Awakening The Hidden Dragon

CH 0006 DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH

"Yes, young master. Consider it done."

Knox ended the call.

Lamar burst into laughter. "Oh my God! This guy! You should be an actor, seriously! That was the best performance I've seen all day!" He turned to his colleague. "Did you hear him? 'Fire Lamar immediately!' Like he owns the damn place!"

"Pathetic," the other guard added. "You really think some phone call is going to—"

Lamar's phone rang.

His laughter died as he saw the caller ID: Chief Anderson - Head of Security.

"Don't you dare move, or I'll cripple you," Lamar warned Knox, stepping back to answer the call. "Hello? Chief?"

"YOU FOOL!" The voice exploded from the phone so loud that Knox could hear every word. "Who the hell did you offend?!"

Lamar's face went pale. "Sir, I didn't—there's just some beggar trying to get into the estate, and I'm handling it—"

"What is he wearing?"

"Uh... white T-shirt... black jeans... why does it—"

"You idiot! That man is someone very powerful! You just lost your job, dummy! Let him in immediately before or I'll kill you myself!"

The line went dead.

Lamar stood frozen, the phone trembling in his hand. Slowly, his eyes moved to Knox, and the realization hit him like a freight train.

"No... no, no, no..." Lamar's legs gave out, and he dropped to his knees. "Please, sir! Please! I'm so sorry! I didn't know who you were! I have a family—a wife and two kids! Please, I need this job! PLEASE!"

Knox looked down at him, his expression unreadable. The other guard stood paralyzed, watching the scene unfold in horror.

"Next time," Knox said quietly, "don't judge people by their appearance and waste their precious time."

With that, Knox walked past them into the estate, leaving Lamar sobbing behind him.

Golden Hotel rose before Knox like a monument to excess—one hundred floors of glass and steel, the tallest building in South City. This afternoon, every floor was decorated with white and gold banners celebrating the Voss-Martin union.

Byron Voss was marrying Emilia Martin, daughter of the ultra-wealthy Martin family. It was supposed to be the Voss family's salvation. Lady Morgan had arranged everything personally.

Knox's lips curved into a cold smile.

He approached the hotel entrance, where a red carpet stretched from the street to the lobby doors. Valets in pristine uniforms rushed to park luxury vehicles—Rolls Royces, Bentleys, Maseratis. Guests in designer gowns and tailored tuxedos streamed inside.

Two massive bodyguards blocked the entrance.

"Invitation," one demanded, not even looking at Knox.

"I don't have one."

Now the guard raised his head. His lip curled in disgust. "Then you don't get in. Move along."

"I'm here to speak with Byron Voss. It's about a business proposal."

"Byron Voss is getting married in twenty minutes," the second guard said. "He doesn't have time for whatever scam you're running. Get lost before we make you get lost."

Knox pulled out his phone again.

"Hahaha," the first guard laughed mockingly. “Trying to scare us?”

"Fred," Knox said when the call connected. "I'm at the Golden Hotel. I need you to contact Ivan Watson immediately."

"The manager of Golden Hotel? Of course, young master. What are your instructions?"

"Tell Watson I want everyone evacuated from the entire building in the next three minutes. Everyone except Byron Voss. He stays. If Watson fails to comply, inform him that the Rivera family will ensure he never works in hospitality again—anywhere in the country."

There was a brief pause. "Young master... you do realize Golden Hotel is one of the Rivera family's properties, correct? Watson works for you."

Knox's eyebrows raised slightly. He'd forgotten that detail in his fury.

"Even better," Knox said. "Then tell Watson this is a direct order from Knox Rivera. Three minutes. Everyone out except Byron Voss. And Fred?"

"Yes, young master?"

"Make it two minutes instead."

He ended the call.

The guards were staring at him like he'd lost his mind.

"Rivera family?" one whispered to the other. "Is this guy serious or just crazy?"

"Definitely crazy," the other replied. "The Riveras own half of South City. No way this bum—"

An alarm began blaring inside the hotel.

Then the screaming started.

Guests came pouring out of the entrance in a chaotic flood—men in tuxedos, women clutching their gowns, all of them shouting in confusion and outrage.

"What is the meaning of this?!"

"Do you know who I am?! I'll have your jobs!"

"This is outrageous! I'll sue this hotel into the ground!"

The bodyguards stood frozen in shock as hotel security guards—highly trained professionals—began physically escorting the wealthy guests out. Some went peacefully. Others resisted and were carried out anyway.

Then Ivan Watson himself appeared, sweat beading on his forehead, his expensive suit wrinkled from the chaos. His eyes scanned the crowd desperately until they landed on Knox.

Watson's face went white. He pushed through the crowd and practically ran to Knox, bowing deeply.

"Mr. Rivera! Please forgive the delay! The building is being cleared as you requested!"

The bodyguards' jaws dropped.

"Wait," one stammered. "Did he just say... Rivera?"

"Everyone is being removed except Byron Voss, as instructed," Watson continued, still bowing. "Is there anything else you require, sir?"

"Take me to Byron," Knox said simply.

"Of course! Right this way!" Watson gestured frantically toward the entrance. "Please, after you!"

Knox walked past the stunned bodyguards without a glance.

Inside the hotel, the main ballroom had been transformed into a wedding paradise. Crystal chandeliers, white roses everywhere, gold-trimmed chairs arranged in perfect rows. The altar was adorned with flowers that probably cost more than most people's annual salary.

And at that altar stood Byron Voss, frozen in confusion, still in his expensive wedding tuxedo.

Byron was twenty-five, handsome in that carefully groomed way that came from a lifetime of privilege. But right now, his perfectly styled hair and designer suit couldn't hide the panic in his eyes as he watched security guards escort his family and all the wedding guests out of the ballroom.

"What the hell is going on?!" Byron demanded as Watson approached. "Where's Emilia?! Where's my mother?! What is the meaning of this?!"

His bride, Emilia Martin, had been removed along with everyone else. Byron stood alone on what should have been the happiest day of his life.

Watson maintained his professional composure, gesturing toward Knox, who stood a few steps behind him, observing quietly.

"Mr. Byron Voss," Watson said smoothly, completely ignoring Knox as if he were just another associate, "I have come with a partnership deal from Gates Corporation for the Voss family, which they want you to handle."

Byron's eyes went wide. "What? Gates Corporation? That's—wait, what are you talking about?!" His gaze flickered to Knox briefly, then back to Watson. "You just evacuated my entire wedding for a business deal?!"

All the while, Knox was carefully studying the young man. He looks and speaks as arrogantly as his mother.

"A very significant deal, Mr. Voss," Watson continued calmly. "Gates Corporation offered a partnership deal to the Voss family. The same corporation that, as I'm sure you're aware, rarely deals with companies of your... current financial standing."

Byron's face flushed with anger and embarrassment. "How dare you—"

"Please, let me explain," Watson interrupted smoothly. "Gates Corporation wants a partnership with the Voss family. I understand this may seem impossible given your family's recent... difficulties."

The shock began to replace Byron's anger. He stared at Watson, then at Knox again—this silent figure in casual clothes who seemed completely out of place yet somehow commanded the room.

"Gates Corporation?" Byron repeated slowly. "You're telling me Gates Corporation wants to partner with us? That's impossible."

"When you're facing financial challenges, yes," Watson finished gently. "Your family has always been overlooked each year for a partnership deal with Gates Corporation. I imagine you're wondering why they're suddenly coming to you now, despite other prominent families in the city having better standings."

Byron's jaw clenched. Everyone knew the Voss Group was drowning. That's why this marriage to Emilia Martin was so crucial—her family's money was supposed to save them.

"Is this a joke?" Byron asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Are you serious about this?"

Watson inhaled deeply before responding. "Yes, sir. A representative—an important figure in Gates Corporation—visited the hotel and saw the designs you did for Diamond exclusive. They're hoping to strike a deal with you worth eighty million dollars."

The ballroom went silent.

Byron stared at Watson like he'd just spoken in a foreign language. "Eighty... million?"

"Yes, you heard correctly. An eighty-million-dollar deal is at your doorstep, Mr. Voss."

Byron's legs nearly gave out. He grabbed the altar rail to steady himself. "This is... this is insane. This is incredible. My mother—Lady Morgan—she's going to—" He stopped, reality crashing down. "You evacuated everyone. You stopped my wedding. For this?"

Knox remained silent in the background, his expression neutral, watching Byron process everything.

"There is a condition, Mr. Voss," Watson said carefully.