The Supreme Power Behind a Wheelchair

Chapter 10: Shadows Behind the Curtain of Power

Everyone immediately turned toward the source of the voice. A middle-aged man in an elegant suit walked closer. His face was calm, yet there was an undeniable aura of authority surrounding him.

"Mr. Lincoln!" the receptionist called out politely as she stood up.

Adrian quickly turned around, trying to regain his composure. He knew the man before him—Lawrence Lincoln, the CEO of Xoldex, a powerful figure in the world of technology business.

"Mr. Lincoln," Adrian said in a lowered tone, attempting to sound polite despite the anger still burning within him. "I'm here to sign the partnership contract. I'm Adrian Stratton, the new director of Novatek."

Lincoln observed Adrian for a moment before glancing at the receptionist, who swiftly explained the situation. After hearing the explanation, Lincoln returned his gaze to Adrian, his expression unreadable.

"Mr. Stratton, I'm not aware of your new position at Novatek. What I do know is that all official communications for this project have been handled through Mrs. Celeste Stratton. Until I receive official confirmation from her, I will not be signing any contracts."

Adrian was stunned. "But I own Novatek now! Celeste no longer has any rights over the company!"

Lincoln raised an eyebrow, seemingly unfazed by Adrian’s claim. "I don't care who holds control over your company. In the business world, we respect hard work and integrity. Mrs. Celeste has built a strong relationship with us over the years. If you want to continue this partnership, I suggest you learn from her."

Those words hit Adrian like a slap. His face turned red with shame and fury.

Lincoln continued, "And one more thing, Mr. Stratton. If you want to build a professional relationship, try respecting business procedures and ethics. There is no place for such commotion in my office."

Adrian couldn't say a word. He stood frozen, feeling utterly humiliated in front of everyone.

"Now, if you don’t have an appointment or the necessary documents, I suggest you leave," Lincoln said firmly before turning and walking away.

Adrian clenched his jaw, barely holding back the anger threatening to explode. He wanted to shout, to vent his frustration, but he knew it was pointless to go against Lincoln.

Without another word, Adrian grabbed his files and stormed out, his steps heavy with defeat. His pride was shattered.

Celeste... This is all your fault! he thought, filled with resentment.

*

The sky over Viremontis was darkening as Adrian Stratton left in fury, and Lawrence Lincoln returned to his office. His steps were quick, almost rushed, reflecting the unease that had settled in his mind since Adrian left his office moments ago. That unease only intensified when the phone on his desk rang. An important call awaited him.

Lawrence took a deep breath before picking up the receiver. There was only one person who could make him feel this way—Victor Carlisle. A name well-known to anyone involved in the business world of Viremontis. To the public, Victor was the wealthiest and most influential man, untouchable by law or competition. But to Lawrence, Victor was more than just a powerful figure. He was the reason Lawrence was able to stand again after nearly drowning in bankruptcy.

"Lawrence," Victor’s deep, cold voice came through the line. Just hearing his name was enough to make Lawrence's palms sweat.

"Yes, Mr. Carlisle," Lawrence replied, his voice slightly trembling, though he tried to maintain a steady tone.

"Have you done what I instructed?" Victor asked directly, wasting no time on pleasantries.

Lawrence swallowed hard. He knew exactly what Victor was referring to—the outright rejection of any business dealings with the Stratton family, unless they came directly from Celeste Stratton.

"I have, Mr. Carlisle. I’ve ensured that all partnerships involving the Stratton family will only proceed if Celeste is directly involved," he answered cautiously.

"Good," Victor replied briefly, but his tone remained icy. "You understand the consequences if you disobey me, don’t you?"

"Of course, sir. I understand."

The call ended abruptly, without any farewell. Lawrence stared at the receiver in his hand before slowly placing it back down. His body felt weak, but his mind was racing.

Victor Carlisle was a man shrouded in mystery. Lawrence knew Victor possessed immense wealth, unparalleled influence in the business world, and a network that extended into nearly every corner of life in Viremontis. No one dared to defy him—including Lawrence himself.

Years ago, when Lawrence was at his lowest, Victor had appeared like a savior. He offered a massive investment, enough to rebuild Lawrence’s crumbling business empire. But that help did not come without a price. Since then, Lawrence had become a part of Victor’s network, bound by unwavering loyalty.

However, what happened tonight shook Lawrence’s understanding of Victor. He had always believed that Victor was at the pinnacle of the power hierarchy—that no one stood above Victor Carlisle. But now, he realized he had been wrong.

"There’s someone above Victor," Lawrence thought in shock. And not just that—this person was powerful enough to make Victor obey and issue orders through his loyal subordinates.

The thought made Lawrence shiver. Who was this person? And why was Celeste Stratton so important to them?

Lawrence recalled Celeste’s figure—a young woman, intelligent, charismatic, and with an exceptional business acumen. Under her leadership, Novatek, the Stratton family’s company, had risen from the brink of collapse. But there were many brilliant women in business, and not all of them received the kind of attention Celeste did.

"What makes Celeste so special?" Lawrence wondered, leaning back in his black leather chair.

Maybe, he thought, Celeste wasn’t just an ordinary businesswoman. Maybe she was the key to something much bigger—a plan or an asset known only to those in the deepest circles of power.

A mix of admiration and fear began to grow in Lawrence’s heart. If Celeste truly held such importance, then supporting and protecting her wasn’t just an obligation—it was a smart move for his own future.

His thoughts were interrupted when one of his subordinates knocked on the door.

"Come in," he said, regaining his composure.

A young man in a sharp suit entered. "Sir, there are several documents requiring your signature."

"Let me see," Lawrence said.

As he finished reviewing and signing the documents, Lawrence’s mind drifted back to Victor’s message. Without hesitation, he gave instructions to his assistant while he was still in the room.

"Listen," Lawrence said firmly. "I will say this only once, and there must be no mistakes. From now on, all business dealings with the Stratton family will only be accepted if Celeste Stratton is directly involved. No exceptions. Do you understand?"

The assistant looked startled but didn’t dare to question further. With a nervous nod, he responded, "Understood, sir. We will inform all teams."

Lawrence knew that this decision wasn’t just about following Victor’s orders—it was also about protecting himself from greater consequences. He let out a heavy sigh and leaned back in his chair after his assistant left.

"A boss above the boss?" he murmured.