Ch. 421..425: Inherit Billions Chapter 421-425

Chapter 421 An Object of Affection

Michael understood the intentions of the woman standing before him all too well, but he chose not to expose her motives. Whether Orion had genuinely invited her or not was none of his concern.

With a smile, he remarked, "You could just ask the front desk, you know?"

Alessandra's expression stiffened slightly, indicating she had already tried that route, only to come back empty-handed.

"I did, but they were tight-lipped and wouldn't say a word about Mr. Dros's room. I really need your help," she said, her tone becoming earnest.

"Michael, it doesn't seem like there's any hope for Mr. Dros and Ms. Cross to get back together. If we can introduce a new couple in our show, wouldn't that make it the hottest variety program of the year?" She watched Michael closely, fully aware that a producer would want their show to be successful.

Sure enough, Michael's eyes lit up and his smile deepened. After a brief hesitation, he spoke softly "Mr. Dros has a presidential suite on the top floor!"

Alessandra smiled, quickly thanked him, and then excitedly headed off.

Michael closed the door behind him.

The director, who had been watching, said, "Isn't that a bit risky? If Mr. Dros finds out, he'll come after us!")

Michael shrugged, unfazed.

"If she manages to get into Orion's room, the pig will fly!"

Orion was not someone Alessandra had likely encountered before; perhaps it was time for her to get a taste of that world.

To his surprise, less than five minutes later, the doorbell rang again.

Michael exchanged a glance with the director.

It seemed they had another determined visitor.

Straightening his clothes, Michael opened the door, only to be momentarily stunned by who he saw.

It was Nina!

To his surprise, Nina, like Alessandra, wore a revealing nightgown.

She held a bottle of red wine and two wine glasses in her hands-her intentions could not have been more obvious.

Michael kept his expression neutral and smiled slightly. "Is there something you need, Nina?"

Nina immediately shook her head.

BG.

Chapter 421 An Object of Affection

Finished

Michael pointed toward the elevator and said, "Mr. Dros is in the presidential suite on the top floor!"

Nina paused for a moment, then looked up at him with gratitude. "Thank you."

With that, she briskly made her way to the elevator.

Michael closed the door again, shaking his head with a chuckle.

Inside the presidential suite, Seraphina was catching up on emails and handling a few urgent matters when she suddenly heard someone ringing the doorbell.

At first, she thought she might have imagined it, but the rapid ringing made it clear that someone was

insistent.

After a moment's thought, she set down her iPad and went to answer the door.

"Mr. Dros! I wanted to personally come and clear up the misunderstandings about our differing viewpoints ... "Alessandra's voice was filled with sultry charm as she stepped forward, ready to throw herself at Orion. As soon as Seraphina opened the door, her eyes fell on Alessandra, who was wearing a seductive black nightgown that exposed a significant amount of shoulder and cleavage.

The sight was startling, her figure accentuated by the tight fabric that barely covered her thighs; her bare and beautiful long legs were too jarring for Seraphina.

Both women stared at each other in shock.

Alessandra's face paled, and her carefully applied makeup failed to conceal her panic..

After all, she was trying to seduce Seraphina's ex-husband. It was hard to shake off the guilt of being the other woman confronted by the legal wife.

Seraphina quickly regained her composure. She took in Alessandra's appearance and immediately understood her intent.

Her gaze was cold as she studied Alessandra from head to toe, causing Alessandra to wish for a trapdoor to swallow her whole.

"Ms. Cross. Sorry, I didn't realize you were here."

Chapter 422 Red Wine

Seraphina pressed her lips together, her smile faint as he opened the door.

"Orion doesn't stay in this room. This is my room. Would you like to take a peek?

Alessandra shook her head quickly, stepping back.

Of course not. She already felt completely humiliated, as if someone had caught her in the act.

If it had been anyone else, she wouldn't be this scared or anxious.

But this was Seraphina-the princess of the entire Cross Group. Just looking at how cautious and deferential Michael was toward her was enough to understand.

"No, no, no... There's no need. I wasn't looking for anyone in particular; I was just worried I might have upset Mr. Dros while filming the show." Alessandra stammered, terrified that Seraphina wouldn't believe her. In that moment, she felt like her soul had left her body

Seeing how Alessandra struggled to explain, Seraphina frowned slightly. What was the point of all this?

She wasn't interested.

Was Alessandra worried she'd be jealous?

Seraphina thought for a moment, then kindly pulled out her phone. "Let me contact Mr. Dros for you, and you can talk to him directly."

"No!" Alessandra interrupted, panicking; her expression turned pale.

"I suddenly realized... I can do it by tomorrow. I'm sorry for bothering you, Ms. Cross. Goodnight!"

With that, Alessandra rushed into the elevator, afraid Seraphina might chase after her.

For the first time in her life, she felt truly defeated.

In front of the cameras, she was glamorous and admired by many, but in the presence of the untouchable Seraphina, she felt like nothing more than a prostitute who had sold her body and soul-cheap and laughable. Seraphina stood there for a moment before closing the door, not thinking much of the whole incident.

But before she could reach the sofa, the doorbell rang again.

Could it be that Alessandra had changed her mind and wanted another chance to contact Orion?

Seraphina walked to the door unhurriedly and opened it.

Nina stood there, dressed in a white gown that hugged her curves. Her delicate makeup was understated yet seductive, giving her an allure that surpassed even Alessandra's. There was a mix of innocence and desire, making her even more captivating. 1/3

Chapter 422 Red Wine

BG

Finished

"Mr. Dros... Nina started, her head lowered, too shy-or pretending to be too shy-to make eye contact.

She clinked the wine bottle in her hand against a glass and chose her words carefully.

"This is some wine I made myself. Would you like to try it?"

Her eyes revealed her greed, but she dared not be too aggressive. Instead, she revealed her intention little by little, testing the limits of the man she sought to entice, using her gentle approach to break down his defenses. However, she also left the door open to flirtation-why else would she come in sexy nightwear to offer drinks?

Not hearing Orion's response, Nina bit her lower lip and carefully looked up.

The moment she saw Seraphina, her expression froze, her face turning pale.

"Ms. Cross, you—"

Seraphina immediately clarified, "Orion isn't in this room. This is my room. If you don't believe me, you're welcome to come in and check."

Nina lowered her gaze, suppressing the disappointment and anxiety on her face.

She forced a smile and said, "No... that won't be necessary, I..."

Nina struggled to find a reason to visit a man, particularly Seraphina's ex-husband, alone.

Embarrassment and panic suddenly overwhelmed Nina, leaving her at a loss. Her fingers tightened around the bottle, biting her lip hard; her face flushed red.

This awkward tension was unbearable.

Seraphina stared at her, convinced that she couldn't be unfair after helping Alessandra.

She quickly offered to help, saying, "Let me contact Mr. Dros for you. You can talk to him in person if you'd like."

To be this enthusiastic and considerate, even as an ex-wife-Seraphina had to admit, she admired her own graciousness.

Before she could even take out her phone, Nina stepped back in shock. "No, there's no need, Ms. Cross. I just remembered I still have lines to memorize. I'll leave now. Sorry for the disturbance. Goodnight." She turned to leave but then remembered what she was holding. Turning back, she handed the bottle to Seraphina.

"This is truly homemade, a family recipe. Please, give it a try."

Before Seraphina could even thank her, Nina hurriedly fled-looking even more ridiculous than Alessandra had.

Chapter 423 Offended Orion

Seraphina couldn't help but chuckle as she glanced at the wine and the two wine glasses in her hands.

It seemed that even after his divorce, Orion still attracted a crowd of admirers.

If he had remained married, the attention would surely have been even greater.

Her gaze sharpened slightly. How many women had been in his life before? She had no right to interfere back then. How could she interfere now?

As she looked at the wine, she decided to call Ken and ask him to take it away.

There was no way she would drink alcohol from questionable sources.

Besides, Nina intended to share this wine with Orion, so it was only fitting that he handle it himself.

Ken arrived quickly after receiving her call. Seraphina explained the situation briefly.

When Ken left, he shook his head in disbelief as he took the bottle with him.

He greeted Orion, explained the circumstances, and then sent the wine for testing.

The results came back swiftly.

Ken handed the newly analyzed report to Orion, his voice steady as he spoke, "Mr. Dros, the test results are in. The test results reveal the absence of large doses of dangerous substances, the detection of a mild hallucinogen, and a high alcohol content of 51%. As soon as he learned about the drug content, he was on high alert and rushed over to report it.

Orion scanned the document with a steely gaze, his expression growing more menacing. The flicker of something dark and cruel flashed in his eyes.

His tone was icy, devoid of warmth.

"Keep this under wraps to avoid trouble for Seraphina. If she wants to know anything, she can come to me directly. And as for that other woman, let's blacklist her..." "Yes, sir," Ken replied, standing tall.

Meanwhile, Michael woke up early and got ready for work, blissfully oblivious to the chaos outside.

It wasn't until Ken knocked on his door and handed over the documents for his secretary that Michael paused, momentarily surprised.

"It's such a trivial matter! How could I trouble you?" He said it with a smile.

Everyone knew that Ken only took orders from Orion. He held a unique status within the Dros Group.

Chapter 423 offended Orion

Finished

"Just a quick errand, Mr. Michael," Ken said politely. "M. Dros asked me to let you know that this episode is on hold."

Michael's expression froze, his eyes widening in shock,

"What? Why?"

"Only Ms. Lila and Ms. Zora

as leads; Ms. Alessandra and Ms. Nina have both been dropped," Ken

explained courteously.

"What about the others?" He stammered, struggling to process the sudden change.

He could hardly believe things

had escalated so quickly

All they did was knock on the door.

Feeling guilty, Michael averted his gaze and cautiously asked, "Why did they withdraw? It's happened so suddenly.

Ken's eyes darkened as he stared straight at him, making Michael feel exposed.

Then, with a knowing smile, Ken said, "You should understand why they withdraw."

Is he playing dumb with me?

Has he forgotten about the surveillance cameras?

As the sunlight lazily crept through the window, casting bright patterns on Seraphina's face, she stirred awake. The shadows from the layered curtains danced on the floor around her. Seraphina lazily opened her eyes, rubbed them, and quickly adjusted to the dazzling light.

Her phone suddenly rang.

She walked over to check the caller ID-it was Michael.

"It's early morning, Michael. Are you calling to report on work progress or set up new assignments?" she wondered aloud.

"Ms. Cross, Ms. Cross, what work can we discuss now? Mr. Dros has fired Alessandra and Nina. Who will fill- their spots?" Michael's voice trembled with urgency.

His words struck her like a heavy stone, leaving her momentarily speechless.

"What? Why? That can't be!"

"I... I don't know. Maybe you should ask Mr. Dros about his brilliant decision yourself," Michael stammered.

He suspected the abruptness had something to do with last night's knock, but it couldn't possibly be that

extreme.

Seraphina hung up, changed her clothes, and set off to confront Orion directly,

Did he somehow find out about the two women knocking on his door last night? Was he worried it would

BG.

Chapter 424 Turmoil

On the same floor, Orion's room was at the end of the ballway.

Today was uncharacteristically quiet.

As Seraphina approached, the door swung open and she walked out before she knocked.

It was Ken.

"Good morning, Ms. Cross," he greeted, a friendly smile on his face.

Seraphina raised an eyebrow, quickly masking her surprise with her usual cool demeanor. ""Morning, Ken."

Ken chuckled lightly and asked, "You didn't drink last night, did you?"

Taken aback by his question, Seraphina replied, "No, I didn't."

Finished

He exhaled in relief and added, "That's good. There were hallucinogenic substances extracted from the wine last night." Images flashed through Seraphina's mind, where Alessandra and Nina were knocking on her door in their revealing pajamas.

It seemed that wine was indeed problematic.

Was this really the reason behind it all?

But it was merely Nina trying to take a shortcut using a little trick.

Is it necessary for him to drive both of them away?

What a sensitive man!

The notion of an actress wanting to seduce an investor was neither uncommon nor extraordinary.

Nina was attractive, and she had a good figure; under different circumstances, someone might even welcome the opportunity.

But Orion was different; he wouldn't allow such an affront to occur.

With a legitimate reason at hand, Seraphina couldn't challenge his decision.

This matter was to remain confidential; apart from Michael's incessant speculations, no one else had a clue about what had transpired.

Meanwhile, Alessandra and Nina's agency had formally submitted a withdrawal notice, likely orchestrated. by Orion.

They were now deliberating who could step in to mitigate the losses.

After a long day of shooting, they had replaced two actresses. Fortunately, the replacement of two actresses

Chapter 424 Turmoil

Finished

Michael had contacted two married actresses. When I learned that Cross Group and Dros Group were funding the project, I quickly agreed to take part. With the replacements secured and scheduled to join the crew in a few days, everyone felt a sense of relief.

Michael planned to shoot other parts for the time being to facilitate post-production editing.

Seraphina returned to her room and tidies up briefly.

After scrolling through her phone for a while, she felt hungry. Michael tagged everyone in the group chat, urging them to gather at the next location. Rolling her eyes, she cursed silently. "Damn it, Michael sure knows how to exploit people!"

She sauntered to the hotel entrance, noticing that everyone was already trickling into their vehicles.

Michael, with his keen sense, was waiting for her at the door.

She rolled her eyes at him as she climbed into the car.

Michael handed her a beautifully prepared sandwich and milk.

Seraphina's expression softened as she accepted the offering, taking a bite and asking, "Didn't this brand require waiting in line to buy?"

Michael grunted in

esponse and said, "Mr. Dros asked me to give this to you."

Seraphina froze for a moment.

How was he aware I loved this restaurant?

Michael couldn't help but express his envy. "Mr. Dros really has a good temperament; he even personally brought you breakfast. I heard he went out to buy it himself!" Seraphina shot him a cold glance.

Realizing he might have overstepped, Michael sheepishly admitted his mistake.

"Actually, last night, Alessandra and Nina came to see me. I told them Mr. Dros was staying in the presidential suite on the top floor."

Seraphina's eyes widened slightly, a chill creeping into her gaze. So that was it.

As she chewed her sandwich slowly, she couldn't suppress a sarcastic laugh.

"You sure are eager, aren't you?"

Was it Michael, the troublemaker, who stirred the pot all along?

He scratched his nose awkwardly and said, "I just wanted to see how he would react. Could those two women get sent away because of this?" Orion's decision didn't even require Michael's consent; he was simply informed afterward. He truly knew nothing of the inner workings.

Chapter 424 Turmoil

"How would I know? You can ask him yourself."

Finished

Seraphina smirked coldly. If it weren't for the looming shoot, she might just have tossed Michael into the ocean to teach him a lesson! Michael thought to himself. If I'm so bold, why would I ask you this?

Throughout the ride, he served Seraphina with utmost care, fearful that when Orion called to settle

accounts later, no one would vouch for him.

Fear lingered in his mind at every turn.

Chapter 425 Invasion

They arrived at the filming location.

Michael had lavishly rented an entire floor of an office building. Soon, workers began setting up equipment all around them.

Lila, Zora, and Henry had arrived early.

Lila had chosen to wear a sharp business suit to match the professional atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Zora embraced her usual bold and sexy style, her form-fitting skirt hugging her curves perfectly.

Finished

As Seraphina stepped inside, she immediately felt the warmth of the room. Instinctively, she removed her coat and handed it to Henry, who stood nearby, trying to play the gentleman. Henry moved quickly to take it from her, but in the next moment a pair of delicate hands snatched it

away.

Zora grabbed Seraphina's coat and exclaimed, "This piece from lebloze is custom-made, right? You won't find another one exactly like it in the world!"

Seraphina was pleasantly surprised by Zora's choice not to rush over and knock on Orion's door. It hinted that perhaps Zora wasn't as superficial or opportunistic as she appeared. Instantly, Seraphina grew fond of

her.

With a polite smile, she replied, "Yes, if you like it, I can recommend the designer to you."

The designer was a renowned craftsman at lebloze, a true connoisseur in the fashion world. He only created clothes for two clients each year, and every design was a product of his ingenuity, making each piece a unique, limited edition. No major brand could match that.

Zora's eyes lit up for a moment, but then dimmed again.

"Forget it. Brands sponsor all my clothes. I don't get to choose what I wear."

Seraphina smiled but didn't press the issue.

Zora casually handed the coat to Orion, who had just appeared. "Thanks for your help, Mr. Dros."

Orion glanced at Seraphina. In less than three seconds, he reached out to take the coat. His expression was blank as he hung it on a nearby rack, as if it were something he did merely on passing.

Henry, who was waiting on the side, watched in shock; he hadn't even touched the coat.

Seraphina paid no mind to this small incident. She calmly walked over to a seat.

Lila was beside her, looking over some cases and nodding with a smile.

Just as Seraphina was about to speak, a tall figure sat down next to her, pushing Henry away from his intended spot.

Chapter 425 invasion

Out of all the vacant seats, Orion was compelled to sit directly beside her.

D*mn it!

The cold scent of his cologne was assertive, mirroring his very presence.

Any other person would undoubtedly experience a sense of pressure next to him.

Seraphina remained silent, her thoughts swirling.

Finished

Orion leaned in closer, his voice low as Adam's apple bobbled. "Did you eat the breakfast I prepared for you?" Taken aback, Seraphina tilted her head slightly, maintaining her aloof demeanor.

She didn't want to show any signs of intimacy in front of everyone.

Feigning surprise, she replied in a low voice, "So it was you who prepared it. No wonder it tasted so bad." Orion suddenly laughed, the darkness in his eyes fading slightly and revealing a hint of unexpected gentleness.

"Really? It was quite a challenge for me to stand in line for twenty minutes."

His tone carried a trace of disappointment.

Seraphina was slightly taken aback. He really lines up personally?

It was hard for her to imagine Orion waiting in line behind so many people to buy a sandwich.

She looked down at her phone to hide her feelings, managing a light smile as she said, "So Mr. Dros really needs to wait in line? I was under the impression that you would simply wave your hand and purchase the entire shop, given your style." Orion paused, then chuckled.

"If you want to eat there every day, I wouldn't mind buying it. I wouldn't lose much money anyway."

Unable to help herself, Seraphina muttered under her breath, "As if I want that!"

Meanwhile, Zora gave her a sour look and continued to think silently.

Me! I would have loved that!

Despite that, she didn't forget her mission. She leaned closer to Henry, chatting intimately about the script.

Henry sat stiffly, glancing now and then at Zora's exposing neckline, his mind elsewhere.

From the corner of her eye, Zora caught Orion nodding in approval at her and secretly thrilled.