All Chapters of The Day I Stopped Being Mr Nice Guy: Chapter 81
- Chapter 90
164 chapters
CHAPTER 81
Dante stood at the head of the Vertex boardroom table. The morning sunlight steaming through the windows, shining on the faces of his research directors. Charts showing the progress of VX-9 were displayed on the screen behind him.Liam, who was standing near the door, broke the silence. “Sir, with the preclinical data finalized, we should schedule the preliminary human trials. The ethics board is ready for our submission.”All eyes turned to Dante. He studied the promising data lines on the screen—the compound that could change everything. Then he shook his head.“Push the trial date back,” Dante said firmly, leaving no room for debate. “Two weeks. Maybe three.”A buzz of surprise went through the room. Dr. Chen looked confused. “Sir, everyday we delay—”“Is a day we ensure we are absolutely ready,” Dante finished for her, firmly. “I want another round of safety checks. I will review them personally. I have something else I need to handle first, and I need to be present for the trial
CHAPTER 82
Clara’s home was a cave to her own taste, with all sharp angles, cold marble and modern art, they looked expensive but felt empty. She sat behind her glass desk, facing two men in impeccably tailored suits. They were the best family law attorneys that money could rent, but not hire. Their expressions were professional neutral, but a tiny hint of wariness lingered in their eyes.“I want to reopen the custody case,” Clara stated loudly. Then she placed her palms flat on the glass table. “I want full custody of my daughter.”The older of the two lawyers, Me Throne, adjusted his glasses as he opened a thick file. Then he said solemnly, “Mrs Vance, the final decree was issued four months ago. Sole legal and physical custody was granted to Mr. Vance. The court’s findings were….comprehensive.”“I am aware of what the papers say,” Clara snapped irritable. “I was there. I also know the judge was compromised.”The younger lawyer, and Hayes, exchanged a glance with his senior and reply calmly, “
CHAPTER 83
Dante’s office at Vertex was a gathering of quiet, focused activity. Caleb sat across from him, reviewing a legal pad covered in notes. Two of Dante’s most trusted senior scientists, Dr. Chen and Dr. Abrams, stood by the window, speaking in low tones.“The timeline is tight,” Dante said in a commanding tone. “I will be fine forty-eight hours, maybe seventy-two. During that window, nothing changes publicly. All Vertex operations proceed as normal. The VX-9 delay stands.”He looked at Dr. Chen and said solemnly, “Anya, you have full authority in the lab. Run the extended safety protocols that we discussed. No new data leaves the secured server. If Lewis so much as look at a terminal sideways, security is to detain him for a ‘routine system audit.’ Understood?”“Understood, Mr Vance,” Dr Chen nodded, with a serious expression on her face.“Martin,” Dante turned to Dr. Abrams. “You are the public face. Any press inquiries, any board questions—the answer is we are in a meticulous final rev
CHAPTER 84
The afternoon sun streamed through the opaque windows of Mason’s penthouse, shining off the chrome and glass surfaces. He staring at a spreadsheet on the low marble table when the intercom on on his desk buzzed.“Mr. Lockwood? Mrs. Vance is in the lobby. She says she is not on your calendar but hoped you would see her.”Mason glanced at the documents spread before him, where were the financial projections of Lotus, a dossier of Judge Evergreen and a preliminary trustee agreement. Things Clara should not see.“Send her up,” he said smoothly as he hurriedly gathered up the papers. He moved quickly, sliding them into the locked drawer of his desk, just as the private elevator finger it’s arrival.The door creaked open , and Clara stepped out, all clad in cream silk. “Surprise!” She sing-songed, with her arms outstretched happily.“Darling!” Mason hurried across the room in three strides, he lifted her up and spun her around which made her laugh. Then he set her down and kissed her as a l
CHAPTER 85
Clara stormed out of Mason’s penthouse impatiently as the sleek descended too slowly for her boiling temper. The encounter with that sniveling spy, Lewis, and Mason’s cool analysis had left her feeling unsettled, like a pawn in a game she only understood a little. But one thing had solidified….Dante was vulnerable. He was gone. The fortress had no king.In the back of her sleek car, with the tinted windows whirling her from the world, she barked sharply at her driver. “Forget what I said about picking up Jasper. We are going to Crestview. Now.”“But Mrs. Vance, the nanny’s instruction were—”“I do not care about the nanny’s instructions!” She snapped angrily. “Drive.”As the car pulled away from the hotel, a plan began to form in her mind, less than a plan, more of a compulsion. If Dante thought he could just fly off and leave everything in perfect order, she would show him a crack in his perfect plan. He had left the most precious asset unprotected. Not just the shares. The child.Th
CHAPTER 36
The little by Lake Geneva was all charm and quiet. Small round table with crisp white cloths, the scent of strong coffee and buttery fresh pastries in the air. Dante and Liam sat at a corner table with a view of the black lake. They arrived early.Liam stirred his espresso, as his eyes scanned the peaceful, foreign street and asked calmly, “Is she from here? She sounded….not local.”Danre shook his head as he watched the door and replied wearily, “No. she is from our city. Had to run here after her father died. Her family blamed her for the misfortune. Said she had brought the wolf into the fold. The shame and the debt chase her out.” He sipped his tea slowly. “Mason does not just take what you have. He takes where you belong.”“A real prince indeed,” Liam muttered darkly under his breath.Someone coughed softly behind them and they looked up.A woman stood there. She was slim, dressed in a simple, expensive wool coat. Her hair was jet black, pulled into a severe, tight bun that empha
CHAPTER 87
The boardroom of Lotus Holdings was a quiet, powerful room with a big, dark wood table. The air felt tense and expectant. Mason Lockwood sat near the head of the table, looking every bit like the important leader he placed himself to be. Clara sat on his right, with her back straightened and a tight smile on her face. They had arrived early to watch the other members come in. Their eyes kept going to one chair that was very empty at the far end of the table….Dante’s Vance seat.Old Harold Finch sat with his hands folded, with an unreadable expression on his face. The others—Mr Chen. Mrs. Adebayo, Mr Walsh, all took their seats quietly. They looked curious, or worried.“Thank you for coming with such short notice,” Mason began smoothly in a serious voice. “I called this emergency meeting because there is a very important issue we need to discuss. It is about how the company is run, and it’s stability. It is something I believe we can not ignore any longer.”He looked slowly around the
CHAPTER 88
The car pulled up the long driveway to Dante’s sprawling estate just as the evening light began to soften. Caleb stood on the front steps, his shadow showing sharply against the stone of the mansion. He had been waiting.As the car stopped, Danre came out with tiredness in his eyes due to the long flight and straightened his jacket.“Long journey,” Caleb said as he stepped forward.“It was,” Dante replied. His voice was tired but focused. “But productive,” He moved aside, and turned his back to the car.Caleb watched as Liam stepped out first, then reached back in to retrieve a large elegant suitcase. Then, a woman came out.Eleanor Carlisle took the final step in the gravel drive with careful, deliberate movements. She looked at the vast house, then at the two men waiting, her dark eyes wide and wary in her pale gaunt face, the tight bun hairdo on her head made her look regal and fragile.Dante moved to her side as a comforting presence and said calmly, “Eleanor, this is Caleb Waker,
CHAPTER 89
Clara’s living room was filled to the brim with her anger. She walked back and forth on the expensive rug, with her heels clicking loudly. She was too upset to sit still.Mason sat in a large chair. He looked calm, but his eyes were hard and cold. A glass of brandy sat beside him, untouched.“He beat us!” Clara shouted as she spun to face him. “He was not even in the country, and he still beat us! That lawyer of his sat in his chair and made fool of us! I want him out, Mason. I want Dante gone from my board room!”“Clara, be quiet,” Mason said, his voice low and steady. “Getting angry will not help. We lost one fight, not the whole war. We just have to wait. Dante will mess up. He cares too much about his daughter—it makes him weak. Our plan is still working. The trouble at his company, the talks with the other board members…it is all still happening. We just need to pick the right time to try the vote again.”“Be quiet?” She yelled and stopped in front of him. “He makes me so mad I c
CHAPTER 90
The next morning, Dante arrived at Vertex headquarters just after sunrise. The city was still shaking off the night, but he was already moving with a focused intensity. The emotional homecoming was over. The reunion with Daisy had refilled his spirit, and the introduction of Eleanor Carlisle had added a new sharp piece to his board. Now, it was time to move.He went straight to his office, with the quiet luxurious space feeling more like a command center than ever. Without sitting, he activated the secure intercom and called out, “Liam, Dr. Chen, Mr Abrams, and Matthew. My conference room. Now.”Within fifteen minutes, his inner circle was assembled. Matthew his chief operating officer, looked like he had been at his desk for hours. Liam was alert, with his eyes clear. Dr. Anya Chen held her tablet to her chest lile a shield, and the steady director, Martins Abrams, face was filled with anticipation. “No time to waste,” Dante began as he stood at the end of the polished table. “I am