Although Jack had kept a brave expression plastered on his face, his heart had already climbed up into his throat. He felt the weight of every gaze, especially those of the four other businessmen seated at the table. He glanced at them, hoping for a sign of support or solidarity, but what he saw was a clear reflection of anxiety. Their eyes darted between him and Kenneth nervously. They were scared. Not just tense or uncomfortable, but truly afraid. It wasn’t hard to tell that Kenneth held a reputation that reached beyond just wealth and status. This man commanded fear. That should have been expected. Anyone with that much money and power didn’t get it from being soft.Kenneth took another slow sip of his wine, the glass clinking gently against his teeth as his eyes stayed locked on Jack. Christa, the secretary still standing to the side, she kept her sharp gaze on him too. She wasn’t as loud or direct as her boss, but the look she gave Jack was just as intense. Her eyes studied him c

Jack cleared his throat and straightened his suit, his gaze sweeping across the room with an air of mock innocence. "So, just to be clear and avoid any misunderstandings here, how much money do I need to show to convince you all that I am indeed a businessman of significance?"The room fell into a low murmur, eyes turning from Jack to Gerald as if waiting to see how the host would respond. Gerald’s lips twitched. The smile he wore was thin, tight, and forced. That question was deliberate. It was sharp and direct, but more importantly, it pushed him into a corner he had no intention of being shoved into. Gerald had kept the betting terms vague on purpose. Ambiguity was a powerful weapon when wielded correctly. It allowed them to shift the rules at will to trap someone like Jack in a loophole, leaving enough wiggle room to claim he had failed no matter what he presented. But this guy, this unknown guy with a smug grin and sharp tongue, had seen through the trap. He was much sharper than