Chapter 295: Please Sign It...

Chapter 295: Chapter 295: Please Sign It...

Harold Trunk stood frozen, his eyes wide with unadulterated terror as his mind desperately processed the sheer speed at which his world had unraveled. Seconds ago, he was a powerful chairman, the majority shareholder of Fate Pharmaceuticals with a thirty-six percent controlling stake, treating people like disposable playthings. Now, under the calm, unblinking stare of Jake Rivers, he was standing on the edge of an absolute financial abyss.

"I... I..." Harold stammered, his gravelly voice cracking as cold sweat poured down his slicked-back hairline. His hands, heavy with gold rings, trembled violently at his sides.

?"I’m waiting, Mr. Trunk," Jake said mildly, his tone lacking any impatience or hostility. It was the tone of a man checking his watch, completely indifferent to whether Harold handed over half his personal stake or lost the whole company by morning.

’All he knows is how to bully the weak.’ Maya looked at the now sweating Harold. ’When someone more powerful arrives, all of a sudden he’s the pitiful one. How disgusting.’

"Is there... isn’t there any other way we can resolve this peacefully, Mr. Rivers?" Harold begged, his voice shaking with desperation. He knew full well that if he dared defy the man in front of him, he would be ruined, homeless, and begging on the streets by next week.

"This ’is’ the only peaceful resolution I am willing to agree to, Mr. Trunk," Jake replied, his tone devoid of impatience or malice, yet entirely unyielding. "Anything less would simply be a waste of my time."

Behind Harold, his thin assistant practically fell to his knees in relief, frantically signaling his boss with wide, desperate eyes. ’Sign it! Just sign it!’

Harold swallowed hard, the sharp taste of bile filling his throat. To surrender fifty percent of his thirty-six percent majority holding—handing eighteen percent of the total company equity directly to a penniless university student—was a humiliating, gut-wrenching pill to swallow. Leaving him with a pitiful eighteen percent meant he would instantly lose his controlling majority, stripping him of his iron grip over the board and turning him into a minority spectator in his own life’s work.

But the alternative was absolute ruin. Jake Rivers wouldn’t just bankrupt Fate Pharmaceuticals; he would shred its supply chains, short its shares into oblivion, and leave Harold drowning in debt and criminal investigations before the sun rose.

"I’ll... I’ll sign it," Harold choked out, his shoulders slumping completely as all the bluster and arrogance drained out of him. "I’ll transfer fifty percent of my stake... right now."

"Wise choice," Jake replied calmly. He didn’t offer a victory smile, nor did he look pleased. To him, the transaction was as minor as settling a minor fee.

Jake glanced sideways at Elias. "Elias, contact Alice. Have our legal team draft the immediate equity transfer agreement for Mr. Trunk’s holdings in Fate Pharmaceuticals. Make sure the voting rights and dividend distributions for that eighteen percent equity block are transferred cleanly under the young lady’s name."

"Understood, Mr. Rivers. It will be finalized within twenty minutes," Elias replied cleanly, pulling out his encrypted comms device to execute the order.

Harold stood there trembling, looking smaller and older than he had ten minutes ago. Without another word, he turned blindly on his heel, his face an ugly, mottled white, and hurried toward the public exit, his assistant and two bruised bodyguards trailing behind him like beaten dogs.

With the trash cleared from the landing, the heavy silence softened into a quiet, warm stillness.

Maya remained tucked against Jake’s side, her heart hammering against her ribs so loudly she was certain he could hear it. The scent of high-end cedar and cool mint radiating from his suit felt like a protective shield, completely walling her off from the cruel, dangerous world she had almost fallen victim to.

Jake turned his attention down toward her, gently releasing his grip on her shoulder to give her space.

"What’s your name?" Jake asked softly, his gaze calm and attentive.

"Maya... Maya Vane," she stammered, softly wiping her nose as she found her voice.

"Alice will walk you through the transfer paperwork once it’s ready, Miss Vane," Jake said, his voice smooth and reassuring. "Fifty percent of Harold’s majority stake leaves him with just eighteen percent, stripping him of his control over the board. That eighteen percent block makes you one of the largest individual shareholders in Fate Pharmaceuticals. What you choose to do with those shares—whether you take a seat on their board, hold them for dividends, or liquidate them—is entirely up to you."

Maya stared up at him, her lips parting in silent shock. Up close, his dark eyes were deep and impenetrable, but there was an effortless, commanding warmth to him that made her breath hitch.

"I... I don’t even know how to thank you, Mr. Rivers," Maya managed to whisper, her voice still raspy from crying. "You didn’t have to do that..."

"You were a guest under my roof," Jake replied mildly, a faint, subtle smirk touching the corner of his lips. "And I don’t tolerate people causing trouble on my property. Did you come here alone tonight, Miss Vane?"

Maya nodded hesitantly, adjusting her clutch. "I... I’m actually just a university student," she confessed softly, looking up at him. "I made some profits trading off one of your public market signals a while back, so I used that money to buy a tier-three balcony pass for tonight’s auction. I just wanted to experience a high-society event for once in my life..."

Jake listened attentively, a subtle flicker of genuine respect touching his dark eyes as her story registered. ’And this damn Harold ruined her first experience, and in my own event no less.’

"I see," Jake said softly. His expression softened further, a quiet note of apology entering his voice. "I am truly sorry that such a disgusting incident ruined your very first high-society event. That is not the standard my gallery holds." He looked at her directly, his tone smooth and intentional. "To make up for this unpleasant experience, I will personally invite you to attend the next grand event as my guest."

Maya’s eyes widened in sheer, unrestrained shock. ’He... he wants to take me to the next event as his guest?!’ A wave of manic, ecstatic joy flared through her chest, completely erasing every lingering shred of fear and trauma. ’Isn’t that practically a date?’

She could barely mask her excitement as a brilliant, radiant smile broke across her face. "I... I would be honored, Mr. Rivers!" Maya said quickly, her voice trembling with sheer joy. She reached into her bag, pulled out her personal card, and handed it to him with both hands. "Here is my number, so you or your assistant can contact me when the time comes!"

Jake accepted the card with a polite nod, tucking it neatly into his inner tuxedo pocket.

Beside Jake, Catharine offered Maya a warm, empathetic smile. "Are you sure you’re feeling all right to travel back? We can have one of our private cars drop you off safely at your residence."

"I... I would really appreciate that. Thank you, Miss Catharine," Maya said politely, bowing her head slightly.

"Miller, handle her transport," Jake instructed calmly.

"Right away, sir." Miller gestured toward the private elevator bay. "Miss Vane, right this way."

As Maya followed Miller toward the lift, she paused at the threshold and looked back over her shoulder one last time. Jake and Catharine were already turning toward the terrace corridor, moving with the quiet, untouchable grace of royalty returning to their sanctuary.

Maya touched her cheek where his thumb had wiped away her tear only moments ago. The fear, the tears, and the panic were gone, replaced by an intoxicating, burning fire. In one night, Jake Rivers hadn’t just saved her—he had handed her millions of marks in equity, shattered her attacker’s dominance, and granted her direct access to his world.

’Eighteen percent of Fate Pharmaceuticals... and an invitation from Jake Rivers...’ Maya thought, her hand tightening around her bag as the elevator doors closed. ’I came here hoping for thirty seconds of your time, Jake Rivers. Now, I’m going to make sure I become someone you can never ignore.’

"I guess I should thank Harold for this," Maya said as closed her eyes not believing what had just happened. "If it wasn’t for him, my life wouldn’t have changed like this."

’She’s really lucky,’ Miller looked at her and saw the young girl smiling. ’Had miss Catharine not forgotten her phone prompting us to go back, who knows what could have happened to her.’

"Excuse me," Maya said as she turned to Miller. "Is Mr. Rivers always this kind?"

Miller watched her for a few seconds. "Not many people get to see that side of his, but he’s a kind person at heart. And he will go through hell just to protect those he cares for."

"He really is the best," Maya said, day dreaminglike the fan girl she is. "Thank youfor answering my question even though didn’t have to."

"It was no trouble," Miller said as the elevator doors opened. "Please follow me to the car."

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