Ch. 466..470: Inherit Billions Chapter 466-470
Chapter 466 Do You Need My Help?
Seraphina's attention was fully concentrated by the chaotic scene before her. The thugs were relentless, grappling fiercely with the bodyguards, but none dared to approach Seraphina directly. Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly caught sight of Seth trying to sneak away.
Her brows knitted together, and she pressed her lips fightly. Seth was the key to subduing these men.
She couldn't let him get away!
Just as she prepared to rush over and pull him back, she suddenly heard Thomas's terrified shout from the other side. "Ms. Cross, watch out!"
In an instant, Seraphina froze, her body tensing as a chilling breeze swept across her back. She instinctively realized: Someone was launching a sneak attack from behind! There was no time to dodge-she was cornered!
At that moment, Seth lunged toward her from the front, his body moving uncontrollably, his face a mask of fear.
His speed surpassed Seraphina's, who was still frozen in shock, as he collided with the weapon wielded by the attacker behind her.
A dull thud echoed through the air.
Seth let out a pained scream, clutching his head as he began to curse. "What the hell was that for?"
"You threw yourself at
e!" the attacker replied weakly.
"Who the hell dares to kick me?" Seth trembled with rage.
Seraphina didn't turn around; she lifted her gaze to see Orion striding toward her, flanked by a group of imposing figures.
Dressed in black, his tall frame loomed like a devil emerging from darkness. His eyes were red, emanating an aura of menace, as if he had just stepped out of hell itself. The cold wind stung her face, but Orion appeared impervious to the chill.
He approached Seraphina. His gaze was deep and intense, swirling with complex emotions.
Yet, beneath it all, the fury was unmistakable.
He was angry that she had put herself in danger, angrier still that anyone dared to lay a hand on someone so dear to him.
He looked at her. His eyes slowly drifted down, and he saw the gun she held tightly in her hand. His eyes flickered, filled with a fleeting surprise.
"Why are you here?" Seraphina asked calmly, though her heart raced at the sight of him.
If it hadn't been for Orion, Seth's men would have undoubtedly attacked her. She had underestimated the
Chapter 466 Do You Need My Help?
Orion's arrival sent a chill down Seth's spine, as if he had just encountered a devil.
The bravado he had just displayed vanished in an instant. "Mr. Dros?" He stammered.
*B Pearls
The number of men Seth brought, combined with Seraphina's own, quickly turned the tide in their favor.
Seth's lackeys stood no chance against the experienced bodyguards.
"Mr. Dros, you want this project too. As long as you can pay, it's yours. You can't let a woman make you lose such a great opportunity. Seth stammered, his voice tinged with panic.
The moment he laid eyes on Orion, a shiver ran down his spine. The man was terrifying, his influence and mystery rendering anyone too afraid to oppose him.
Seth tried to reason with Orion, pleading with him to make a decision for the greater good.
Orion paid him no mind, his focus solely on Seraphina. Noticing her silence, he reached out and took the revolver from her grip, easily recognizing it as a fake.
His voice was cold and sharp, laced with an icy calm, yet a sardonic smile danced on his lips.
"Have you ever played with the real thing?"
Then, he produced a sleek Glock from his waistband and handed it to Seraphina with an effortless nonchalance.
The gesture was casual, yet it sent a chill through everyone present.
Fear made Seth's legs weak, and he dared not question whether Orion was aiming the weapon at him.
Seraphina accepted the gun calmly, showing no signs of surprise or fear.
Who exactly were these two?
Panic gripped Seth as his complexion turned pale, the fear coursing through his veins, freezing him in place. Seraphina hefted the weapon in her hands. Orion took hold of her wrist, aiming the gun toward Seth.
Tension hung thick in the air and was ready to snap.
Orion's expression remained impassive, his tone icy. "Is it him? Do you want me to deal with him?" 1.7K
Chapter 467 He Really Dares to Kill
Orion seemed almost impatient, his eyes a deep crimson, betraying a fury and ferocity he could no longer contain. He was unconcerned about the consequences of his actions, unfazed by the trouble he might provoke. To him, this situation was nothing new.
However, if they were terrified by Seraphina, that was an entirely different matter.
Seth, upon hearing Orion's words, felt his bones go weak. He collapsed onto the ground, kneeling and raising his hands in surrender.
"I was wrong; I was truly wrong! Mr. Dros, please spare me! Don't kill me!"
He had merely used a bit of intimidation against Seraphina; who could have anticipated that it would lead to such a deadly predicament?
Orion was different from Seraphina. If he decided to kill, he would truly do it. Even in front of so many witnesses, Orion could toss Seth into the river and make him disappear forever.
That was the most terrifying aspect about him.
Orion was a ruthless man who was capable of such cruelty and who valued life so little.
Seth's pleas fell on deaf ears; Orion showed no sign of compassion.
Realizing his desperate situation, Seth turned his attention toward Seraphina.
"Ms. Cross! Ms. Cross! Please spare me! I was wrong; you can take whatever you want; just don't kill me."
Seraphina looked down. She released Orion's hand and examined the gun in her grasp with a slight smile,
"Of course, I intend to take this and another set of ledgers."
She was determined to take what was hers, embodying the attitude of a true victor,
As soon as she spoke, Seth froze momentarily, then quickly understood.
From the very start, Seraphina taking the ledgers was only the first step; everyone knew that the real ledgers were hidden away.
They had their official accounts, but there were also clandestine records.
Seth hadn't expected Seraphina to be so forthright-she was going after a second set of books!
If that set were exposed, he and Blake would surely find themselves behind bars.
He hesitated, torn between the decision to comply or resist.
Just then, Seraphina pulled the trigger, her cold smile unmistakable.
It was a threat. Seth needed to choose between his life or the ledgers?
Chapter 467 He Really Dares to Kill
conceded, "Alright."
Nobody anticipated that the other set of books wasn't even at the company but was deceitfully hidden in Seth's home.
In just 20 minutes, all the people and vehicles in the area had disappeared.
Seth led them to retrieve the books. He was fearful of Seraphina's gun and dared not keep anything to himself.
Seraphina instructed her people to move the items. This trip had been a resounding success.
After they left, Seth sat on the ground, wiping the sweat from his brow as if he had narrowly escaped death.
In the car, Seraphina repeatedly examined her prize.
Unlike her intimidating toy, this was the real deal.
She was surprised that Orion would carry a weapon with him.
Thomas had been forcibly escorted into Orion's car by Ken, and now Orion sat next to Seraphina.
Watching her study the gun in her hand, he couldn't help but smirk.
"Do you like it?"
Seraphina paused before handing it back to him.
"What brought you here?"
Orion's smile faded slightly, and he said, "I told you, things are complicated. It's dangerous. How could I let you handle things on your own?" His voice was low and gravelly, echoing in the confines of the vehicle.
Seraphina let out a forced smile and said, "Thanks, but aren't you worried I might get a jump on you and talk to Senator Long about this project?* Orion's gaze flickered, suddenly focusing on her.
"Don't you trust me?"
Seraphina shot back, "There's no foundation of trust between us, is there?"
Her honesty hung in the air.
The car fell silent for a few seconds.
She could feel the chill radiating from Orion.
It was inexplicable.
"Aren't you on your way to see Senator Long?" she asked
Chapter 467 He Really Dares to Kill
Orion pursed his lips, hesitating before replying, "I am
Pressed for time, he had initially planned to speak with Senator Long as well, but Seraphina's words caught him off guard, leaving him feeling resentful.
It seemed as if everything he did for her came with an ulterior motive.
Seraphina chuckled softly. Haha, this j*rk!
Even though they were rivals, they employed completely different methods, and it was uncertain who would ultimately come out on top.
Chapter 468 First Time Cooking
Orion's tone dripped with ambiguity, laced with an unmistakable hint of innuendo.
Before he could voice any further suggestions, Seraphina cut through his thoughts decisively.
"I'll take you out for dinner."
Orion raised an eyebrow, surprised. This was the first time Seraphina had ever invited him to a meal.
Though it was far from the 'reward' he had imagined, the prospect of sharing a quiet dinner with her felt like a delightful opportunity. "You're cooking?" he asked, his interest piqued.
Seraphina narrowed her eyes slightly, feeling that this audacious j*rk was pushing his luck.
"I'm not cooking. If you want to eat, then you can make it yourself."
This j*rk expected her to cook?
She had exhausted her patience after three years of putting up with his antics.
Orion looked down, concealing his disappointment behind a cold demeanor. He agreed, "Fine, I'll cook."
He was curious about what it felt like to prepare a meal for someone he cared about.
Seraphina rolled her eyes internally. Who knew what Orion was concocting in that devious mind of his?
He's cooking?
Haha! Hilarious.
All-capable Mr. Dros is about to face his first real challenge!
The car pulled up to a hotel under the Cross Group.
Seraphina left the vehicle.
Orion followed suit, glancing up. "I'll have someone prepare the ingredients. I'll come find you in the evening. For now, take a break."
As Seraphina watched him turn to get into his car, Thomas approached. "Ms. Cross."
She stepped into the elevator without a backward glance.
"Find a trusted third-party organization to help us investigate the accounting issues. We need to submit the findings to the relevant authorities in four hours." The urgency took Thomas by surprise. "So soon?"
Seraphina's gaze was steady and calm. "Blake is expected to return by tomorrow. We must work quickly enough that they won't have a chance to react!"
15:57 Thu,
Chapter 468 First Time Cooking
close call, you like to get some rest? Or perhaps lead back to the office? I can handle things here."
Seraphina shook her head firmly and said, "No, I need to stay here and make sure Joseph gets everything sorted out smoothly."
He knew her temperament well. She hadn't even flinched in the face of danger just moments ago; there was no way she would run now.
Thomas nodded and left, deciding to discreetly arrange extra protection for his boss.
For the next four hours, Joseph didn't waste a moment, rushing to the relevant departments to collaborate with a third party to audit the accounts.
As the discrepancies became clear, he felt a chill run down his spine at the sight of the staggering losses.
He called Seraphina to report the situation right away.
Meanwhile, Seraphina was on her balcony, sipping lemon water while practicing yoga. When she picked up the call, she instinctively glanced downstairs. Orion had arrived.
Her brow furrowed.
"Ms. Cross," Joseph's voice crackled through the phone. "This project has lost over seven billion. Blake and his associates have funneled off most of the funds. They hired a construction company run by Blake's relatives, and several serious incidents have occurred during the land acquisition and construction, resulting in fatalities. They have only partially paid out compensation for the deceased.
"No wonder they've been dragging their feet; they're likely trying to buy time to destroy evidence!"
Seraphina paused at this point and contemplated this revelation.
After a while, she replied, "Direct the accounting issues to Senator Long. He can handle it. Also, send me a copy."
Her tone indicated that an email wouldn't suffice.
"Understood, I'll have someone deliver a USB drive to you right away," Joseph replied quickly,
Seraphina had just finished a few more yoga poses and was gathering her belongings when the doorbell
rang.
Orion had arrived.
She walked over to open the door, her expression revealing no surprise at his presence.
However, her eyes widened in shock at what he carried-two large bags of ingredients. It looked like he had bought something from every aisle in the grocery store.
Orion effortlessly carried the bags inside, while Seraphina stood to the side, arms crossed, eyebrow raised.
"Mr. Dros, do you really know how to cook all of this?" She asked skeptically.
A confident grin spread across Orion's face as he strode toward the kitchen. rolling up his sleeves.
15.5
Chapter 468 First Time Cooking
"I bought a cookbook!"
Seraphina could only stare, at a loss for words.
Chapter 469 Are You Going to Blow Up the Hotel?
Seraphina sighed, deciding to endure the situation for his sake-after all, he had saved her. If the food turned out terrible, she would just eat a little less.
Orion's cold demeanor softened slightly as he worked, and she found him more bearable to look at.
But then-
Seraphina watched in surprise as Orion pulled out a measuring device and a thick cookbook from a bag, confidently preparing the ingredients.
Wow! What a rare scene!
When he began measuring the thickness of the shredded radishes with a ruler, Seraphina could no longer bear to watch. She grabbed her phone and retreated to her room. She felt like she was reliving the same situation with Sergio again!
How could she have overlooked the similarities between Orion and Sergio? Was this a common characteristic among engineering types?
She felt a little foolish for missing it.
Seraphina settled down at her computer to handle some emails. Less than ten minutes later, a loud bang jolted her from her focus.
Startled, she rushed out of her room to find the kitchen filled with smoke.
Orion emerged, his face dark and stormy, his expression decidedly grim.
She stared at him in shock.
"Orion, did you blow up the kitchen?" She exclaimed.
From the moment Orion stepped into the kitchen, Seraphina had braced herself for the worst.
Surely, the food would just taste a little off.
But the outcome was far from what she had expected; he hadn't even managed to cook anything before the kitchen had erupted into chaos.
The smoke billowed out, setting off the fire alarm.
Surprisingly, Orion appeared unfazed by the disaster. Even in this chaotic moment, he moved with an air of elegance, almost regal in his composure, although his expression betrayed a flicker of frustration. The sense of defeat and anger left him looking quite haggard.
"It was the equipment," he muttered as he grabbed Seraphina's arm and pulled her away from the disaster.
The oven malfunctioned at a high temperature, causing an automatic shutdown, even though there hadn't been a real fire.
15:57 Thu. Nov 21
Chapter 469 Are You Going to Blow Up the Hotel?
Finished
The entire floor was affected, prompting the hotel manager to emerge and reassure the guests while rearranging accommodations and addressing damages.
Seraphina watched the dramatic scene unfold as Orion sat downstairs, completely removed from the chaos, engrossed in searching recipes on his phone.
His enthusiasm for cooking seemed unshakeable, even after the chaos he had caused!
Trying to suppress her anger, she couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all. The hotel manager approached her, saying, "Ms. Cross, could you please take a look?" After all, this was her hotel, and her heart ached at the thought. In her mind, she cursed Orion a thousand
times.
This jerk was truly more of a disaster than a help.
With a nod, she followed the manager to inspect the damage. The entire floor was unrecognizable and would need a complete renovation; the losses were staggering. "We can handle everything else, but the hotel needs some time to reopen. We need to repair the damages, and this means Mr. Dros ..."
Could he cover the repairs?
The hotel manager hesitated, clearly troubled.
Seraphina paused, then decisively stated, "I will take responsibility for all the damages. I'll have Thomas get in touch with you for any issues. Just direct everything to him."
The hotel manager let out a sigh of relief. "Understood, Ms. Cross."
As she turned to head back, she suddenly spotted a familiar figure beside Orion.
Katie?
Seraphina furrowed her brow as she saw Katie beaming at Orion, handing him something with an eager expression.
Orion took it without even glancing at her, his indifference clear.
Katie lingered for a moment before leaving, looking a bit reluctant.
Seraphina pursed her lips, a thought suddenly striking her. She pulled out her phone and called Joseph.
"Who did you send to deliver the USB drive?"
Joseph seemed taken aback by her abrupt question but answered honestly.
"Katie. Everyone in the department is busy reconciling accounts, so she was the only one available."
"You gave such an important task to her?"
Seraphina felt her anger boil over. Had Joseph lost his mind?
Chapter 470 Corporate Espionage
-42%
#Finished
"She... she may be new, but Katie is still your relative. I conveyed to her the urgency of delivering this to you personally. I thought she would be more trustworthy than an outsider." Joseph stammered, his heart racing with anxiety
Ever since Seraphina had taught him a lesson, he had felt somewhat intimidated by her.
Seraphina scoffed, her voice dripping with cold sarcasm. "More trustworthy than others? Do you know who she gave it to? She handed it over to Orion, our competitor. Listen carefully, Joseph: if this information gets leaked, you won't need to investigate further; you can leave the company with her."
With that, Seraphina hung up and strode out of the room.
Orion, holding the USB drive, furrowed his brow in confusion.
He was about to locate a computer to examine its contents when Seraphina reached out and grabbed it from him.
"Orion, this is mine," she said firmly.
Orion raised an eyebrow and said, "I thought I told you to stop sending your people to me."
Seraphina simply smiled, saying nothing.
Of course, she was just trying to curry favor with him.
"She's clueless! I won't let it happen again."
Orion sensed that something was off in Seraphina's tone. Before he could delve deeper into it, she pulled out her phone.
She called Thomas directly.
"Tell HR to fire Katie-now, immediately!"
Without a second thought or a single question, Thomas rushed to execute her order.
He had long suspected that Katie wouldn't last much longer at Crosses.
Just as Katie stepped out of the hotel, she received the notification of her termination. The company had completely removed her name from its system, eliminating the need for her to return to work. Panic set in.
She didn't understand what she had done wrong
18:20 Mon, Nov 25 (m
Chapter 470 Corporate Espionage
0442%
Finished
When she called to seek clarification, no one at the company bothered to pick up her phone.
Usually, she had flaunted her connection as Seraphina's relative, acting superior, which had left a negative impression on her colleagues.
With her departure, everyone seemed relieved.
Left with no choice, Katie called Joseph.
Already on edge from Seraphina's warning, Joseph felt a wave of relief wash over him upon hearing that Katie was fired. Thankfully, he hadn't been affected.
"Joseph, is there a mistake on the company's end? Can you please call them and find out? I didn't do anything wrong."
Joseph found himself speechless; no longer feeling the need to be gentle, he told her directly.
"Who did you give that USB drive to?"
Katie was stunned. "I ..."
"Dros Group is our competitor on this project, and you handed over such sensitive information to him? Katie, leaking company secrets is a crime."
Katie's face turned pale with fear. She pleaded, "Joseph, I saw him there, but Ms. Cross wasn't around. I just asked him to pass it along."
"Katie, no matter what excuse you have, it doesn't change the fact that you handed our secrets to the competition. Ms. Cross is kind-hearted and chose not to press charges, but if she had, you could be facing years in prison for corporate espionage." After saying this, Joseph hung up, feeling unlucky to have crossed paths with Katie.
Katie shivered as she suddenly realized Seraphina needed to be at the hotel earlier;
otherwise, everything wouldn't have happened so quickly.
Guilt and panic washed over her. She couldn't escalate this any further; if Seraphina's family turned against her, she would have no means to defend herself.
Reluctantly, she headed back to the office to complete her paperwork.
Meanwhile, Seraphina finished handling everything and approached Orion. "Let's go."
Orion stood up, puzzled. "Where to?"
"I had someone reserve seats for us in the restaurant," she replied
Finishert
She walked ahead. He hurriedly caught up with her and said seriously, "This was an accident; I'll have Ken deal with any losses." Seraphina smiled slightly and said, "No need. I've already taken care of it all."
"I promise next time I'll cook a meal you love," he added, feeling determined.
Today, Orion learned that cooking was not as easy as he thought.
Still, he enjoyed overcoming challenges and was determined to master this.
At his words, Seraphina couldn't help but twitched her lips.
"Mr. Dros, you don't need to force yourself. I appreciate the sentiment."
For the love of all things culinary, please spare the kitchen!