidding. Guard duty for Carter would be perfect for you. Take it.”
I was about to lose it. I had been humiliated my entire life. But this time, it was different. This time, I had something to protect. “Sorry. I really did see him drive up in the Athereus, the prototype from the collab with Chase Group.” “Are you blind? This piece of [ __ ] mechanic salary? No. He clearly rented a fake for the night, sir.” “Your key card.” “That’s the Athereus smart card. The limited edition one. How the hell does he have it? Well, he is a mechanic, so he obviously stole it from the shop.”
Then the manager appeared. “Ladies and gentlemen, our enhanced services today have been arranged for our distinguished VIP. Our general manager will personally attend to our guest shortly.” “Classic Carter. Only a Rockefeller would do it like this.” “I didn’t order any of this. Who’s behind it?” “Maybe my mom. The arrangements have been made as per explicit instructions of Miss Chase.” “Victoria playing hard to get. Yet she did this for me. I knew she was.” “Just a small gesture. Help yourselves.”
I felt like I was in a dream. Victoria had done all of this for me. She had given me the key to her car. She had arranged this entire event. She was standing by me. And for the first time in my life, I understood what it felt like to be seen. “Mr. Rockefeller. I think I found your grandson. Wait, you found him? Where is he? The Odafist Hotel. Yes, I’m on my way. Yes, Robert. Robert, get the car.” “Carter, you’re the only one that could pull this off. The general manager coming to greet you personally. That is Rockefeller pedigree for you. With you and Miss Thorne leading the way, our futures are set.” “It’s no big deal. I just wanted to show you all my appreciation. So, thank you all for looking after my dear Aurelia.” “Thank you, darling.” “Who do you think you’re fooling? A stolen car does not make you one of us. You’re just making a fool out of yourself.” “My deepest apologies for the delay. I regret that I was not here earlier to welcome you, our honored guest.” “Hey, I got it. Okay, there’s no need for—” “Sir, my sincere apologies. The oversight was completely mine.” “Hey, I’m right here. Who the hell are you talking to?” “I am speaking to this gentleman. Mr. Miller is the esteemed VIP that deserves the utmost care today.” “Thank you. I appreciate it.” “Where on earth does a mechanic like you find Victoria’s bracelet? What gives you the right to wear it?” “This gentleman happens to be Mrs. Chase’s husband.” “What? No, you’re lying. Alex is a mechanic who leeched off Miss Thorne. He couldn’t possibly be married to Miss Chase. He paid you off.” “Yeah. Robert, please. Faster.” “I can’t wait to see my grandson.” “Her husband. This is a paid act. He’s hired this pathetic manager just for show. That’s right. We’re not buying your crap. We trust Mr. Rockefeller. There’s no way you’re married to Miss Chase.” “You really think I would go through all that trouble, boys? Now I see you’ve got some cheap knockoff. Victoria’s bracelet, but the man she’s engaged to is me. I am her fiancé.” “Engaged? Since when? You never told me about this.” “Get lost. None of your [ __ ] business.” “Stop this. He’s under Miss Chase’s protection.” “You got me with a wrench last time. This time I’m breaking you bone by bone.” “Hit him. Hit him. Must be his face. Beat him. Beat him. Beat him. His face. Get him. Come on. Stop.” “Stop. Victoria, he’s posing as your husband. He’s got your bracelet. Get him the hell out of here.” “Are you hurt?” “I am your fiancé. Why the hell are you stupid to this trash?” “Carter, what the [ __ ] are you talking about? You never mentioned anything about being engaged. How could you lie to me?” “It’s none of your goddamn business. Back off. Victoria, I want an answer right now. I came back and worked my ass off all for you. You slapped me for this nobody.” “He’s not a nobody. He’s my husband.” “Oh my god. Alex is actually Miss Chase’s husband. I’m so getting fired. Seriously, I lose Carter and now my sidepiece is banging my boss. What the actual hell?” “You actually married someone else. How dare you?” “You stood me up on our wedding day to hook up with Carter. Why wouldn’t I marry someone else?” “You said you’d always love me. You promised.” “Yeah, well, not anymore. I love my wife now.” “Don’t even think about it. Don’t forget, we’re engaged. You belong to me.” “Contract is void. The moment I signed this one, my husband has only ever been Alex.” “You’re crazy, Victoria. You’re actually going to marry this poor loser mechanic.” “Wait, you and Carter? What is going on?” “I married you to escape my engagement with Carter. And I’m sorry for keeping you in the dark about everything. I don’t want you to be upset about it.” “Upset? You came here for me. You did all this for me. Why would I be upset?” “Uh, Alex, I mean, sir, I have been an incredible idiot and I’m so sorry. I said I wouldn’t do it and I didn’t. I’m sorry. Now, from now on, I’m going to be team Alex.” “Where was all this when I was just a worthless mechanic? I don’t need your apology. Go on. And I don’t want to see you again, Victoria.” “If you break this off, every single deal between our families is dead.” “Terminate them. The Chase Group’s success wasn’t built on clinging to others. I will handle the fallout myself.” “Don’t be fooled by him, Victoria. He’s a social climber. He’s just using you.” “I don’t care about your opinion, Carter. Plus, I know him way better than you ever will. Actually, Aurelia knows him best, and she’s going to show you exactly who Alex is.” “You think you can just get with my boss, Alex? I’ll make your life a living hell.” “Don’t listen to him, Miss Chase. He is just a selfish con artist. When he was chasing me, every dime he borrowed was from loan sharks. He even swindled my parents out of their retirement savings.” “That’s a lie. Every cent came from my second job to buy you gifts and pay off your credit cards. I never touched your parents’ money.” “Anything else?” “Miss Chase, this man is nothing more than a lazy hack. He has no life skills at all. I had to cover for him for all of these years or else he would have been fired ages ago.” “I carried you for three years. I was the one pulling all-nighters on every problem and you took the credit, and you dare slander me.” “Slander? It’s true. Everyone here knows that you would be nothing without me.” “Victoria, stay away from him, okay? He’s bad news. He’s going to drag you and your company down. Don’t be fooled by his smooth talk.” “So this is who you really are.” “You believe them just like that?” “I’m so sorry you went through all that.” “Let me make one thing perfectly clear. Alex all these years has taken on the entire workload while Aurelia here reaps the rewards and now slanders him. You exploited him, contributed nothing, and occupied a position you didn’t deserve. The company will take all appropriate actions. Consider yourself terminated immediately.”
I watched Victoria stand up for me. The woman who had married me for convenience. The woman who had every reason to walk away. She stayed. She fought for me. “She’s standing up for me.” “I was wrong. Please, just give me another chance. I can’t lose my job.” “Not a chance.” “Darling, you said you would help me. Please.” “She is with me technically, so don’t push it.” “Victoria, push it. You’re the one that dipped into the Rockefeller family money to pay off your huge personal debts and gambling losses. What do you think your grandpa would say if he found out?” “Uh, I think my grandpa would say we’re engaged. So, you better think about the consequences.” “I got engaged to the Rockefeller heir, not some impostor like you. I’m the one and only true heir here. It’s only me. There’s nobody else.” “He’s alive. How is that even possible? Grandpa’s been searching for years. He’s found no one. How do you even know he’s alive?” “Because Alex is the missing Rockefeller heir. He’s my cousin. How is that even possible? It can’t be. The one that I threw away was the Rockefeller heir. Rockefeller heir. What was that for? The hair. She got a DNA test.” “Impossible. He is just a [ __ ] mechanic. There is no way that he is the heir to the Rockefeller fortune.” “Whether it’s true or not, the old man can’t find out that he’s alive. My heir ticket is void if he does. Victoria, you’ve been using me to grab hold of my family fortune, right? And what, you replace me with this impostor? No. Dream on. He’s a fraud. I’m going to deal with him myself.” “Crush him.” “Corner. You got it, baby.” “Come on. Wait.” “No. Halt.” “Grandpa, trust me. Trust me. Victoria said all this stuff. He’s a fake heir. I was cleaning house for the family.” “You insolent fool. Who gave you the right to lay a finger on my grandson? Out. Everyone out.” “Grandpa, I’m sorry. Ow.” “You’ve grown so much. Do you remember me? Do you remember Grandpa?” “Grandpa? Yes. Yes. Alex, you’re not alone anymore. Let’s go meet our family and the shareholders. I want to introduce them to you.”
My grandfather—my real grandfather—had found me. After all these years. I was no longer an orphan. I was no longer alone. I had a family. I had a past. I had a future. “Good morning, everyone. This is my grandson Alex. He was lost to us for many years. I want him to inherit the Rockefeller family legacy and become the rightful heir.” “Father, with all due respect, is this wise? He’s just a green kid fresh off the streets. What does he know about running an empire?” “Yeah, my mother has a point exactly. Why should we continue to bet on a company that would hire an inexperienced kid as its leader? I mean, how does it benefit any of us?” “So, the prodigal son returned, threatening my Carter’s birthright. Not on my watch.” “He’s my son’s—your late brother’s—only child. Now, competence, it can be taught. Protocol learned. But lineage, it’s absolute.” “Blood doesn’t generate profit.” “And Alex, must you attend a board meeting dressed in that? It demonstrates a profound lack of breeding.” “My mom’s right. She’s the CEO of the Rockefeller Group. I know you can’t read, but that’s what it says. Learn some manners, okay? It’s not the street where you can just run wild.” “Enough. Maybe you’re the one that should hold his tongue. Alex is your kin. Who are you to judge him? And have we forgotten about your disgraceful spectacle at the event? Hmm? You shamed the family.” “Pa, please. No harm. I was just concerned about a possible impostor threatening the family’s interests.” “Father, please don’t be upset with Carter. He’s just concerned about Alex’s ability to lead and the group’s future. But let’s be honest, Alex, what have you been up to all these years? Surely you haven’t been idle. Mommy, what could he possibly have done? I mean, he’s a what? A mechanic leeching off some woman. He was a pity hire. So, you know what even is that? A kept man couldn’t even secure a proper job. Pathetic.” “I handled ninety percent of my team’s operations. I never depended on anyone.” “Claims are cheap. Who can prove any of this? If you were so good, why not get a better job? Exactly. Exactly. Stop bluffing. You’re embarrassing the family name.” “Me embarrassing the family name while you funnel the company’s money into your gambling debts. Oh, what? You thought no one would notice?” “You imbecile. You’ve been using company money for your gambling.” “No, no, I didn’t. He’s lying.” “Alex, I’m appointing you director of the tech division effective tomorrow.” “No, I’m a mechanic as director. You can’t be serious.” “No one asked for your opinion. Now sit down.” “Father, Carter is a managing director here. He has a right to speak. And while you run this family, choosing an heir requires a full board resolution. You can’t just decide this on your own.” “Mom is right. A drifter who’s been gone for years, right? What does he know about running a conglomerate? We should put him in the mail or hire him as a janitor. Yeah, let him learn from the ground up. I think that is a great idea. It’ll temper his expectations. No point in reaching all the way for the stars from the gutter.” “Come on. I refuse the position.” “What? You just don’t get it, do you? This is the best offer you’ll ever get. So, you better be grateful and take it.” “Can you take it? What? A cleaning job isn’t enough? Did you expect to be handed the CEO title with what—your colorful resume of menial labor?” “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Alex is Mr. Rockefeller’s grandson. We should treat him accordingly.” “So what? I mean, he’s got no executive experience, no business experience. I mean, I think the CEO is being way too generous giving him a shot at all.” “Cut the chatter. Let’s table this and focus on the energy bid. Our position is critical. What’s our play?” “Yes. The new energy bid. It’s upon us now. All the major players are in. Chase family as well. For us to even be close, we need top tech leadership. Well, someone like Prometheus.” “Prometheus. That’s my alias. How does Grandpa know about me?” “Who hasn’t heard of Prometheus? He holds the key to the next generation of EV battery tech. But no one knows who he is. He never shows his face. Finding him will be next to impossible, especially on such short notice.” “Prometheus this, Prometheus blah blah blah. So what? I have locked us in a top-tier tech master. So unless Prometheus himself shows up, nobody beats my guy.” “Okay, good. You present your candidate’s profile and partnership proposal to the board immediately. And do not jeopardize this bid.” “Don’t worry, Grandpa. Everything is prepared. I have a proposal. Starting today, let Alex and Carter compete fairly for the position of heir. Whoever leads us to victory in this bidding war becomes CEO, and the loser is cut off from the family.” “What do you think, father?” “Cut off? No, that is too harsh.” “Agreed.” “I accept the challenge. You can count on me, Grandpa. I’m going to win this bid. The CEO position is mine.” “Then I’ll throw you out of this family for good. I’m excited to see who you’ve got, Carter, but it’s not going to matter. You’re not winning this bid.” “You’re not winning this bid.” “Don’t be so arrogant, boy. Unless you are Prometheus, you stand no chance against us.” “He’s just thinking with his mechanical dick. He’s slept with Victoria a few times and now he’s ready to just turn his back and betray his own family. It’s actually disgraceful.” “Yes. Know your place, young man. This company will never accept a traitor as its future leader. And to think I almost stood up for you. You don’t deserve our support. It’s pathetic. You’re just a spineless waste.” “Who are you to judge us?” “Rachel, enough. We are family.” “Grandpa. Grandpa, please. Come on. Alex is the one turning his back on his own family to be some chick’s rabbit lap dog. He should be put down.” “Who I stand with is none of your business. You sniveling nepo baby. You’re just a parasite latched onto your mother’s schemes.” “At least I learned how to support myself. Unlike you, always crawling back to mommy’s arms.” “You will regret what you said. My son will destroy you completely. You don’t know who you’re messing with.” “Alex, let me be clear. Crossing me was your biggest mistake. This bid is mine.” “Oh, we’ll see. Just you wait. When I’m done, you’ll be begging on your knees, crawling back to me like a dog.”
Victoria found me later that night. “What’s going on?” “Something on your mind?” “It’s tomorrow. We’re under attack. Cash is running thin. And the worst part is we don’t even have the tech leadership to land our own research. There’s only one way. If we get Prometheus, then we have a shot.” “I understand. Leave it to me.” “There’s no use. Your family’s going to throw everything at him. When it comes to money, we can’t compete with the Rockefeller Group. Even Prometheus is going to have to accept that reality.” “Don’t worry. Prometheus and the research, they’ll all be yours. I’ll be at the bid tonight. I won’t let you down.”
The bidding war was unlike anything I’d ever seen. Dr. Julian Blackwood, the number-two tech expert in the world, had been brought in by Carter. “It’s Dr. Julian Blackwood. He’s one of the leading figures in renewable energy. No one here is even close to his level. I can’t believe he’s actually here. Yeah, people say he’s on track to be the next Prometheus. Oh, Mr. Carter, with Dr. Blackwood on your team, this bid is as good as won. We’ll be counting on your favor in the future. All in good time. There will be plenty of opportunities for collaboration.” “But what if Mr. Prometheus does show up?” “No way. He doesn’t get involved in these crowded events. No one has even seen his face before. The bid is mine.” “The heir position, the CEO title. It’s all mine. No one’s taken it from me. Not even you. You greasy orphan bastard.”
Victoria’s assistant approached her. “Ma’am, it’s confirmed. Carter brought Dr. Julian Blackwood. He’s ranked number two in the world, right behind Prometheus. Should we even proceed, ma’am?” “Doesn’t matter. Proceed as planned.” “Look who it is. That gutter trash actually had the nerve to show. Perfect. I’m going to take this mechanic apart piece by piece.” “Well, if it isn’t the kept man who thought that he could get ahead by banging my boss. Do you honestly think that you can just waltz on into a bid like this? Do you even know where you are? Alex, don’t embarrass yourself, okay? I’ll give you a chance to get out now before security escorts you out. Trying to save you the public humiliation.” “Wow, look who decided to show up. A loser who doesn’t even know what a real job is. You really do have some nerve. It’s quite embarrassing.” “This isn’t a popularity contest. It’s about ability.” “Exactly. Everyone here is an industry heavyweight with serious accomplishments, and you’re just a nobody mechanic with no standing whatsoever. What do you think you’re doing here? Some people just don’t know their place, do they?” “Everyone, why not have him stay? I mean, Alex, you do not really think you stand a chance against my asset, right? That’s right. Dr. Julian Blackwood. He’s the world’s number-two guy. Every major R&D breakthrough on that screen bears his signature. Not that I’d expect you to know what any of that means. So, tell me, how can a gutter trash like you, who doesn’t have a single credible project to his name, really expect to be mentioned in the same breath?” “You know, it’s interesting you mentioned the number-two guy. Do you know who number one is?” “It’s Prometheus. What a stupid question.” “Prometheus. He’s a legend. He’s a total icon. He is the gatekeeper to practically all new tech research. And that battery technology he came up with, it’s hot [ __ ]. So, what? What about it?” “Well, looks like it’s game over for you then. Oh, cut the crap. What would a grease monkey like you even know about bidding? Get lost. Your position is back in that grease pit chasing salty lovers’ nuts. This is a high-stakes bid, Alex. You’re a disgrace to our family and you’re dragging everyone down just by being here. So, why don’t you go ahead and admit you have nothing and then get the hell out of here?” “What makes you think I came with nothing?” “What could you possibly have? Your achievements, your certifications—don’t make me laugh. I bet you can’t even read a basic R&D report. If you can even read at all. Go on, enlighten us. Please do. You show us what you’ve got.” “You’ll see.” “Oh, stop it with the act. If you’ve got something, go ahead and show it already. Stop wasting everyone’s time. More than you already have.” “Check the screen. See for yourself.” “Unbelievable.” “You’re addicted to running your mouth, Alex. Every piece of research on that board is backed by the biggest names in tech. So, where is your name, Alex? Where is your name? Where is it? Or can’t you produce anything? I bet he’s just stalling.” “Right there at the top.” “Have you lost your mind? You’re actually impersonating Prometheus. How dare you speak such lies? You are nothing but a stain on our family tree. Get your ass out of here.” “Exactly. This is groundbreaking EV battery technology. Something your greasy, feeble little grease monkey mind couldn’t comprehend. I’ve lost a Prometheus three times. I know his every move. And trust me, you don’t have what it takes.” “Julian’s right. Alex, do us all a favor and shut your trap. If you keep on spewing this nonsense, if you screw up the deal with Julian or the potential offer with Prometheus, you will pay.” “You think you can recruit Prometheus?” “Is this some kind of joke? Look, whether it’s a deal with Prometheus or it’s me winning this bid or it’s me taking over the Chase Group, you never stood a chance. What you think doesn’t matter. You’re not getting a deal
