2024-07-31 22:35:40
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SIMON THE ZILLIONAIRE FROM NOWHERE 233
Eddie sank into his leather armchair, the weight of the evening’s events pressing heavily on him. The silence of his penthouse seemed almost oppressive as he replayed his conversation with Bianca in his mind. Her fear, her unwillingness to talk—it all pointed to deeper, darker issues connected to Axton and the cartel. He knew he had to find out more, not just for his own sake but for Bianca's as well.He glanced at his watch; it was late, but he couldn't afford to waste any time. Eddie picked up his phone and sent a quick text to Daniel: *Need an update ASAP. This is more urgent than I thought.* Then, he turned his attention to the files on his desk—documents related to the project with Axton and the cartel. He knew that any clue could be the key to unraveling the mystery.The next morning, Eddie was at his desk early, his coffee growing cold as he sifted through the documents. His phone buzzed with a new message. It was from Daniel: *I’ve gathered some information on Axton’s operatio
SIMON THE ZILLIONAIRE FROM NOWHERE 234
Bianca paced her small, dimly lit apartment, the weight of her conversation with Eddie pressing heavily on her mind. His words had echoed in her ears long after their last meeting. She had tried to push them away, to ignore the lingering unease, but it was no use. The past she had worked so hard to bury was coming back to haunt her, and Eddie’s probing questions had stirred up a storm she wasn’t sure she could weather alone.As the clock ticked steadily, Bianca made a decision. She had to meet Eddie again, to finally tell him everything she had kept hidden for so long. With a deep breath, she picked up her phone and dialed his number. The call rang once, twice, before Eddie’s voice came through the receiver.“Hello, Bianca.”“Eddie,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “Can we meet again? There’s something important I need to tell you.”“Of course,” Eddie replied. “When and where?”Bianca hesitated, trying to steady her nerves. “How about tonight? There’s a quiet café on the corne
SIMON THE ZILLIONAIRE FROM NOWHERE 235
Eddie drove through the quiet streets, his mind racing with thoughts of the plan he and Bianca had just discussed. The weight of their conversation pressed on him heavily, but he knew there was no turning back now. As he pulled up to his apartment building, he resolved to take immediate action.The next morning, Eddie wasted no time. He made a series of phone calls to old contacts and allies, people who had once worked for or against Axton. Information was key, and he needed to know everything about Axton's current operations, his weaknesses, and his plans."Eddie," came a voice on the other end of one of the calls. It was Tony, an old associate who had once been deeply embedded in the cartel world. "Long time no speak. What brings you back into the fold?""I need information, Tony," Eddie said, his tone serious. "It's about Axton. I need to know everything you can tell me about his current operations."Tony hesitated. "That's a dangerous path you're treading, my friend. Axton's not o
SIMON THE ZILLIONAIRE FROM NOWHERE 236
Eddie sat in his dimly lit office, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the polished mahogany desk. His jaw clenched in frustration as he replayed the recent events in his mind. Frank had gone too far this time. For years, they had been rivals, each trying to outmaneuver the other in the cutthroat world of corporate takeovers. But this—this was personal.Frank’s latest move had been a masterstroke of treachery. He had managed to sabotage Eddie’s most significant project, a deal that would have solidified Eddie’s position as one of the top players in the industry. And as if that wasn’t enough, Frank had spread rumors, causing several key investors to pull out at the last minute. Eddie’s company was now on the brink, and he was seething with anger.But Eddie wasn’t the type to back down easily. He had always been known for his tenacity and sharp mind, qualities that had earned him respect and fear in equal measure. And now, as he stared out of the window at the city skyline, Eddie knew h
SIMON THE ZILLIONAIRE FROM NOWHERE 237
"You're not going to like this," Eddie said into his phone, his voice low and cautious as he navigated through the evening traffic. He could practically hear the tension crackling through the line.“What now, Eddie?” came Jennifer’s weary voice from the other end. She was always the first to brace herself whenever Eddie said something like that. She’d learned to expect nothing less from their complicated lives.“I had a little chat with Frank.” Eddie’s tone was laced with something she couldn’t quite place—maybe satisfaction, or maybe something closer to anxiety.“What kind of chat?” Jennifer asked, her voice sharp. “Don’t tell me you went after him alone.”“I had to,” Eddie replied, tightening his grip on the steering wheel. “He left me no choice. The man was trying to ruin everything. But don’t worry, I’ve got leverage now.”&ld
SIMON THE ZILLIONAIRE FROM NOWHERE 238
Eddie stared at the message from Axton, his mind racing. The cartel leader's orders were clear: make Frank an offer he couldn’t refuse and get him to join their operation. It was a high-stakes game, one that could either elevate Eddie’s position or destroy him entirely.He knew that convincing Frank to switch allegiances would be no easy feat. Frank was fiercely independent and had a reputation for being difficult to manipulate. But Eddie had to play his cards right. This was his chance to turn the tables and gain a foothold in the cartel's lucrative dealings.Eddie took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. He dialed Frank’s number, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on his shoulders. The phone rang twice before Frank’s gruff voice came on the line.“Eddie,” Frank said, his tone neutral but with an edge that suggested he was wary. “What do you want?”“We need to talk,” Eddie repl
SIMON THE ZILLIONAIRE FROM NOWHERE 239
Eddie drove through the dark streets of the city, his mind racing with thoughts of the upcoming days. The conversation with Frank had gone as well as he could have hoped, but the uncertainty still gnawed at him. He knew Frank wouldn’t make his decision lightly, and that meant Eddie had to be prepared for whatever came next.As he pulled into his driveway, the familiar sight of his modest home did little to ease the tension building in his chest. He had gotten himself tangled in something far bigger than he had anticipated. Aligning with Axton had its advantages, but it also meant playing a dangerous game. One wrong move, and he could lose everything.Eddie entered his house and poured himself a drink, the amber liquid burning slightly as it went down. He needed to think. Frank was a wild card, and there was no telling how he would react. If Frank agreed to join Axton, it would solidify Eddie’s position, but if he refused, Eddie would need a backup plan—and fast.His thoughts were inte
SIMON THE ZILLIONAIRE FROM NOWHERE 240
The resurgence of their company had not gone unnoticed. Eddie had been receiving calls and emails from various business associates, congratulating him on the turnaround. But it wasn’t just old colleagues who were taking an interest. New investors, some with deep pockets and influential connections, were now eyeing the company, eager to be part of its success story.One name, in particular, had stood out to Eddie: Robert Kingston. Kingston was a high-ranking government official known for his keen sense of business and strategic investments. He had a reputation for spotting potential and leveraging it for both economic and political gain. The fact that Kingston was now interested in investing in Eddie’s company was both a significant opportunity and a potential risk.Eddie leaned back in his chair, his thoughts interrupted by a soft knock on the door. Jennifer stepped in, her expression a mix of excitement and concern.“I just got off the phone with one of Kingston’s aides,” she said, w
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“Eddie, you need to think this through,” his secretary, Lisa, urged as she shuffled through papers on his desk. “Keeping your distance from Agatha might not be the best strategy right now.”Eddie leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. “You don’t understand. I can’t afford to get too close to her, not after everything that’s happened.”“Look, I get it. But you’ve already agreed to help her with her family’s company. If you cut ties now, it’ll look suspicious,” Lisa replied, raising an eyebrow.Eddie sighed heavily. “It was a mistake to agree to that in the first place. I should have never involved myself in her family’s business.”“Eddie, this is a complicated situation. You know Agatha needs your support,” Lisa pressed, her voice steady. “She’s promised to start fresh, to make this work. You can’t just back out.”“Her promises don’t mean anything if it jeopardizes my own company,” Eddie countered, his voice rising slightly. “I have to think about my future, my business. I can’
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“Eddie!” Jennifer called out as she stepped into the house, her heart racing.Eddie emerged from the kitchen, looking worn out and a little worried. “You’re back! How was your trip?”“It was beautiful, but… we need to talk,” Jennifer said, struggling to keep her voice steady.“Talk about what?” Eddie asked, leaning against the kitchen counter, sensing the tension in the air.“Andrew… he wants to marry me,” Jennifer blurted out, the words escaping before she could rein them in.Eddie’s brow furrowed. “What? You’ve got to be kidding me. You just got back from a vacation! Why would you even consider that?”“I know it sounds crazy, but he’s serious. He wants me to leave everything and be with him,” she replied, panic rising in her chest.“Leave everything? Jennifer, are you really thinking about this? What about us?” Eddie’s voice rose slightly, betraying his frustration.“I’m not saying I will! I just… I need time to figure things out,” she stammered, trying to make sense of her feelings.
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Eddie leaned back in his chair, staring out the window as he waited for Agatha to arrive. The morning sun filtered through the glass, casting shadows across his desk, but the warmth offered little comfort. His mind raced with possibilities, scenarios of how this confrontation would play out. He could almost hear the tension humming in the air, a warning that things were about to get messy.When Agatha finally entered, she was all business, her heels clicking sharply against the hardwood floor. Her expression was calm, but Eddie noticed a flicker of something in her eyes—nervousness, perhaps, or anticipation.“Eddie,” she greeted, her tone cool. “You wanted to see me?”“Have a seat,” he replied, gesturing to the chair across from him. He needed to maintain control, to keep the upper hand in this conversation.Agatha sat down, her posture elegant, but there was a slight tension in her shoulders. “What’s this about?”“Let’s not pretend, Agatha. You know exactly why I wanted to talk to yo
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"Eddie, calm down. You're jumping to conclusions." Agatha’s voice was smooth, too smooth for Eddie’s liking. She sat across from him, legs crossed, sipping her tea as if the world wasn’t on fire.Eddie clenched his fists, barely able to control his rising anger. His office felt smaller, suffocating, as if the walls were closing in on him. “Calm down? Agatha, one of my subsidiaries just got shut down for a violation, and it happens to be the one your man, Charles, oversees. You expect me to believe that’s just a coincidence?”Agatha didn’t even flinch. She set her cup down delicately, her sharp eyes meeting his. “I understand your frustration, Eddie. But accusing me without evidence won’t solve your problem. Charles has been nothing but loyal, and whatever happened at that company was not my doing. You’re letting your emotions cloud your judgment.”Eddie’s jaw tightened. “You think this is about emotions? Agatha, I’ve been in this business long enough to know when something stinks. I j
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"Jennifer, you need a break. We've both been working nonstop, and honestly, I think a vacation would do us both some good." Andrew's voice was steady but held a hint of concern as they sat across from each other in the quiet corner of a café.Jennifer stirred her coffee absentmindedly, her mind elsewhere. "I don’t know if I’m ready to go anywhere, Andrew. There’s too much going on, and I can’t just leave. Especially with everything at the office." She sighed, the weight of Frank's death still lingering in her voice, even though she had started to heal.Andrew leaned forward, his eyes locking onto hers. "You can't keep burying yourself in work, Jen. It's not healthy. You’ve been carrying a lot on your shoulders, and I get it. But you need to take care of yourself too. Just a few days away. Let’s go somewhere quiet, where you don’t have to think about business or Frank for a while."Jennifer hesitated, chewing her lip. She knew Andrew was right, but the thought of leaving everything beh
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“Grace, I need to know exactly what’s going on,” Eddie demanded, pacing around his office. His voice was sharp, filled with frustration. “We can’t afford any more surprises, and this Wilford situation has already cost us enough.”Grace, sitting calmly across from him, nodded. “I understand, Mr. Cameron. I’ve already started pulling reports from the other subsidiaries. But, honestly, I think we need to have a bigger conversation about oversight. This isn’t just about Wilford anymore.”Eddie stopped pacing and turned to face her. “What do you mean?”She handed him a folder. “I’ve been digging, and there are minor discrepancies in a few other subsidiaries as well. It’s not at the level of Wilford, but it’s enough to raise concerns.”Eddie flipped through the documents, his brow furrowing deeper with each page. “How did this happen under my watch? I had systems in place, checks and balances—how did we miss all of this?”Grace gave him a sympathetic look. “Honestly, I think the company has
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Eddie sat at his desk, staring at the numbers on the financial report in front of him. His heart sank as he scanned the figures again, hoping he had somehow misread the data. But there was no mistaking it—his company had taken a sharp hit, and the numbers reflected a significant loss.“This doesn’t make sense,” he muttered to himself, furrowing his brow. He quickly picked up his phone and dialed his personal secretary, Grace.Moments later, Grace appeared at the door, clipboard in hand, her face calm as ever. She was always efficient, always on top of everything, and Eddie trusted her implicitly. But today, something felt off, and he needed answers.“Grace,” he said, his voice sharp with urgency. “What’s going on with the numbers? Our revenues have dropped drastically. I need you to dig into this and find out where the problem lies.”Grace nodded, her fingers already flying over her tablet as she pulled up the latest data. “I’ll get to it right away, Mr. Cameron. I’ll have a detailed
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Eddie paced back and forth in his office, his phone gripped tightly in his hand. He had just read Jennifer’s text: *"We’re heading to Aruba. I’ll be fine, Eddie. Don’t worry."* His gut told him something was off, but he didn’t want to overreact—at least not yet.He opened his contacts, his thumb hovering over a few trusted names. Maybe he could ask one of them to keep an eye on Jennifer while she was away. But before he could make a decision, Agatha appeared at the doorway, her presence calm and poised.“Eddie, what’s going on?” Agatha’s voice was smooth, almost soothing. She noticed the tension in his shoulders, the way he clenched his phone like it was the last tether holding him together. Eddie exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. “Jennifer just texted me. She’s heading to Aruba with Andrew. Something feels… wrong.”Agatha raised an eyebrow, stepping further into the room. “Aruba? With Andrew? That doesn’t sound too bad, does it?” Her voice had a lilt of casualness, a
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Andrew watched Jennifer run toward the car, her decision clear as she fumbled with her phone. His face twisted in frustration, his mind racing. He had spent weeks meticulously planning this, gaining her trust, making her think he was her escape. And now, Eddie had ruined everything. His phone buzzed in his pocket, but he ignored it, clenching his fists. Jennifer had already stepped away, halfway across the tarmac, but Andrew wasn’t ready to let this go so easily. With determined steps, he caught up to her, his voice low but urgent as he reached out to grab her arm. "Jennifer, wait."Jennifer stopped, startled, but didn’t turn around immediately. She seemed to wrestle with herself, not quite pulling away from him yet. Andrew took that as a sign to keep going."Just listen to me," Andrew urged, trying to soften his tone. "You don’t have to believe anything Eddie says. He’s trying to confuse you, make you doubt your own decisions."Jennifer shook her head, her voice barely above a whis
