“Are you feeling okay?” Richard inquired as he helped Zach to his feet.Flustered at first at the care shown, Zach slowly nodded. “Yes, he only hit me once.”“I'm sorry. I promised that no harm would come to you but this happened.”“It's not your fault and in any case, I'm a man just like you. If I needed your help for everything, would I be able to keep calling myself a man?” Zach joked earning a chuckle from Richard.It was good that even after experiencing something so terrifying, Zach could still make jokes.“Did you get the records?” Richard inquired with Zach nodding.“I hid it in the car because I was worried that the goons would try to take it from me. I was hopeful that if I made them focus on me, the driver would find an opportunity to run away.”“You are a brave man, Mr. Zach.”“You have faced off against much worse, Mr. Smith,” Zach remarked but Richard shook his head.“I have a backup, you don't. That makes all the difference.”Richard was truly grateful to Zach.He showe
Richard grinned upon seeing Zach's expression.He'd already known the man would react this way as he never actually had any intentions of ever getting such a post.All he wished for was to continue in his post and do his best to ensure the company's growth.Such a person was the right man for the job of heading First City Bank until it was successfully merged with Keystone Bank.At least, Richard would be assured that Zach would work not for his benefit but to ensure that First City won't end up shutting down due to a lack of competent leadership.Richard couldn't afford to let such a competent mango.After some time passed, Zach inquired. “Sir, are you joking?”“Does it sound like I'm joking?”“But… I'm not worthy. Such a position… it's too much for me. First City Bank is a monolith that someone like me won't be able to handle properly.”“And I say you can handle it better than most. There's no one more suitable for the role. So don't refuse this, I want you to take it because from t
Martins woke up early the next morning in a bid to try and spy around the house before Maddie woke up but unfortunately, just as he stepped out of his room, he was apprehended by the guards standing at the door. Stunned at first, Martins immediately tried to struggle. “Hey, what do you think you're doing to me?... I am a guest of Madison Smith, sister of Richard Smith. You'd best let go of me now or else I'll make you regret this.”The guards didn't even bother offering a response as they dragged him down the stairs.“Hey, let go of me!... Let go of me already!... Is this how you bastards treat a guest?... I'll have your heads for this!... Maddie, Maddie!” Realizing that his threats weren't fazing the guards in the slightest, Martins immediately knew he had to do something else he'd be taken away, so he called out for Madison.Scared that Madison was not around since she wasn't responding to his calls, Martins grew terrified at the thought that he might be taken away to some unknown
Martins immediately knew at that moment that he'd been caught which is why he immediately grabbed Maddie and tried to use her as a hostage, even pulling out a knife to hold to her throat.“You won't do anything.” Richard calmly remarked as he watched him try to threaten him with Maddie's safety.Martins snorted. “Stop bluffing, Richard Smith. We know just how much you cherish your family, so you'd best do as I say else Madison will surely die today.” Richard sighed. “You know how much I cherish my family yet you still threaten them?... Are you being stupid or you are just that desperate?”“Just shut up!... Now, where is it?”“Where is what?”“The hidden treasure that's allowed you to amass such wealth in a short amount of time?”“Hmm, is that why you were sent?... To figure out my source of wealth?”“Shut up!... I'm the one asking the questions here, now answer. Where is it?... Tell me or Madison gets it!” Martins was quite bold as he demanded Richard's compliance.He knew Richard wa
Richard glanced at General Watson once the maid left. “What's going on?”“I have no idea.” General Watson replied. “But considering you two are most likely here to speak with me, I believe it's best I listen to you both or what do you think?”Richard pursed his lips, considering if it would be alright to meet with the ones who wished to spy on him for reasons unknown.Just as he came to a decision, the door opened and the maid walked in with Caesar Milan.“Hello, General Watson, I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time.” Caesar casually remarked in a manner Thag showed he held no deep regard for General Watson.Richard couldn't help but wonder if they had connections with people in the capital.Only such people could react so casually before the general.General Watson didn't seem to mind as he replied. “You aren't. Regardless, I do have a guest and you should know him.”Saying that he gestured at Richard with Caesar furrowing his brows, having not noticed Richard up until he was tol
Caesar hadn't expected to be caught out so easily.His family was a group of politicians that utilized a martial technique that made it easy to deceive people and convince people to work for them.Initially, he'd thought that he could convince Richard to endorse him so that once he was elected governor, he'd immediately force Richard to become a henchman who would do his bidding.Who'd have thought Richard could see through his martial technique?It caused Caesar to reevaluate the man called Richard Smith.He was too dangerous to be left alone, especially considering he had the backing of an entire city to work with.“You are crossing a line, Mr. Smith. If you don't want to endorse me, just say so, and I'll figure out other ways to win the elections.”“So that I can watch the good people of Intercity get oppressed again?... I don't think so.”“What do you mean by that?”“I'd advise you to give up any hope of becoming Minister of Intercity because I won't let that happen. Even if you f
Don Ventura was speechless.He'd never expected that Richard would give him such an aggressive refusal even after all he'd offered in exchange for his request.He had thought Richard was like every other rich man.Even if others saw him as a hero, Don Ventura saw him as an opportunistic fellow who would do anything for money and fame, just like other billionaires he was familiar with.However, he was wrong.Richard didn't care about the money or favors.He genuinely cared about the city and wished to make it a better place.Such a person would never be swayed by money and would always do things morally which caused Don Ventura to have respect for Richard.It was sure that losing Richard as a business partner would be a major loss for him so Don Ventura remarked. “Haha, Mr. Smith, why so serious?... It was a joke, a joke.”“Really?” Richard raised a brow in response.“Of course, why would I propose such a thing when I know what you are trying to do?... It would be foolish of me to do s
Richard quickly guessed that though Melinda was in dire straits, it wasn't as bad as she made it out to be.If he was correct, it meant that Melinda most likely needed support for something and because she wasn't able to call home for help, she opted to reach out to him, hopeful that he would be able to help her.Letting out a sigh, Richard decided not to hold it against her as she would most likely have her reasons.In any case, it's not like he had anything urgent to handle apart from perhaps the situation with the security and the lack of presence of an administrator for Orion Corp.The latter was done he had to handle it before he left anywhere as he wasn't about to allow his company to run around like a headless chicken.So first, he phoned Maria.“Hello, Maria. How are you enjoying your holiday?” [It's boring sir. I hardly have anything to do and it bothers me. Sir, can't I come back to work?... I feel like I could die from boredom.]Chuckling, Richard replied. “You are somethi