“I can’t believe you agreed to it just like that, Grandfather.” Simon walked into Pa West’s study room later that evening to vent. Even though he had looked calm when everything was concluded earlier, deep down he was pissed.“Don’t be such a fool. Didn’t you realize the stunt that loser was trying to pull? He is trying to delay the vote to take down his wife.” Pa West took a gulp of his liquor while seated on the luxurious leather seat in the room. He relaxed backward and gave a satisfied groan as the liquid went down his throat.“If we had dismissed his suggestion like that, the shareholders might start to think we only want to remove Aliya due to personal reasons. These people don’t give a fuck about sentiments. All they care about is profits. And Allen, that weird pauper, knew that and played his card well.” He placed his hand on his chin, a thoughtful look on his face. “I wonder how he got the idea to bring in the trillion-dollar company into this. He talks about the company like
“I think you’re mistaken, Miss. I hope you can check through again in case you missed something….”“Are you trying to teach me my job?” The receptionist snapped, shocking Aliya with her abrupt outburst.A mere receptionist was talking to her rudely, and there was nothing she could do. They weren't in the same league, but if she caused a scene with this secretary here, what would the trillion-dollar company think of her?She pressed her lips together for a while, trying to suppress the growing anger within her.“I am not trying to teach you anything, Miss. I only want a chance to meet the chairman,” Aliya managed to muster in a calm tone.“And I am telling you right now that there is no room for you, Miss. Please leave, or I will have security drag you out,” she hissed impatiently and shifted her attention to the system in front of her.Aliya wasn’t sure how to behave afterward. Even from the beginning, this whole thing had worn her out. Pushing through was something she was barely cop
"Finally, Arizona Group," August exhaled with a wide smile on his face, his eyes looking up to the towering building of the biggest conglomerate in Alaska.Thud! The sound of his scooter, parked in front of the building, shifted his attention to his side to find the old rickety bike on the floor, with small parts of it smashed."What the hell!" He rushed towards it and raised it up."Hey, loser! Take that bloody bike out of here! This place isn’t meant for trash like that!" A rude voice commanded.August shifted his gaze to the man standing by the side of a BMW, the exotic car that had obviously hit his scooter while trying to park."Hey, you!" Enraged at how rude he was, August rushed towards him."Weren’t you looking?! You hit my scooter and had the guts to yell at me?!" A cocky smirk appeared on his face as he scoffed. He then closed the distance between him and August. "And who..." He started with a low, warning tone. "The hell do you think you are."Unfazed by the angry look of t
Ding! Ding! [Will you accept me, the trillion-dollar system?] While August lay in the hospital bed, his head bandaged and his whole body sore, he could hear a ding sound in his head. "What…." He replied weakly as his vision was blurred. He could barely move as he watched doctors and nurses in the ER rushing while some gave commands to each other. "Who are you? What’s the trillion-dollar system?" He questioned while trying to wrap his head around what was happening. "Doctor! He has regained consciousness!" A nurse called out to a young doctor in an overall coat who quickly rushed to his side. "That was a close one. Is the blood transfusion ready? He still looks a bit unstable." The doctor said while examining August. "Not yet, doctor. He has a rare blood type. It will be quite hard finding his match soon." The nurse said in an apologetic tone as the doctor peered into August's eyes, which were slightly opened. "What…what am I…." August could barely complete his question as he felt
“Arizona Group?” The other man suddenly looked interested when August mentioned Arizona.“Who are you to think you will be richer than them?” He still has that suspicious look as he stared at August. August removed his hand from his shoulder.“I might sound crazy right now….”“Seems you escaped from a psychiatric hospital….” The other man cut in as he scanned August's clothing. August looked down at himself and realized he was still in the hospital clothes.“That’s the point. I’ve gotten a trillion-dollar system that will make me earn up to a trillion dollars.” August folded his arms and said dreamily.“Have you tried getting a job in the Arizona Group by chance? Were you rejected?” He suddenly asked as August stared at him for a while, suddenly embarrassed as he remembered how he was humiliated. The last thing he wanted was to remember that painful scenario.“Yes. Why?” He shrugged as if that day wasn’t the worst day of his life.“Right….” The guy chuckled. “Arizona group is so great
"There's a way. Look." August pointed at the billboard."The Arizona yearly tech competition for only the best computer geeks in the world," August said almost in a whisper, his eyes fixed on the grand prize. "A $100,000." He breathed as Dan turned to the direction of his gaze."A $100,000 and a position of chief hacker of Arizona Tech!" Dan exclaimed, his eyes widened."This is crazy! I could actually show them my talent," Dan said gleefully."So you propose we should enter this competition to win a $100,000?" August asked."Why are you asking that? You were the one that proposed the idea." Dan eyed him suspiciously. "Or would it be strange for you because it’s the company of those that stole your girlfriend from you?""Far from it. I don’t care any longer. This is the only way I can make my $100,000. A trillion dollars is the goal. At last, I would eventually have the last laugh," August said, staring at the billboard as Dan nodded with a smile."But..." he suddenly said. "It’s a na
Dan was already sweating so much even under the air-conditioned room as the pressure mounted. “What the hell is he thinking? Won’t he start?” One black guy from the competitors said.“He looks lost though. Poor guy. Thinking this was some high school competition.” Another white guy on the same team replied to him as they chuckled while their fingers tapped nonstop on their computers.Dan raised his hand to press a key, but it felt like his whole fingers had become stiff. He bowed his head down and closed his eyes tightly. “You can do this, Dan. You were born for this…” he muttered to himself, but his hands were glued to his laps.He could hear his heartbeat now and the continuous tapping sound on the keyboard from other competitors. He opened his eyes to look at his screen again. Just plain white. What was he supposed to do? Attack? Build?He looked around. They were all waiting patiently to destroy him if he dared to build. They knew he didn’t have anyone to attack for him. Even a b
“What is he talking about?” Dan had a scared look as he stared at the unfamiliar man.“He is the chairman of Arizona group,” August said with a straight face while watching the man intently, as if he already knew why their prizes would be forfeited.“The jerk cheated to win. Now he wants to take a prize. How ridiculous!” The man August hated most said from the other side of the room as he darted his gaze to find Allen and his girlfriend, both of them sitting together at the high table, close to where Dave was occupying earlier.“What? No…we…” Dan made to say but was lost for words. He wasn’t sure how August had manipulated everything.“August….” Dan quickly held his hand. “Say something. They are going to make us forfeit what we worked hard for…” Dan said almost in a whisper while August just watched Allen calmly, as if the whole thing doesn’t move him.“According to the tech experts, someone had tampered with internet connections,” Dave continued as August slowly turned his attention
“I think you’re mistaken, Miss. I hope you can check through again in case you missed something….”“Are you trying to teach me my job?” The receptionist snapped, shocking Aliya with her abrupt outburst.A mere receptionist was talking to her rudely, and there was nothing she could do. They weren't in the same league, but if she caused a scene with this secretary here, what would the trillion-dollar company think of her?She pressed her lips together for a while, trying to suppress the growing anger within her.“I am not trying to teach you anything, Miss. I only want a chance to meet the chairman,” Aliya managed to muster in a calm tone.“And I am telling you right now that there is no room for you, Miss. Please leave, or I will have security drag you out,” she hissed impatiently and shifted her attention to the system in front of her.Aliya wasn’t sure how to behave afterward. Even from the beginning, this whole thing had worn her out. Pushing through was something she was barely cop
“I can’t believe you agreed to it just like that, Grandfather.” Simon walked into Pa West’s study room later that evening to vent. Even though he had looked calm when everything was concluded earlier, deep down he was pissed.“Don’t be such a fool. Didn’t you realize the stunt that loser was trying to pull? He is trying to delay the vote to take down his wife.” Pa West took a gulp of his liquor while seated on the luxurious leather seat in the room. He relaxed backward and gave a satisfied groan as the liquid went down his throat.“If we had dismissed his suggestion like that, the shareholders might start to think we only want to remove Aliya due to personal reasons. These people don’t give a fuck about sentiments. All they care about is profits. And Allen, that weird pauper, knew that and played his card well.” He placed his hand on his chin, a thoughtful look on his face. “I wonder how he got the idea to bring in the trillion-dollar company into this. He talks about the company like
“The both of you could compete for who could bag the contract with the trillion-dollar company,” August suggested with a confident look. “I am sure the owners won’t mind if they see that the West Corporation is enthusiastic to work with them.”“Don’t be ridiculous,” Simon chuckled as he tried to wave off the suggestion. “They would think the company is divided if my sister and I submit different proposals to them for the same company.”“And who said you would be the next chairman if it isn’t Aliya? What do you take me for?” Landon immediately cut in as Simon shifted his gaze slowly to meet his enraged brother.“Shut up and stop embarrassing yourself, Landon.” Pa West seemed to be pissed too as a deep frown formed on his face.Landon gritted his teeth as he tried to hold himself from speaking again. But he knew better. His grandfather, who was his only backer, was solidly behind Simon. It felt like all he had been working hard for was a waste. He had been fighting Aliya all this while
“This is why I keep talking about the importance of marrying people with brains. How could you just suggest something like that?” Landon spoke up, immediately seizing the opportunity to humiliate August again while August maintained his calm and composed look.He stared straight ahead without sparing Landon a look. He knew Landon was dying to see him crumble. Too bad he was done being a punching bag to them. This would be the beginning of their sorrows.“You always end up saying nonsense whenever you open that mouth of yours. What the hell do you know about business, huh?” Pa West asked.“Do you truly care about my sister? Do you actually want her to lose her position deep down?” Simon asked with a cocky grin. As always, he was the only one who made a point.Normally, they were supposed to just agree to it and watch Aliya fail because bagging a deal with a trillion-dollar company is like an ant trying to move a mountain. The West Corporation is a small company and not among the top th
Simon noticed how Aliya entwined her fingers together. He could already see how tense she was, and he would definitely use that to his advantage. He was always like this—watching with sharp eyes like an eagle and pouncing on his prey when they let their guard slightly down.“Are you tense, sister? If you’re uncomfortable about the whole arrangement and would prefer not to go through with it, you can just step down willingly. Everyone would understand that you’ve grown wary over the years and would like to focus on your family now,” Simon said with a cool gaze, making a face as if he was truly looking out for her.“Don’t be ridiculous, brother. Just because I am a married woman doesn’t make my career hopeless. Forget about stepping down—I dare you to say you are capable of handling West Corporation half as well as I have,” Aliya said in a cocky tone, causing Simon to clench his fist, which was placed on the table.It wasn’t always easy to get her brother to lose his composure, but when
“Did the beating affect your head? What the hell are you saying?” Aliya laughed, not taking his words seriously. He didn’t blame her. He is a pauper with nothing to his name. How could he possibly help her?“You will see how I will make everything easy for you.” August sat up, brushed away the hair covering her face, and placed a peck on her forehead. Aliya watched him, unsure how to react.She pressed her lips and watched him in silence as he lay back. “Could you get me an apple, please?” he asked politely.Aliya, who was deep in thought, shook her head as she came back to reality. She flashed him a smile and nodded. “Sure,” she said and started to walk out of the room.“Babe,” he called when she grabbed the doorknob and was about to open the door. “Make sure to take your time,” he said with a calm smile.Aliya gave him a half-suspicious look before nodding.Immediately after she left, August located his phone by the bed stand and dialed Lila.“That was quick,” she commented the mome
“I will do neither, and none of you has the right to make me do any of it if I don’t want to,” Aliya said stubbornly.“You are testing my patience, girl,” Pa West gritted his teeth. As Aliya made to say something, August held her hand. She turned to look at him, an almost helpless look on her face. August shook his head.“I don’t care,” Aliya still turned around to say. “You all should go to hell for all I care!” she blurted in annoyance and made to leave when Landon rushed after her and grabbed her other hand.Aliya swung around to find Landon staring deadly at her. He raised his hand to slap her. “How dare you speak to Grandfather like that!” he berated.August couldn’t believe what had just happened. He stared wide-eyed at his wife’s now reddened face. He grabbed Landon by the collar. “How dare you!” he fired at him.Landon had never seen August like this. August rarely spoke, but now he looked like an enraged lion about to pounce on its prey.“You crazy psycho. Get your hands off
“What! No!” Aliya blurted out almost immediately, glaring at anyone who dared to look at her.“Are you glaring at me right now because of this piece of trash?” Pa West asked, a disgusted look on his face as August's fist clenched. This wasn’t him. He wasn’t used to people treating him like trash. In the past, he would usually put whoever tried to cross him in their place. Dave's case was a perfect example. At that moment, he felt a sudden urge to reincarnate that part of him that he killed years ago.But he couldn’t do that. He had managed through all this while. Besides, he barely cared about insults as long as Aliya was still very much in love with him. But what he wouldn’t tolerate was anyone trying to take her away from him.“She is feeling like a big shot because Dad made her the CEO, Grandfather. Uncultured people like her, who are raised by nobodies, will always act like they want. It’s so disappointing,” Landon chipped in, indirectly insulting her mother.“How dare you insult
August walked into the room that seemed as quiet as a graveyard. It was the exotic living room of the Wests. They were among the wealthy people in the country, more like among the second tier when it comes to ranking from top to bottom. But theirs was the best of the second tier. They were not to be trifled with at all. With the kind of achievements Aliya had made for the company, it had grown significantly over the last five years. Besides that, August used his secret connections with influential people he had worked with in the past to help Aliya secretly.“Babe, you’re here,” Aliya said, walking toward him the moment she noticed August standing in the doorway.August was carried away by the sight of the familiar yet unfamiliar man sitting on the single-seat couch in the middle of the room. He suddenly realized why nobody bothered to use that particular seat in the room. It was reserved for someone.Pa West. The head of the West family who had been away from the family for the past