2025-03-28 23:55:31
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THE TRILLIONAIRE'S UNDERSTATED DOMINANCE Check Mate
Roman sat at the head of the conference table. Kade was standing beside him, with his arms crossed. Roman's law enforcement contact across from them. He placed a thick folder on the table.“This,” the detective said, sliding it toward Roman, “is everything you need.”Roman flipped the folder open. Proof of bribe to a federal judge, and a recorded confession from one of the court clerks, who had overheard the exchange and agreed to testify.Kade let out a low whistle. “They’re done.”He shut the folder and leaned back in his chair. The Vaughn siblings had thrown every dirty trick at him—kidnapping, smear campaigns, bribery. But this was their sloppiest move yet. A bribe like this was career-ending, not just for them but for their high-priced attorney as well.Roman turned to his legal team. “File this with the court first thing in the morning. I want the case dismissed immediately. Then, set up a press conference.”A murmur of agreement swept through the room as his team got to work.
THE TRILLIONAIRE'S UNDERSTATED DOMINANCE More Clues
The war with the Vaughn siblings was over. Reginald was safe too. Roman knew it was time to go back, and so he did. Roman sat in the private jet, staring out the window. The turbulence barely registered because he was deep in thought. He had finally wrapped up the legal battle with the Vaughn siblings, securing his ownership of Reginald's company and sending his enemies into complete ruin. It should have felt like a victory, but there was a strange emptiness that lingered."You're quiet," Kade said from across from him. "You should be celebrating."Roman smirked, shaking his head. "I'll celebrate when the work is truly done. Right now, I have bigger things to focus on."Kade looked confused. "What now?" Then it occurred to him. "Oh. The herbs. And that book."Roman let out a breath. "Yes. I left it untouched for too long. It's time I find out what it's really leading me to."Kade nodded, understanding. "So, once we land, what’s the plan? Straight to the office, or are you going to lo
THE TRILLIONAIRE'S UNDERSTATED DOMINANCE RIDDLES
Roman stood in front of the jagged rock face, his heart pounding like a drum in his chest. The ring on his finger felt heavier than usual, as if it were alive, pulsing with some kind of ancient energy. He glanced at Kade, who was a few feet away, arms crossed, looking thoroughly unhappy.“Are you sure this is the right spot?” Kade asked, raising an eyebrow. “Because, no offense, but it just looks like… a rock.”Roman ignored him, pressing the ring against the rough surface. For a moment, nothing happened. Just silence. The kind of silence that makes you feel stupid for even trying. He frowned. Maybe Kade was right. Maybe this was just a wild goose chase.But then — something. A faint tremor beneath his feet, so subtle he almost thought he’d imagined it. Dust and tiny pebbles rained down from above, and Kade straightened up, his eyes narrowing.“Uh… Roman?” Kade said, his voice tinged with unease. “Did you feel that?”Before Roman could answer, a thin, glowing outline began to form on
THE TRILLIONAIRE'S UNDERSTATED DOMINANCE Another Jungle Cruise
They returned home. Roman sat hunched over the vial. He was using his fingers to trace the inscriptions on it. The light from the desk lamp made the symbols seem to dance on the glass surface.Kade flopped onto the couch and kicked his feet up on the armrest. “So, what’s the verdict? Is it another ‘drink this and turn into a superhero’ potion, or are we dealing with something more… explosive?”Roman didn’t look up. “Not sure yet. But these inscriptions… they’re different from the last one.”Kade groaned, running a hand through his already messy hair. “Of course they are. Because nothing in our lives can ever be simple.”Roman ignored him. He kept his focus entirely on the vial. He tilted it slightly, letting the light catch the surface, and that’s when he saw that the symbols shifted. Just a fraction, just enough to make him doubt his eyes at first. But then it happened again, the lines rearranging themselves into something new.“Whoa,” he muttered, leaning closer. “Kade, look at thi
THE TRILLIONAIRE'S UNDERSTATED DOMINANCE Off The Record
“You think they’re friendly?”Roman didn’t answer immediately. His eyes scanned the tree line, catching brief flickers of movement—figures slipping through the undergrowth, dark shapes blending with the green.“If they were friendly,” he finally said, voice low, “they’d have said hello by now.”Kade sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. “A hostile welcome committee.”The two of them kept moving, slow but steady, acting like they hadn’t noticed the shadowy figures. But their hands were close to their weapons, just in case. “Outsiders,” he said. “You do not belong here.”Roman’s grip tightened around the artifact in his pocket. He took a step forward, raising his hands in a non-threatening way. “We’re here for the temple’s secret. We have reason to believe we’re meant to be here.”The leader’s eyes went to the vial peeking from Roman’s fingers. Then he shook his head. “The temple does not welcome intruders. Turn back.”Roman met his eyes, unwavering. “I don’t think you understand. I ha
THE TRILLIONAIRE'S UNDERSTATED DOMINANCE The Monastery
The monastery was quiet. Too quiet. Roman had expected some sign of life. Maybe a few monks that were still keeping the place going. But instead, unnatural silence stretched over the ancient stones.Kade noticed it too. He frowned and adjusted his bag as they stepped over the worn stone threshold. “Creepy. But that’s to be expected since we started this search.”Roman didn’t respond. He was already scanning the interior. The place was massive, built from weathered gray stone, with towering pillars reaching up to the high, vaulted ceiling. Faded murals lined the walls — scenes of devotion, monks in deep meditation, figures bowing before what looked like the herb they were searching for. The herb that could supposedly heal wounds no medicine could. The herb that someone else had tried to keep hidden.Roman could feel the gut-deep instinct that told him they weren’t alone even though the place felt deserted. He didn’t acknowledge it outright. Instead, he murmured, “We should move quickl
THE TRILLIONAIRE'S UNDERSTATED DOMINANCE The Broker
Roman and Kade staggered into a rocky outcrop, hidden beneath the jagged peaks. Their breaths came out in ragged puffs, as the adrenaline from their escape ran in their veins. Dust and debris clung to their clothes, and Kade’s left sleeve was torn where he’d barely dodged a blade.The mercenaries had caught up with them while they were driving and had blocked them upfront. They had to ditch the car and run after getting the tires blown out. They followed a path that was too narrow for cars to drive on, and before the group could mobilise themselves for foot pursuit, they finally escaped. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Just the sound of their heavy breathing and the distant howl of the wind filled the silence. Then, Kade let out a sharp laugh — half exhilarated, half incredulous.“That,” he gasped, dragging a hand down his face, “was insane.”Roman sat on a boulder, exhaling slowly. He was still holding the herb they had risked their lives to retrieve, the small bundle of l
THE TRILLIONAIRE'S UNDERSTATED DOMINANCE Assistant Calls
Roman was halfway through his third cup of coffee when his phone rang. Roman glanced at the caller ID. It was an assistant from the company he'd just bought from Reginald.“Talk to me.”“We have a problem,” the assistant said, cutting straight to the point. “The permits for the expansion project are stalled again. And there’s been an attempted buyout of one of our prime properties.”Roman sat up. “And who is behind it?”“We don’t know yet. The offer came through a shell company. But it’s clear someone’s moving against you. Lesser companies are getting approvals without any issues.”His jaw tightened. This wasn’t random. It was calculated. And he had a good idea why.Kade watched him closely. “Trouble?”“Looks like someone’s trying to choke out my business while I’m distracted.” Roman exhaled, rubbing his forehead. “We’re heading back there. We’ll only be there a day or two.”By the next day, Roman was back in the very country where his new company was located. He had employed quite a
Latest Chapter
Preliminary
The conference room on the forty-second floor of the Valey tower was cold. There were no windows and no distractions. Pope sat perfectly still at the head of the table with his hands folded beneath his chin as he read through the printed schedule for tomorrow’s court hearing. Even though it was night already, his suit remained neatly pressed and unwrinkled, as if it had been made exactly for this moment. Dexter leaned back in his chair across him, while chewing on a toothpick and spinning a silver pen between his fingers. Prance sat beside him, scrolling on a tablet, and occasionally tapping out notes.At the far end of the table, Ezra Winfield was flipping through a tabbed binder, page by page. He was skimming but not rushing. Every tab was color-coded. Every section was marked. And his glasses rested low on his nose.“So,” Ezra said without looking up, “we’re first on the docket. Judge Hauser. 9:00 a.m sharp.”“Hauser’s a stickler,” Pope said. “I assume you’ve played this clean?”
Mediate
The house smelled like cinnamon tea and lavender polish. Freya had lit one of the scented candles again. Janice noticed it the moment she stepped into the kitchen. It was late afternoon. Marren was upstairs in Janice's guest room napping or reading something. Donald hadn’t shown up all day, and that was good as well. Janice preferred calm when she was collecting results.Freya sat at the counter, scrolling on her phone. She looked up when Janice walked in.Janice poured herself a cup of tea without asking. “So?”Freya blinked. “So what?”Janice glanced at her over the rim of the cup and blew softly on the steam. “Don’t be coy, Freya. You said you’d be near the cafe around noon. I assume you found him.”Freya shifted slightly on the stool, trying to look nonchalant. “I saw him briefly.”Janice sat across her in a perfect pose. “Briefly?”Freya nodded. “He was just sitting there alone. I said hi and we talked for a few minutes. That’s all.”Janice didn’t say anything for a few seconds.
Coincidence Or Planned
Roman did not sleep throughout that night. He had spent most of it sitting at the edge of his bed, watching the digital clock tick from hour to hour. At some point, he stood up to pour himself a drink he didn't even touch, then he laid down again for twenty minutes just to stare at the ceiling. There was no point in pretending anymore, rest was out of reach for him now. By six-thirty, he was already in the shower, letting the hot water drum across his back as though it could wash off the previous day. But it didn’t. No amount of water could scrub the words “you’ve been served” from his memory.And to be honest, Roman was not really ready for another legal war. It was a tiring exercise. And he was mad at himself for seeing the signs of the fraudulent activities of the Valeys, and choosing to look away. Was it really worth it?He shaved carefully, put on a navy-blue suit, and selected a black tie with a minimal pattern. It was his normal routine, but something about the way he knot
Scam Revealed
Roman was flipping through the updated contracts that Pope had brought in some days ago for the third time that morning, but his mind was playing catch-up. The documents were clean, and even though he had signed them, something in his instincts still bothered him.If only he listened to it. But he was soon about to see why he should have listened. His phone rang on the desk. He picked it up and looked at it. It was his legal rep for this partnership between him and the Valeys.Roman had asked him to check on his own copy of the contracts and see if anything was wrong anywhere. He answered. “Talk to me.”The man's voice was careful. His name was Martin. “Mr Averne… I have just finished reviewing the contract draft again — the final version you signed, that is — and yes, there is something that doesn’t add up.”Roman sat forward. “What is it?”“You remember the clause on capital and board control? Page seven, paragraph four. Well, the version you signed had a line that capped external
Get Close
Freya stared at her phone for what felt like the tenth time that morning.There was still no response from her sister. Only two messages that got no response. Freya angrily threw her phone on her bed, then immediately picked it back up and typed another message: "Can we talk? Please." Then she deleted it."She hates me," Freya said to no one, then she got ready and left for work. And as she had been doing lately, Annabel was in Roman's apartment. She was wrapped around a throw blanket on Roman’s couch, as the scent of roasted garlic drifted from the kitchen. Kade was flipping channels with a look of intense concentration, like someone disarming a bomb."Can we not just watch something normal?" Kade asked. "Just once?""Define normal. If your abnormal show is that show with the rich humans screaming about family secrets, I already know it ends in betrayal and brunch."Annabel chuckled distantly. They ate and moved to the room."You’re quiet," he said gently. She turned toward him. "
Practice Fail
By the time she got home, Freya didn’t bother closing the front door behind her. She also did not remove her shoes. She just went straight to Annabel’s room.“Annabel!” she called and pushed the door open. The room was empty. The bed was neatly made, and there was a lingering scent of Annabel's perfume in the air. Freya waited in the room, thinking that Annabel had just stepped into the bathroom, but she stood there for nothing. Annabel was not around. She brought out her phone to call Annabel.The phone rang three times, and yet Annabel did not answer. Freya tried again but Annabel still did not answer.“Come on, Ann,” she muttered impatiently. She was beginning to panic because she didn’t know how long this window would stay open. How long before Roman would finally leave her for that blonde lady. She had to warn her sister even though they were not on the best of terms now. Even though she had defended Roman in the presence of Janice and the others, while driving back home, she
Bad Ambush
What Annabel did not like about weekends was Janice's unnecessary visits. Most of all, the traditional gathering that took place every Sunday. She much preferred being at work or with Roman, than being around her own family now. But today was yet another Sunday, and she was at home — only minding her own business this time. Annabel was sitting in the living room and reading a novel when she heard the laughter before she even turned to see where it was coming from. They were light, soft giggles coming from the kitchen. It was clearly Janice’s voice, and unmistakably Freya’s own coming after. It was the kind of laughter that made Annabel's stomach turn, not because it was loud, but because of what it meant.She stood up to leave, but paused at the doorway. They hadn’t seen her yet.“…if love paid bills, half the women in the world would be billionaires,” Janice was saying as she rinsed a teacup. Her tone had that wicked sweetness that she always used when she wanted to sound clever.
More What Ifs
Two weeks after the campaign rollout, Roman welcomed the Valey brothers into his office once again. The three men were dressed like they had just won a lottery. Their suits looked better than the last time, their grins were wide, and Pope still carried that his exhausting air of confidence on his shoulders as he came in. Roman leaned back in his chair and offered a nod as they settled."Mr Averne," Pope greeted. His raspy voice sounded like sandpaper. He did not sound good at all. "Good to see you again."Roman smiled. That was his thing now — smiling through all of it. He wasn't even sure it was real anymore, but it worked. His investigations were coming out as inconclusive, which wasn't a bad sign, but was also not a good sign."The branding campaign's been rolled out, just as we planned," Dexter said as he dropped a thick portfolio on Roman's desk. He sat down. "People are talking about the anonymous identity. They are curious and confused, and we love it.""Good," Roman replied
Off Feeling
It was yet another Monday, another day for the Valeys to meet with Roman. And as usual, Roman was already in his office waiting for the arrival of the three brothers. Roman didn’t look up when Kade knocked and let the Valey brothers in. He knew they were the ones coming because their appointment was set for that time. He was behind his desk, finishing a cup of espresso that he had brewed himself that morning. He liked doing it himself now. Something about starting the day on his own terms made working go smoother most times. When the three men finally walked in, talking and smiling like they already closed the deal of the century, he slowly raised his head and gave them a casual look.“Good morning, gentlemen,” he said, gesturing toward the chairs across from him.“Morning, Mr Averne,” Dexter said as they took their seats. Prance carried a thin folder with him and Pope was holding his phone as if he was waiting for it to ring.Roman raised a brow. “I believe we were supposed to dis
