Ch. 211..215: Inherit Billions Chapter 211-215
Chapter 211
This Isn't Your Turf
Orion's eyes gleamed with a cold fury-a suppressed rage that hinted at a deep, murderous intent.
Lucius knew well that it had been years since Orion took action himself. The look in his eyes was enough to make even the bravest shudder with fear. "Jennifer, do you really think you're that important? Do you want to lose that little company of yours?"
Orion's voice was icy and ruthless.
When he saw Seraphina standing barefoot and confronted with three malicious figures, a flicker of panic and fear flashed through his heart.
More than anything, a wave of uncontrollable anger surged within him.
He had endured the most brutal darkness, but Seraphina was pure and untarnished. He wouldn't allow anyone to corrupt her.
Orion couldn't bear to imagine what would happen if Seraphina were to lose the fight.
His bloodshot eyes fixed on Jennifer with a deathly stare.
Whether to cooperate or not was entirely his decision. He owed no debt or reparation.
What right did Jennifer have to negotiate with him?
Orion had spent so long in the legitimate business world that he seemed to have forgotten how he had once clawed his way out of the mire of darkness.
In that moment, the situation triggered the deepest, darkest secrets buried within him.
Jennifer's face froze as her plans to negotiate vanished in an instant.
The business world was filled with tales about Orion-legends that had never ceased.
Jennifer thought she was on equal footing with Orion, but that was just her delusion.
The Perez Group might be powerful in Vlago, but here in Eldoria, it was nothing but an ant compared to the Dros Group.
She glanced at Seraphina with unwillingness. She let out a wicked smile and spoke in a cold and harsh voice.
"Ms. Cross is truly lucky. Even after a divorce, Mr. Dros is still so protective of you. You must have some impressive tricks up your sleeve. But next time, you might not be so lucky..." Seraphina lowered her gaze, hiding the ridicule in her eyes. At that moment, she was all sharp edges.
Did Jennifer really think there would be a next time? How naive!
Seraphina stood there throughout, never once glancing at Orion.
His intervention was of no interest to her.
This Isn't Your Turf
88
Hearing Jennifer's words, Seraphina couldn't help but raise her eyes. Her indifferent gaze swept across
everyone present.
Finally, her cold stare settled on Orion.
"Tonight's little drama was unexpectedly entertaining, but...
She paused, her tone light and lazy.
"The performance was a failure."
The atmosphere instantly grew tense. The chill in the air was so palpable that breathing itself became a cautious act.
Orion's cold eyes reflected a hint of surprise as he turned to look at her.
Seraphina met his gaze with casual indifference.
Their eyes met. He saw the distrust buried in her gaze.
His heart sank, as if someone had stabbed him with a knife.
"You think I asked Jennifer to do this?" He asked.
Orion narrowed his eyes and sharpened his gaze.
Seraphina remained silent and let out a cold smile.
Her silence said it all.
Beside him, Lucius couldn't help but shiver as the cold seemed to grow more intense.
What the heck is going on?
"Otherwise, why would you be the one who showed up."
Seraphina had finished, and the air around them was getting colder.
Lucius quickly stepped forward to explain.
"It's a misunderstanding. This has nothing to do with Orion. We were leaving when Orion said he wanted to speak with you, but he couldn't find you. The valet pointed us in this direction, so we followed. He gave Ken a look. Ken nodded immediately.
"Yes, Ms. Cross, that's exactly what happened."
Seraphina lowered her eyes slightly, as if pondering the credibility of their words.
She let out a soft, cold laugh.
"So, then, I should be thanking you?"
She had almost dealt with the trouble herself. What good was his arrival?
09:23 Fri Oct 25
This isn't Your Türf
If Seraphina hadn't intervened in that project, Orion would have been willing to share such a big pic with Jennifer.
Are they denying any involvement? Who would believe that?
Orion's face darkened visibly.
Chapter 212
The Power of the Crosses
Jennifer stood to the side, her tone dripping with sarcasm, as she watched the scene unfold.
"It seems that Mr. Dros is just another fool. Ms. Cross certainly doesn't lack men fawning over her." Seraphina's gaze turned sharp, cutting into Jennifer.
"Jennifer, don't be too quick to enjoy someone else's downfall. You should worry about yourself." Before she even finished, Ken's voice echoed with a hint of surprise.
"Mr. Dros, someone is here. It's Mr. Sivir Cross and Mr. Colombo!"
The moment Jennifer heard Hansen's name, her face turned ashen.
She glared at Seraphina, her eyes full of fury.
"When did you call them here?"
Seraphina had always been under her watchful eye.
She hadn't even had the chance to use her phone.
Seraphina raised an eyebrow. She waved her heels, then slipped them back on with a smooth, fluid motion.
She lifted her chin arrogantly.
"Do you know how expensive these heels are? Losing something worth 8 million isn't the issue, but I need to know how it went missing."
The alarm on her heel was directly linked to the Crosses' surveillance system.
How could the Crosses heiress leave home unprepared?
Jennifer was naive!
Sivir arrived quickly with his bodyguards, encircling the place completely.
Hansen's eyes turned red with fury as he took in the scene. He glared exasperatedly at Jennifer.
His voice was cold and barely restrained as he addressed Seraphina.
"Did she hit you?"
Jennifer shivered at Hansen's words.
The usually carefree, flirtatious Hansen now looked like he wanted to tear someone apart.
Jennifer's years of perseverance and admiration seemed insignificant at that moment.
Her expression held a trace of hurt, but no one cared about her feelings.
The Power of the Crosses
"She doesn't have what it takes,"
Both Hansen and Sivir felt a sense of relief at her words.
Sivir casts a complicated look at Orion.
If Seraphina hadn't been in danger, she wouldn't have triggered the alarm.
Were those guys working for Orion or Jennifer?
"What brings Mr. Dros here?"
Orion's face remained impassive as he looked at Seraphina, his expression dark.
Lucius quickly stepped forward and explained the situation once again. This time, more earnestly.
Ken chimed in, supporting his explanation.
Sivir withdrew his gaze. He was confident in Orion's character that he wouldn't harm a woman.
Which left Jennifer as the culprit.
He pondered momentarily, then turned to his sister.
"Seraphina, what do you plan to do?"
Seraphina raised an eyebrow.
"Finish what Ms. Perez started. Just take a few photos of her. If Ms. Perez cooperates, she will avoid unnecessary pain. Jennifer's head shot up, her eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets.
How dare Seraphina do that to her in front of Hansen?
She was the renowned businesswoman of Vlago, celebrated as a role model-and now being insulted like this? "Seraphina, you wouldn't dare!"
"Why wouldn't I?"
Seraphina asked casually.
"The Perez Group won't let you off, and the entire business community in Vlago will turn against you!"
Seraphina sneered, but she didn't have to respond-Sivir couldn't help but scowl at the remarks.
"Using your company to intimidate my sister? You're too confident! The presidency of the Vlago Business Council should change hands soon. I trust that the state and Valorian governments will make the right choice." Sivir's words sent Jennifer into a sudden realization, her face turning pale.
could She had enent ten years building her nosition in Vlago but with a mere word Sivir could obliterate all her
YYY.
The Power of the Crosses
hard work.
Hansen, who had been lounging casually, was growing impatient.
"Enough talk; let's do as Seraphina said and get those photos."
It was as if Jennifer's dignity was insignificant in his eyes.
"I can't bear to watch this. I'm out."
Seraphina muttered with a light scoff, strutting off in her high heels, her silhouette graceful and commanding.
She didn't need to worry about what came next-Sivir's men would handle it.
Naturally, Hansen followed close behind, not letting her out of his sight.
Chapter 213
Unlucky to Catch Your Eye
Jennifer's complexion turned pale. Her eyes reflect nothing but despair.
She was utterly defeated in the match.
Her voice trembled with pain as she shouted at the retreating figure, raising her head with bitter
resentment.
"Hansen, who do you think I did all this for? It was for you! I've loved you for ten whole years! How could you not even glance at me? That bitch only sees you as a backup plan. Do you really think she cares about you? She doesn't love anyone but herself. She has been manipulating your emotions throughout the entire time-how could you have ever believed she would be with you?
Jennifer couldn't care about anything else. Her world was crumbling right before her eyes.
She screamed, oblivious to the stares from the surrounding crowd. Just like that, she spilled a secret she had buried for ten years.
In the business world, she was a formidable woman who could make or break deals. In love, she was always the one left wanting, desperate, and humble.
She gazed at Hansen's back, full of hope.
Jenifer hoped her words would soften him, that he would turn around and look at her, even for just once.
The silence was suffocating.
After a few seconds, Hansen slowly turned.
His rigid posture made it clear that his disdain was absolute.
"Damn it, what kind of terrible luck did I have to catch your eye?"
The cold wind blew. Seraphina had lost interest in staying. She left without giving it a second thought.
When Seraphina returned home, it was already late.
The next morning, as she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was the lush greenery outside the window, with branches and leaves intertwining.
The place was surrounded by rare and precious trees, with sunlight filtering through the gaps and lazily creeping onto her face.
What a beautiful day!
They instantly forgot the unpleasantness of the previous night.
She swiftly got out of bed, freshened up, and grabbed her tablet to check the latest stock market changes.
A message from Sivir popped up on the screen. He sent it at 4 AM. "Jennifer's been dealt with. You can sleep easy." So fast?
Unlucky to Catch Your Eye
Sivir was always protective of his own. Given his methods, the resolution must have been quite unkind.
However, Seraphina couldn't help but wonder about Orion's role in all of this.
He gave her a look last night. There were deep, complex emotions swirling in his eyes.
She didn't waste time trying to understand his thoughts. It didn't matter to her.
After all, his presence doesn't matter to her.
What mattered was that she'd managed to walk away unscathed.
She entered her expansive walk-in closet and selected a limited-edition casual dress from the season.
Stepping into a pair of brand-new limited-edition heels, she walked into the company with a striking, confident air.
The receptionist greeted her sweetly. Seraphina waved back, warm and approachable.
Thomas placed the meeting documents in front of her.
"Ms. Cross, the meeting will begin in ten minutes, but
Seraphina looked up at him.
"What is it?"
"Mr. Denter from Giant Group has been waiting outside for quite some time."
Seraphina frowned slightly.
"Postpone the meeting and let Mr. Denter in."
""Yes, ma'am."
Aiden's expression was grave. His eyes were concealed behind the gold-rimmed glasses, flashing with faint frustration and displeasure.
The artificial intelligence project was progressing smoothly; there shouldn't have been any problems.
Seraphina couldn't think of any issue serious enough to make him look so troubled.
As soon as Thomas closed the door, Aiden took a seat across from her.
"Seraphina, someone has leaked the confidential design data for our Al chip!"
Before Seraphina could respond, he grimly revealed the results of the investigation.
"The leak came from one of your companies under Cross Group. The perpetrator is a corporate spy!"
Seraphina remained silent.
She simply looked at Aiden.
He didn't seem to be inking
09:39 Sat,
Unlucky to Catch Your Eye
There was a momentary silence, and Seraphina's heart sank slightly.
They had placed high hopes on this project.
Such an incident would undoubtedly strain the trust among the three partners.
If the project were to fail before it even bore fruit because of such a trivial matter, it would be a great pity.
Seraphina steadied herself and asked, "Do we know which company it was?"
With so many companies under Cross Group, it was impossible for her to oversee every single one.
For Aiden to know so quickly, he must have already had the answer.
He pulled a small note from his pocket.
Holding it between his fingers, he placed it on her desk with a meaningful look.
"Orion found out. It's Alexander Cross from Lacuna."
424
Chapter 214
The Genius Engineer
Seraphina frowned.
"Understood."
What is Alexander up to? Did he really think that by holding onto a few pieces of data, he could monopolize the project's results?
"The Cross Group in Lacuna has already begun leaking information. Everyone now believes they've completed the product ahead of schedule. If we announce our results now, it'll look like we're just copying them! We're in a tough spot." "What do you suggest?" Seraphina asked, eyeing him carefully.
Aiden nodded and said, "I want you to help me contact someone."
"Who?"
"Your brother, Sergio."
Seraphina froze for a moment but quickly realized why Aiden would want to contact her brother.
Sergio was the second son in the Cross family. In the meantime, he assumed a different persona-the brilliant artificial intelligence engineer known as Prometheus.
As long as the public knew that this project was led by Prometheus, the problems would be resolved.
After all, no one could believe that a genius like him would resort to plagiarism.
"But..." Seraphina said hesitatedly, "I can try to contact him, but I can't guarantee he'll leave his beloved lab. He didn't even come to my birthday yesterday!"
Aiden chuckled and said, "We only need to borrow his name. Of course, it would be wonderful if he could show up in person."
After Aiden left, Seraphina immediately ordered an investigation into the movements of the branch in
Lacuna.
Sure enough, by the afternoon, the internet was buzzing with all sorts of rumors.
On behalf of the company, Alexander announced the latest advancements in their research. The Al app was about to hit the market, sparking intense debate. "Wasn't this a three-way collaboration? How did the Cross Group release it first?"
"Driven by profit, huh? Business partners really can't be trusted!"
"Releasing it so quickly-can they guarantee the quality?"
"Has Seraphina gone mad with greed?"
-4-
The Genius Engineer
'
in Lacuna was still under Seraphina's command. Therefore, both praise and criticism naturally fell on her.
It wasn't long before Cross Group's stock price started to waver and show signs of a downward trend.
Luckily, Giant Group and Dros Group didn't take advantage of the situation, but they waited for Cross Group to handle the crisis.
Seraphina immediately asked her staff to get the car ready. She decided to go to Lacuna herself to deal with the matter.
Sivir let her take the lead while he stayed behind, coordinating with Giant Group to investigate the leak's
source.
Seraphina closely monitored the developments online during her few hours on the road.
The public opinion was mixed.
Seraphina knew that this was disastrous for the Cross Group. Losing credibility was a severe blow.
"We've arrived, Ms. Cross."
Thomas got out of the car and opened the door for her.
Seraphina stepped out briskly. Her high heels clicked on the pavement as she headed straight into the building.
"Who is that? How can anyone just walk in here?"
The receptionist, who had been dozing off, looked up in annoyance.
As soon as she saw Seraphina's face, she jolted upright.
"M-Ms. Cross?"
A group of people trailed behind Seraphina. They were all dressed sharply in suits, exuding a cold and commanding presence.
Thomas pressed the elevator button for her, and Seraphina didn't even blink.
The receptionist hurriedly notified Grace's secretary upstairs.
That secretary was none other than Sophie Royle, Grace's cousin.
She was arrogant, believing she had strong backing.
When Sophia heard that Seraphina had arrived, she scoffed and continued applying her nail polish.
"Now that she knows we're making money, she's here to claim her share. Dream on!"
Seraphina overheard this entire remark as she walked in.
The bodyguard opened the door for her. Sophie sat there without blinking and spoke with a tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Me Cross our general manager isn't here You should come hack another time"
The Genius Engineer
Rage darkened Thomas's complexion as he stood to the side.
There were few employees who dared to speak to Seraphina in such a manner.
Chapter 215
Conflict
Without sparing her a glance, Seraphina instructed Thomas directly, "Call a department head meeting. In five minutes,. Anyone who's late would be fired." Thomas responded respectfully, "Understood."
Sophie's lips twitched as she stared at Seraphina in disbelief.
No one in the company dared to ignore her like she did.
"Ms. Cross, are you deaf? Our General Manager isn't here; who are you planning to meet with ... ?"
Seraphina paused mid-step, just as she was about to enter the conference room. She turned slightly and gave Sophie a cold, sideways glance. "General Manager? You mean Grace?"
Sophie admitted, "Of course, she's my cousin. This isn't Cross Group, Ms. Cross; this is our turf, and you have no say here."
Thomas couldn't help but feel sorry for this unlucky woman.
Her arrogance was off the charts. From his experience, her ending wouldn't be good.
Seraphina's eyes turned icy. She was smiling, but her voice was chilling as she spoke.
"Cross Group belongs to the Crosses. The Royles have no say here. From this minute onward, all of you would get out of my company!"
Grace and her mother never seemed to learn, constantly challenging Seraphina's limits.
Did they think Seraphina was easy to bully? Did they think it was easy to take away Cross's money?
Sophie's expression froze. She glared at Seraphina and questioned, "You... what gives you the right to do this?"
Thomas stepped forward to dispel her nonsense.
"She holds the position of president at Cross Group. What's with the nonsense? Where's Grace? Go and get her here!"
Just before Seraphina entered the conference room, she added to Thomas's words as a reminder, "And don't forget to get my uncle too."
If her useless uncle hadn't managed to screw up his tiny bit of responsibility, there wouldn't be so much mess to clean up now.
If it weren't for Emeris giving him a company to manage, he'd still be out there working odd jobs under the scorching sun.
For years, Emeris's been covering up so many losses in the branch company, and the money lost was beyond counting. Conflict
Five minutes later, Seraphina glanced at the few scattered people seated in the conference room. She already had a good idea of the situation.
Emeris dispatched these individuals from their headquarters to monitor the situation.
Thomas distributed the documents.
Seraphina didn't waste time with pleasantries.
"Everyone, I'm sure you've all seen this morning's news Cross Group's collaboration with Giant Group on the Al project-how did this company develop an identical product and get it to market?" Before the bald man at the front furrowed his brow and spoke up, there was a brief silence.
"We had no idea. Flora always guards against us, and Mr. Alexander hardly involves himself in company
matters."
Before he could finish, the conference room door swung open.
"Seraphina, you should've let us know you were coming. Why would you start the meeting without us?"
Flora and Grace entered, one after the other.
Flora was dressed in luxurious clothes. Her entire appearance exudes the air of a nouveau riche.
The meeting took place in her territory; she lacked the caution she'd displayed at Cross Estate, and the previous anxiety or panic had vanished.
It appeared that Alexander had forgiven her for keeping a man by her side. Unbelievable...
Seated at the center of the table, Seraphina concentrated on the documents in front of her.
Her delicate fingers held a page, and her expression was cold and disdainful.
"You're just in time," she said without looking up. "Explain how your corporate spies got ahold of the Al app data that we are developing."
Flora was momentarily stunned. Meanwhile, Grace was quick to respond.
"Spies? Our company paid top dollar to have research institute experts develop this. We've already secured- orders from over a dozen companies, with sales reaching billions. Seraphina, are you really going to stop us from making money?"