Aura-Link, The Office Boy’s Rise to Global Supremacy

Chapter 9

"Victoria, you look stunning as always," Arthur said with a very thick posh accent. He then turned to Rian, extending his hand in a demeaning manner. "And who is this? I didn't know Sterling Tech was now hiring fashion models to accompany their CEO for dinner."

Rian felt a surge of anger in his chest, but the Aura-Link immediately dampened the emotion. A digital command appeared in his vision.

[Target Weakness Analysis: Arthur is currently facing a financial crisis in his property company. He strongly dislikes men who appear more intelligent than him.]

[Dialogue Instruction: Use Microeconomic Terms. Crush His Mental Dominance.]

Rian accepted Arthur's handshake, but he applied a slightly firmer pressure, making Arthur wince involuntarily. "Rian. Lead Strategic Consultant. I didn't realize Sterling Tech allowed nearly bankrupt ex-lovers to arrange our CEO's dinner schedule," Rian replied in a very casual tone, almost as if he were talking about the weather.

Arthur's face suddenly turned a shade of red. He pulled his hand back as if he had just touched hot coals. "Bankrupt? What are you talking about, boy? You must have just walked out of business school yesterday afternoon."

"Sit down, Arthur," Victoria interrupted coldly, gesturing for them to begin dinner.

The atmosphere at the table was incredibly awkward. Arthur constantly tried to monopolize the conversation by boasting about his political connections and his family's long history. He spoke as if Rian weren't there, or at the very least, as if Rian were just an extra waiter who happened to be wearing an expensive suit.

"Victoria, you know, my father just acquired land on the outskirts of London. We could work together. You need my influence to get your new satellite project approved."

"You can't rely on... these new people who don't have a family pedigree like him," Arthur said, shooting a sharp look at Rian.

Rian calmly sipped his red wine. Within his eyes, the Aura-Link system began performing complex calculations. Data regarding the Penhaligon family's stock movements flowed in rapidly.

[Active Mission: Make Him Jealous.]

[Method: Provocative Physical Contact Stimulation.]

[Emotional Target: Arthur Penhaligon – Anger Threshold 85%.]

"The Penhaligon family certainly has an extraordinary history," Rian said suddenly, cutting Arthur off. "It is quite unfortunate that such a history must end with the sale of assets in the property sector due to management errors in the last quarter. I don't believe Victoria needs the influence of a sinking ship, Arthur."

Arthur slammed his fork onto the porcelain plate with a loud clank. "You dare insult me in front of Victoria?! Who do you think you are, you paid assistant!"

"He is more than just an assistant, Arthur," Victoria said, her voice sounding warmer than usual. She glanced at Rian, and for some reason, there was a spark of approval in her eyes.

Rian knew this was the right moment. Beneath the table covered by a long white cloth, Rian slowly moved his hand. He sought out Victoria's hand and then gripped it firmly. He could feel Victoria give a slight start, her body tensing for a second before she finally relaxed.

Victoria did not pull her hand away. Instead, she returned Rian's grip, her fingers interlacing with his in a silent, powerful statement.

Above the table, Rian maintained his flat, professional expression. He leaned toward Victoria, brushing the corner of her lips with his free thumb as if there were a food stain there—a deeply intimate gesture typically reserved for lovers.

"Don't be too hard on him, my lady. He simply isn't used to seeing you with a man who truly appreciates you," Rian whispered, loud enough for Arthur to hear.

Arthur's face was now completely flushed. His eyes glared at Rian's movements. It was as if he could smell their proximity, sensing an intimacy he had never received when he was with Victoria. The veins in his neck strained, and his breath became shallow.

[Arthur's Emotional Analysis: Anger 92%. Jealousy 99%.]

[Condition Met. Prepare for Outburst.]

"You... how dare you touch her like that in front of me?!" Arthur stood up so abruptly that his chair screeched against the floor. His voice began to draw the attention of other patrons in the luxury restaurant. "Victoria, tell me! Are you really debasing yourself with this man? He's just street trash you've dressed up! I know the smell of cheap detergent will never leave his skin!"

Victoria rose calmly, her face turning cold once more, yet a sense of satisfaction radiated from her eyes. She kept holding Rian's hand under the table, as if unwilling to let go of her source of strength.

"Arthur, you always felt like you owned everything, but you never owned my heart," Victoria said in a devastating tone. "Rian is my future, whereas you... you are nothing more than a footnote I wish to erase. This dinner is over."

"How dare you touch what is mine!" Arthur shouted, completely losing his self-control this time. He stepped around the table, his fist clenched and ready to strike Rian. "You have no idea who I am, you piece of trash?! I'll make sure you never work in this city again! I will destroy you!"

Rian stood up slowly, releasing Victoria's hand and stepping forward to shield the woman behind his back. His right eye glowed with an intense, pitch-black light that shone brightly in the restaurant's dimness—a sight that only Arthur could see from such a close distance.

[Combat Mode: Standby.]

[Movement Prediction: Arthur will swing a right hook in 0.8 seconds.]

"Go ahead and try, Arthur," Rian said in a voice so cold it felt as if the surrounding temperature had dropped several degrees. "But before you do, you should know one thing. I know who you really are, and I know the secrets you're hiding in your office safe in Mayfair. One wrong move from you, and those secrets will grace the front page of every newspaper in London tomorrow morning."

Arthur froze. His hand, already raised in the air, suddenly went still. He stared into Rian's inhuman right eye, and for the first time in his life, Lord Arthur Penhaligon felt pure terror. He saw something far greater and more terrifying than a mere personal assistant behind the young man's eyes.

"Who... who are you, really?" Arthur whispered with a trembling voice.

Rian didn't answer. He only gave a thin, triumphant smile, while Victoria Sterling stood beside him, her gaze beginning to shift—no longer seeing him as just a business tool, but as something far more complex and dangerous. At Canary Wharf that night, Rian had just proven that even an office boy could bring down a king, as long as he possessed eyes capable of seeing the world for what it truly was.

"Let's go, Rian," Victoria invited softly, her hand slipping back around Rian's arm.

They walked out, leaving Arthur still frozen and panting in the middle of the silent restaurant. However, as they stepped toward the exit, the Aura-Link in Rian's eye vibrated violently, providing a notification that made the smile on his face vanish instantly.

[Warning! Detection of 'The Watchers' Agents on the Ground Floor.]

[Danger Level: Extreme.]

[Next Mission: Survive.]

Rian glanced briefly toward the elevator, and there, he saw the shadow of a masked man carrying the same weapon he had once seen in a Shoreditch alleyway. This game of jealousy had just turned into a real war of life and death.