Chapter 103: A Commanding Presence
The auction house was a masterpiece of architecture, and from the vantage point of Box 1, Jake could see every intricate detail of the limestone carvings and the way the ambient light caught the dust motes in the vast air. He stood at the edge of the balcony, looking down at the stage where millions would change hands tonight. Behind him, Elias stood like a shadow, his presence silent but constant.
Jake turned his head slightly, watching the stage. "A little over a year ago, Elias, I was just another college student. I was struggling to make ends meet, calculating whether I could afford a decent meal or if I had to skip a day. The world felt enormous, and I was very small."
Elias didn’t move, his eyes remaining on the door. "I’m aware of the general story, Mr. Rivers. My team and I looked into your background before we took the job. We don’t protect people without knowing where they came from."
Jake nodded, a faint smile touching his lips. "That makes sense. But what the files probably don’t emphasize is the shift. Over six months ago, my trading started taking off. For the first time, I didn’t feel like I was drowning. I didn’t feel the weight of a bleak future pressing down on me every morning. I thought I had finally earned a seat at the table. I was proud of being a self-made millionaire, and I was on my way to becoming a billionaire on my own terms."
He looked back out at the gallery, his expression turning thoughtful. "Then I found out about the inheritance. I hadn’t even had enough time to cement my name as a self-made man before the world shifted again. Now, everyone will only think about the inheritance. They’ll see the billions and forget the struggle I went through to get where I was before the trust even opened."
’It’s a double-edged sword,’ Jake thought. ’The wealth provides the fortress, but it buries the man who built the foundation.’
Elias remained quiet for a moment, then spoke with a rare hint of curiosity. "And does that change the plan?"
"In some ways, it makes it easier," Jake said, his eyes narrowing with a sharp conviction. "I could probably just sit back, make sure I don’t fail to protect what I’ve been given, and be set for life. But that’s not what I want. I was already moving toward the big pond. Now that I’m in it, I don’t want to just float. I want to swim in the sea."
’Most heirs just want to spend it,’ Elias thought, observing the rigidity in Jake’s posture. ’But this one... he wants to use it.’ He realized then that he might actually be working for someone worth following this time around.
A sharp knock came on the door, and an attendant stepped in, bowing respectfully. "Mr. Sheele and Mr. Vale have arrived, sir." She moved aside to let Marcus and Adrian enter.
Marcus walked in with a wide grin, his eyes darting around the lavish room. "If owning an auction house means you get a room like this, I should really think about building one. This is top-tier, Jake."
Adrian, trailing behind, gave Marcus a dry look. "Just say you want a new playhouse, Marcus. Spare us the business talk."
Marcus chuckled, but a small thought crossed his mind as he looked at Adrian. ’He’s a bit colder today,’ Marcus noted. ’He must have had to sacrifice something significant to fulfill his end of the seizure deal.’
Adrian walked up to Jake and offered a firm fist bump, which Jake returned. Adrian then took a seat in one of the deep velvet chairs. "You’re the talk of the town, Jake. The news about the inheritance is going viral. You must really want Sterling out of the picture."
Marcus leaned back, sprawling his legs out. "The news alone was enough to give Sterling a bad weekend. Combined with the four-way seizure we pulled off, it’s practically a death sentence for him. He has no way out now."
Jake chuckled softly. "The news was going to get out one way or another. By putting it out there first, I made sure I could control the narrative."
"Exactly," Adrian chimed in. "It wouldn’t look good if some investigative reporter broke the news claiming you were a thief or that the inheritance was fraudulent. It would take months to clear your name, even if they couldn’t actually do anything to you. This way, you’re ahead of the curve."
"It was a smart move," Marcus added, nodding in approval.
"I saw an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone and simply took it," Jake said.
The attendant stepped forward, her hands clasped. "I will be one of your attendants for the evening, gentlemen. Please let me know if you require anything at all."
"I’m fine, thanks," Jake said.
Marcus gave a casual wave. "Same here."
Adrian looked at her. "A glass of water, please."
Jake looked over at Elias. "Elias, grab whatever you want. Don’t feel like you have to stand there like a statue all night."
"I’m fine, sir," Elias replied. "I’ll wait just outside the door. I can monitor the hallway better from there."
He stepped out as another attendant knocked to announce Noah Chen’s arrival. Noah burst into the room, looking like he was bursting with news. "You guys have to guess who I ran into at the entrance. Sterling himself was standing there like a lost puppy."
"Don’t tell me he tried to beg," Marcus said, leaning forward with an amused glint in his eyes. "What happened?"
Noah sat down, shaking his head. "He actually tried to corner me about the delayed ore deliveries. He asked if I had a minute to ’clear up a misunderstanding.’ The man is falling apart. He looked like he hadn’t slept since the seizure news hit."
Marcus shook his head in amusement. "Sterling is desperate. He knows the walls are closing in."
"I didn’t give him much," Noah added with a mischievous grin. "I actually jokingly told him that I’ll call for him later if I find the time. You should have seen his face. He didn’t know whether to be relieved or insulted."
"We should wait until the middle of the auction to call him in," Adrian said, his voice cold and calculated. "Let him sit there and stew. We’ll hear him out then. This whole thing could be resolved tonight if he’s willing to lose a limb or two."
Jake nodded slowly, liking the idea of the pressure cooker approach. "I agree. Let him see the scale of what he’s up against first. We’ll call him in later when he’s properly softened up."
The conversation was interrupted by the third attendant, who opened the door for Leon. To everyone’s surprise, Leon was not alone.
As Leon walked in, followed by the woman from the entrance, the atmosphere in the box transformed instantly. Marcus, Adrian, and Noah—men who rarely showed respect to anyone—immediately stood up. Jake also stood up as he watched their reactions, noticing the sudden tension in their shoulders and the way their expressions shifted from casual to deeply respectful.
’Who is she?’Jake wondered. From their immediate reaction, he could tell she wasn’t anyone ordinary.
Noah shot Leon a look that practically screamed the question: ’What were you thinking bringing her here?’
Leon caught the gaze and shifted uncomfortably, giving a slight, helpless shrug that made it clear he hadn’t had much of a choice in the matter. The fear of even speaking out loud in her presence was written across both their faces.
Before Leon could even attempt an introduction, Marcus stepped forward. He inclined his head in a respectful, shallow bow. "Good evening. It is an honor to see you here, Miss Roys."
The woman smiled, a slow and composed expression. "Nice to see you too, Marcus. It’s been a while." She then turned her gaze toward Adrian and Noah. "The same goes for you guys. I hope I’m not interrupting your little strategy session."
"Not at all," Adrian replied, his voice unusually formal.
"It’s a pleasure, Miss Roys," Noah added, his usual boisterous energy completely dampened.
She let out a soft, airy chuckle. "Oh, please. Don’t be so formal. It might make our new friend here misunderstand me for a bully." She looked toward Jake, her eyes sparkling with intelligence.
Jake remained standing, internally stunned. He had seen these guys deal with high-ranking officials and billionaires with nothing but casual indifference, yet here they were, acting like disciplined subordinates.
Elizabeth walked over to Jake with a graceful, measured stride. She extended a hand, her jewelry catching the amber light of the room. "You must be the one all over the news today. The man of the hour. I’m Elizabeth, but you can call me Lizzy."
Jake reached out and took her hand, feeling the coolness of her skin and the weight of her presence. "Jake Rivers. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lizzy."
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