Jungle Corp – CEO on Death Island

Chapter 1: The Last Banquet Above the Clouds

The noise of the AgustaWestland AW109 helicopter's propellers was drowned out by the clinking of Baccarat crystal glasses. Tonight, amidst the dark sky above secluded waters, three people were celebrating a multimillion-dollar project.

"To Sterling Group!" exclaimed Victor, raising his champagne glass high. A wide smile adorned his face, reflecting the dim light from the helicopter's VIP cabin.

Arthur Sterling, a twenty-eight-year-old man sitting cross-legged in the main seat, looked bored as he swirled the champagne in his glass. He snorted softly. A cynical and arrogant smile was clearly imprinted on his face.

"Not to Sterling Group, Victor," Arthur corrected coldly. "But to me. I was the one who designed this damn acquisition scheme for six consecutive months. Those old geezers on the board of directors only know how to sit pretty, criticize my policies, and wait for the dividends to hit their accounts."

Victor laughed crisply. "Of course, Your Highness CEO. No one dares to doubt Arthur Sterling's genius. Our business rivals didn't even realize their company was swallowed alive by you. They must be crying blood in their offices right now."

"They're stupid. In the business world, the stupid become prey," Arthur replied casually while sipping his champagne.

A woman in a maroon evening gown leaned her head on Arthur's shoulder. The scent of her expensive perfume was immediately noticeable. It was Chloe, his fiancée. Her face was incredibly beautiful, the type of woman who always looked innocent and affectionate.

"Honey, don't be too hard on Victor," Chloe whispered sweetly, her slender fingers tracing the collar of Arthur's expensive shirt. "He worked very hard preparing all the legal documents tonight. At least appreciate his effort. He was willing to go without sleep for two days to ensure the legal loopholes were secure."

Arthur looked at Chloe, his stiff expression softening slightly. "I pay him millions of dollars a year not to be appreciated, Chloe. I pay him so he doesn't make stupid mistakes. Friendship is one thing, business is another."

"So cruel. You really are a cold-blooded boss, Arthur," Victor replied, placing his glass on a small mahogany table. "Speaking of business and stupid mistakes, there's one final document that needs your signature tonight as well. The legal team just sent it via the helicopter's fax."

Victor reached into his briefcase and took out a black leather folder. He handed it to Arthur along with a limited-edition gold pen.

"What contract is this now?" Arthur's forehead creased. His eyes stared at the folder suspiciously. "Didn't I already sign the master agreement this morning at the office?"

"This is just a formality to transfer the assets to our subsidiary," Victor answered casually. He leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms over his chest. "You know the legal procedures. It's too much of a tax burden if we put it directly into the parent company. This is a double-shell tactic. You taught me that trick yourself last year, right?"

Arthur didn't answer immediately. He took the black folder and opened it. His eyes quickly scanned the string of legal paragraphs. For an ordinary person, a document that thick would take hours to read. But Arthur only needed a few seconds to find a fatal discrepancy.

The next second, Arthur's jaw tightened. The relaxed atmosphere inside the cabin instantly vanished.

"Victor," Arthur called out in a low and threatening tone.

"Yes, Boss? Is there a problem?" Victor replied, still maintaining his innocent smile.

"What is the meaning of this clause on page seven?" Arthur threw the folder onto the table with a loud thud. "The majority shares of the company we just acquired are not being transferred to Sterling Group's subsidiary. This clause diverts eighty percent of the assets to Vanguard Holdings. As I recall, that's a shell company in the Cayman Islands that has absolutely nothing to do with me!"

"Oh, that part?" Victor chuckled, a laugh that slowly turned dissonant and full of mockery. "That's not a typo, Arthur. Vanguard Holdings belongs to me."

Arthur's eyes widened. He stared at his best friend with mounting anger.

"You want to rob me right in front of my own eyes?! Are you crazy, Victor?! How dare you try to trick me in my own helicop—"

Stab!