All Chapters of Ascension of the Untouchable Billionaire. : Chapter 121
- Chapter 130
149 chapters
Chapter 123. The Devil You Know
Noah stared at him for a long moment. He was in no mood for Lucien's games. He was in no mood for anything that required patience or subtlety or the careful navigation of someone else's hidden agenda. But the mention of Nicole had hooked something deep in his chest, and he could not ignore it."I am not in the best of moods for anything you are plotting, Lucien. I just told off a fucking member of the board and I have no patience left for scheming or manipulation or whatever it is you do for fun."Lucien's eyebrows rose a fraction of an inch, and something that might have been genuine respect flickered in his eyes. "So you did rip Michael Chen a new one. In his own office. That is bold, Chairman. I am impressed.""I did not do it to impress you.""Oh I know." Lucien grinned then pulled his hands from his pockets and held them up in a gesture of surrender. "But I am not here to plot or scheme or manipulate you. I am here because I want to help."Noah let out a short and humorless la
Chapter 124. Supportive Widow
"Nothing that requires your attention right now, sir. Just a small matter that Ms. Stane can help me resolve quickly. I will have her back to you before you even notice she is gone."Noah wanted to press further. He wanted to know what had made Chantel pull his head of security aside at a moment like this, with the tension from the confrontation with Michael still hanging in the air and Lucien Vicker waiting to brief him on whatever information he had about Nicole. But If she said it was not something that required his attention, he would trust her judgment."Fine," he said. "But be quick about it. I need her back as soon as you are done.”Afterwards, Noah and Lucien walked in silence through the corridors of Nexus headquarters, their footsteps echoing against the polished marble floor. Beside him, Lucien moved with that characteristic easy stride, as though he had not a single care in the world.They reached the door to Noah's office, and Noah pushed it open, already mentally prepar
Chapter 125. Warning.
Noah blinked. "The merger was your idea?""Yes. Several months ago, when Nicholson Industries was first looking for a potential partner, I suggested that Nexus might be a good fit. The numbers looked promising at the time and the company seemed stable. I thought it could be a beneficial arrangement for both parties." She paused, her jaw tightening. "But I was wrong. The more I learned about Nicole Nicholson, the more I saw of her methods and her character, the less comfortable I became with the idea. And then when investigated her more I was provided with a full analytical breakdown of the merger proposal, and my doubts were confirmed.""What did the analysis show you?""Everything I needed to see. The financial irregularities as well as the inflated projections. The way Nicole has been quietly consolidating power within her own company while presenting a completely different face to the public. Chantel figured out the same thing. She is very good at her job, Noah and left no stone u
Chapter 126. Intentions.
Noah felt his face flush slightly at the bluntness of her words, but he did not look away. Victoria was not trying to embarrass him. She was just being direct. He hoped."What I am trying to say," Victoria continued with a wave of her hand, "is that Evelyn gets attached very easily. It may not seem like it when you first meet her. She comes across as distant, even cold at times. She talks about people like they are investments, things to be evaluated and analyzed and decided upon. But that is just another mask. Underneath it, she cares very deeply, and she does not handle disappointment well."She paused, her eyes searching his face for something. Aww"Evelyn has had two failed engagements and one truly disastrous relationship that nearly broke her. I will not go into the details, because those are her stories to tell, not mine. But I will tell you that each of those failures took something out of her. Each one left a mark. And each one made her a little more fragile, even as she
Chapter 127. Whistleblower
Suddenly, another sound filled the silence of Noah's office. It was a low and melodic whistle, something classical and vaguely familiar.Noah looked up, already knowing who he would see before his eyes confirmed it.The door unlocked and Lucien Vicker strolled through the doorway as though he owned the place, his hands tucked into the pockets of his charcoal gray trousers, his expression one of theatrical innocence. The whistling stopped as he turned to look at Noah with that familiar grin spreading across his face."Quite the formidable woman, my dear Aunt Victoria," Lucien said, his voice carrying a note of genuine unease beneath its usual amusement. "She has been terrifying me since I was old enough to walk. I remember once, when I was about seven years old, I made the mistake of pulling Evelyn's hair during a family gathering. Victoria appeared out of nowhere like an avenging spirit and told me, in the calmest voice I have ever heard, that if I ever touched her daughter again s
Chapter 128. Chance
Noah shook his head slowly. Then something hit him."Will E-evelyn be there? And her mother?""Of course. Victoria is distant family, as you know. She attends all of our major gatherings, though she usually spends the entire evening looking like she would rather be anywhere else. And Evelyn comes with her. They are a package deal." Lucien's eyes glittered with something that might have been amusement. "I noticed you asked about Evelyn specifically. Interesting.""There is nothing interesting about it. I was just trying to understand the guest list.""Of course you were." Lucien's tone made it clear he did not believe a word of it."But yes, Evelyn will be there. And her dumbass brothers. several dozen other people who will all be watching you very closely to see what kind of man the new Chairman of Nexus Group turns out to be."Noah leaned back in his chair, his mind turning over the proposal. It was a terrible idea. Walking into the Vicker estate for a formal dinner would be like w
Chapter 129. The East Wing
Rebecca followed Chantel through the corridors of Nexus headquarters, her footsteps silent on the polished marble floor, her eyes tracking the familiar details of the executive wing as they passed. The abstract art on the walls. The recessed lighting that cast everything in a warm and flattering glow. The occasional staff member who nodded respectfully as they passed and then hurried on their way.They were heading toward the east wing, a part of the building that Rebecca rarely visited. It housed the guest suites and private lounges, spaces designed for visiting dignitaries and important clients who needed somewhere comfortable to wait between meetings. It was quieter here than in the main corridors, the ambient hum of the building fading into something softer and more distant.Rebecca had known Chantel Dubois for only a few months now, but she had learned to read the woman reasonably well. Chantel was usually composed at all times, her emotions carefully managed behind a mask
CHAPTER 130. NEO CHEN.
Rebecca recognized him. She had seen him at the board meeting weeks ago, sitting among the other family representatives, his posture relaxed and his expression unreadable. Neo Chen. The eldest son of Michael and Diane Chen. He looked up as they entered, and a slow smile spread across his face and his eyes seemed to settle with unerring focus on Chantel. It put Rebecca on immediate alert. "Miss Dubois," he said, his voice warm and slightly teasing. "Finally, you make time for me. I was beginning to think you were avoiding me on purpose. I have been sitting here for almost twenty minutes, and the coffee has gone cold. Twice."Rebecca glanced at Chantel, whose eyes narrowed imperceptibly. “I apologize for keeping you waiting." She replied softly and the man absolutely beamed, his smile so wide and genuine, and his posture relaxed with his dark eyes fixed on Chantel with an intensity that bordered on hunger.Then his gaze shifted, and he noticed Rebecca standing behind Chantel's sh
Chapter 131. Personal Matters.
Neo blinked, clearly caught off guard by the sudden shift to professional matters. He had been expecting something else, Rebecca realized. Something more personal. And Chantel was deliberately denying him that satisfaction, steering the conversation back to the business at hand with the swiftness of a person who had no interest in lingering on anything else. "No. The date has not been fixed. There are still some oppositions that need to be resolved before anything can be finalized. My father is working on them, but it is taking longer than he expected.""Oppositions," Chantel repeated, her tone carefully neutral. "From whom, specifically?""From several board members. Victoria Lansing, for one. She made her position very clear during the meeting. She does not support the merger and she is not going to change her mind. And there are others who are wavering, people who were initially supportive but are now having second thoughts after seeing the Chairman's resistance." Neo paused, h
Chapter 132. Showtime.
Noah stood in front of the mirror in his bedroom, adjusting the cuffs of his shirt for what felt like the tenth time. The suit was new, a deep navy that Chantel had picked out for him earlier in the week when he had finally decided he was going to attend the Vicker family dinner after all. It fit perfectly, the way all his suits fit perfectly now, but he still felt like he was wearing someone else's clothes. Rebecca was waiting for him outside. He could see her through the window, standing beside the idling convoy vehicle with her usual alert posture, her breath misting in the cool evening air. She had been quiet on the drive over, which was not unusual for her, but there had been something different in her silence today. Something watchful and waiting.He had originally planned to go to this dinner alone. Well, not alone, Rebecca would be with him, of course, because Rebecca was always with him, but alone in the sense that he would not be bringing anyone else. Then he had thou