BILLIONAIRE MINOR

Chapter 2: The Turning Point

Jeremy's phone was going off-the buzzing sounded like the continuous wail of an alarm in a burning building. Barely 6 am, and his trading alerts were acting like a five-alarm fire. He rubbed his eyes and snatched the phone; his heart skipped a beat when he read the notification:

"BREAKING: Etherium Gold spikes 230% overnight."

Jeremy sat bolt upright, his fingers scrambling to open up his trading app. Surging like fireworks, the charts were. His modest investment in Etherium Gold-what he had called his redemption play after the first big loss-had tripled in value in one night.

"$150,000," he whispered out loud, staring at the account balance in disbelief.

For a moment, Jeremy sat immobile. Then he let out a whoop, jumping out of bed and pacing his small apartment. This wasn't just any win; this was life-changing.

Then the doubt seeped in. As the euphoria started to fade, it seemed almost too good to be true. Jeremy pulled up the news and scoured the forums for answers. It was the buzz in all of the trading community: Etherium Gold's surge was being attributed to rumors of a major tech company adopting its blockchain technology.

"Maverick knew," he said to himself as that message from last night just popped into his head.

Later that afternoon, Maverick contacted him once more, this time with an offer.

"You've shown your worth, Lawson," the message started. "You're ready for the big leagues. I'm inviting you to a private circle. Bigger risks, bigger rewards. Interested?"

Jeremy's pulse quickened. A private circle meant access to inside strategies, exclusive deals, and millions in profit. It also meant more pressure, higher stakes.

“I’m in,” he replied after a moment’s hesitation.

The next several weeks are a blur of activity: Maverick's private circle was an encrypted platform with hot tips from seasoned traders, tech innovators, and venture capitalists who shared hot tips, discussed emergent trends, and coordinated high-stakes plays. Jeremy quickly realized he was the youngest and least experienced person in the group, but his hunger to learn combined with a willingness to take risks calculated earned him respect.

One of the main members of this group was a man by the name of Victor Kane. Whereas Maverick was faceless, an enigma, Victor was loud, brash, and unapologetically ruthless. A self-made millionaire, Victor had the reputation for turning pennies into fortunes but also for leaving a trail of wreckage in his wake.

"Stick with me, kid," Victor told Jeremy during one of their conversations. "I'll show you how to play with the big boys."

---

The amount Jeremy won just kept increasing, and so did all the trappings of success: a high-rise apartment, a sports car, and even a designer watch. He felt his confidence grow, as did his circle of admirers.

But with new success came old doubts. Alan's sudden interest in Jeremy's ventures felt disingenuous, especially when he asked for "just a small loan" to cover a bad real estate deal. Mia, once indifferent to Jeremy's struggles, now called him regularly, subtly hinting at needing financial help for her studies.

Jeremy gave them exactly what they wanted, yet somehow, it wasn't gratifying. They were not proud of him; they were after his money.

One evening at one of Maverick's groups high-end networking events, Jeremy met Clara Reyes, a sharp-tongued artist who sized people up with an eerie intuition.

"You're different from all the others in here," she said, catching him off guard.

"How?

They're all flash and noise," Clara said, nodding her head toward the room of elites. "You're. quieter. Like you're still figuring out where you belong."

Her words stayed with Jeremy long after the event was over.

---

Months passed, and Jeremy's empire grew. His account balance now sat at an eye-watering $3.5 million, and his name was beginning to circulate in trading circles. But the stakes were growing too. Maverick's circle introduced him to a controversial new venture: Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs)-a high-risk, high-reward method of investing in fledgling cryptocurrencies.

Victor, in particular, was aggressive in pushing Jeremy to invest in an ICO called Cobalt Chain.

“This is the next big thing,” Victor insisted during a private call. “Put in $1 million, and you’ll double it in a month. Easy.”

Jeremy hesitated. The pitch felt rushed, almost desperate.

“What’s the catch?” he asked.

“No catch,” Victor said, flashing a grin. “Just don’t be a coward.”

Jeremy decided to consult Maverick, who responded with his usual cryptic wisdom:

“Trust your instincts, Lawson. But remember: even shadows hide secrets.”

The warning set Jeremy on edge. After hours of research, he discovered troubling reports about Cobalt Chain—its founders were embroiled in lawsuits, and its technology was unproven.

When Victor pressed him again the next day, Jeremy declined.

“You’ll regret this,” Victor snapped, his tone icy.

---

A couple of weeks later, news did emerge that Cobalt Chain was a scam. Investors lost billions, and Victor was one of the worst hit. Jeremy breathed a sigh of relief but couldn't shake off the feeling that he'd made an enemy.

That feeling didn't last. Within days, Jeremy logged onto his trading account and froze.

"Account Suspended: Unauthorized Access Detected.

Panicked, he dialed the customer support number, only to be told his account was suspected of having gone through some sort of 'suspicious' activities. Even worse, there was a shortfall amounting to US$500,000.

Jeremy's mind went reeling. Could Victor sabotage him?

Even as he tried piecing it all together, a message came up from Maverick across his phone screen.

"They're coming for you. Be ready."

---

Jeremy's world spiraled into chaos. Rumors of fraud tainted his reputation in the trading community, fanned by Victor's veiled accusations. His family, who had basked in his success, distanced themselves when he couldn't continue funding their requests.

The deepest betrayal came from Alan, who called Jeremy a "reckless gambler" in front of their parents.

"I told you this would happen," Alan said. "You're nothing but a fraud.

Jeremy stormed out of the house, fury and despair bubbling inside him.

---

Alone in his apartment, Jeremy stared at the dwindling finances. Still enough to survive, yet the losses stung. There was a message from Maverick that replayed over and over in his brain:

"They're coming for you. Be ready."

What did it mean? Who was "they"?

Determined for answers, Jeremy sent Maverick a direct message:

"Who's behind this?"

For the first time in months, Maverick didn't reply.

---

Jeremy's nights turned sleepless as he pieced together the puzzle. The hack into his account had been orchestrated by an insider, someone within Maverick's circle. The evidence pointed in one direction: Victor Kane.

But when Jeremy confronted Victor on a heated group call, Victor laughed.

"Prove it," he said.

Before Jeremy could respond, Maverick finally broke his silence.

Enough," Maverick's voice thundered across the encrypted channel. "Lawson, meet me. We need to talk."

The location Maverick sent was cryptic-a remote cabin in the mountains, far from the chaos of the city.

Jeremy hesitated but knew he had no choice. He would have to go if he wanted answers.

As he packed a bag and prepared for the journey, a sense of unease settled over him. This wasn’t just about trading anymore. Someone was playing a bigger game, and Jeremy was a pawn.

But he was determined to change that.

---

As Jeremy drove into the mountains, his phone buzzed with another message. It wasn’t from Maverick.

“Turn back, or you’ll regret it.”