C5 Money

"Don't worry, Belinda. As your husband, there's no way we're losing this bet!" Lachlan declared with a straight face.

"You're beyond help!" Belinda exclaimed, giving up on Lachlan completely.

"What am I going to do? Looks like I'll have to run from bank to bank tomorrow, hoping to secure some loans," she fretted, resigned to her last-ditch efforts.

"Just trust yourself, Belinda," Lachlan encouraged, finding her panic somewhat amusing.

The esteemed Master of the Dragon King Hall, anxious over finances?

"Ha! The day I believe you is the day I'm possessed," Belinda glared at Lachlan, convinced of his unreliability.

...

The next morning, after preparing breakfast, Lachlan set out on his own.

"Global Advisors, here we are," he murmured, stepping into the grand building.

"Do you have an appointment?" a poised receptionist inquired.

"I'm here to see Cedric. He's expecting me," Lachlan stated nonchalantly.

He had informed Esaias and Global Advisors of his visit beforehand, though he had not disclosed his true identity.

"One moment, please," the receptionist responded, quickly realizing that someone who knew the CEO by name might be an important guest.

In no time, Lachlan was seated in Cedric's lavish office.

"I'm Cedric. The Fairchild patriarch has already briefed me about you. What can I call you?" Cedric leaned back on the sofa, eyeing Lachlan curiously, trying to figure out his connection to the Fairchild family. Esaias had been vague over the phone, only insisting that Cedric accommodate any request Lachlan had. But Cedric wasn't one to do favors for just anyone.

"Oh, I'm Lachlan. I'm here to talk about investing in the Murphy Group," Lachlan stated his intentions plainly.

"Lachlan?" "The Murphy Group?" Cedric's brow furrowed, the name sounding familiar.

Then it clicked, and he slapped his thigh in realization. "Hold on. Are you that Lachlan? The Murphy family's son-in-law?" he asked, his voice tinged with astonishment.

Cedric let out a chuckle, his disbelief thinly veiled. "So you're the infamous Lachlan, the live-in son-in-law of the Murphy family? The very same."

Lachlan's frown deepened, his patience wearing thin. It was clear that Cedric, the high-and-mighty president of Global Advisors, lacked the basic courtesy of acknowledging a favor.

Cedric's laughter held a note of condescension. "Ah, Lachlan, you've become quite the local legend here in Virenthia. And now you're here to pitch an investment in the Murphy Group? I'm afraid that's a no-go."

The moment Cedric pieced together Lachlan's true identity, his interest fizzled out. He couldn't fathom that a man like Esaias would have any significant connection to a man the elite dismissed as a worthless son-in-law. And the thought of the upper crust discovering that Cedric had been intimidated by such a nonentity was laughable to the extreme.

"You're certain about your decision? I'd like to hear your reasoning," Lachlan pressed, his demeanor growing steely.

"Why?" Cedric scoffed, rising to his feet and dusting off his suit with a flourish. "You expect me to negotiate with someone who's nothing more than a disgraceful son-in-law? And let's not forget, the Murphy Group is on its last legs. A trashy company run by trashy people. Now, get lost."

"If you issue an immediate apology, invest in the Murphy Group without fees, I might just let this slide," Lachlan retorted, barely containing his anger.

"Or else, you'll have to deal with the consequences."

Cedric's laughter boomed through the room. "Are you joking? An apology from me, Cedric, and for free? You must be delusional. Scare me with consequences? I'm shaking in my boots!"

But Lachlan was unfazed, a cold smile playing on his lips as he pulled out his phone. "You're about to learn what fear really is."

He called Esaias. "I want Global Advisors under my name in ten minutes. Just make it happen." With that, he ended the call and settled back, eyes closed, the calm before the storm.

Cedric's fate was sealed from the moment he dared to insult Lachlan.

Cedric's laughter echoed mockingly, "Acquire Global Advisors in ten minutes for five billion? Do you even grasp the magnitude of five billion dollars?

"Alright, I'll bite. I'll wait ten minutes. After that, you'll be escorted out—naked and shamed."

There are those who might be able to pull together five billion in ten minutes.

But this man, the infamous live-in son-in-law?

The seconds ticked by, laden with suspense.

And then, the ten minutes were up.

"Time's up, loser. You're about to learn what crossing me costs."

Cedric sneered, about to summon security with his phone when it suddenly rang.

"Hello, Boss," he answered, straightening up and plastering on an obsequious grin.

But as he listened, the smile slowly disintegrated, vanishing as if it had never existed.

"What? You're joking, right? Global Advisors is a gold mine, and you sold it?"

"For ten billion?!"

Cedric's complexion drained to a deathly white, his eyes bulging as if they might fall out of their sockets.

And then came the revelation from his boss...

The buyer who dropped ten billion on Global Advisors was Lachlan—the very man he'd just ridiculed.

Thud!

His phone slipped from his trembling grasp, hitting the floor with a dull thud.

Cedric realized in that moment, he was finished. Completely finished.

"My apologies for the inconvenience,"

"Ten billion is merely chump change to me."

​