The moment Whitmore accepted the bank card, he handed it to one of his assistants without a word.
"Verify the transfer," he instructed.
The assistant nodded and hurried behind the reception counter, where Aurora Hospitality's secure banking terminal was connected to the company's corporate account. His fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard as he logged into the system, the soft clicking of the keys echoing through the unusually quiet lobby.
No one spoke.
The laughter that had filled the room moments earlier had vanished completely.
Even Collins, who had been wearing a smug smile since Raiden first walked into the hotel, found himself staring at the monitor. Although he refused to admit it, a tiny voice in the back of his mind urged the assistant to hurry and expose Raiden's bluff once and for all.
Whitmore checked his watch. His investors had already been waiting far longer than they should have. If this turned out to be another empty performance, he intended to throw Raiden out of his hotel.
The assistant suddenly stopped typing.
His eyes widened almost imperceptibly before he refreshed the page and checked the transaction history again.
Whitmore noticed the change in his expression.
"Well?"
"The transfer has been completed."
Collins laughed.
"There must be a mistake."
The assistant didn't respond. Instead, he silently stepped aside, allowing Whitmore to see the screen for himself.
Displayed at the top of the transaction history was a single incoming payment.
Incoming Transfer
Amount: $2,000,000.00
Status: Completed
The money had already arrived. For the first time since Raiden entered Aurora Hotel, Whitmore looked at him with genuine surprise.
"You actually transferred the money."
"I said I would," Raiden answered with calm.
Whitmore studied him for several seconds before turning toward his assistant.
"Inform the investors that the meeting will be delayed."
The assistant hesitated.
"Chairman... they've already been waiting for over twenty minutes."
"I know."
Whitmore's tone left no room for discussion.
"Tell them they'll have to wait another thirty. Give them free meal or whatever."
"Yes, Chairman."
The assistant left immediately.
Whitmore turned back to Raiden and gestured toward a conference room located only a short distance from the reception desk.
"We'll talk in there."
Raiden nodded and started walking. As he passed Collins, he slowed his pace just enough to stop beside him.
Collins looked at him with an exaggerated smirk.
"What?"
A faint smile appeared on Raiden's face.
"You should begin packing your belongings."
Collins blinked.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me," Raiden said.
Raiden's gaze shifted to the receptionist.
"The same advice applies to you."
The young woman forced a laugh.
"What do you mean?"
Raiden's smile never faded.
"In about thirty minutes, neither of you will be working here anymore."
Without waiting for either of them to respond, he continued toward the conference room. The door closed quietly behind him.
Then Collins let out a loud laugh.
"I've met delusional people before. But this is on another level."
The receptionist nodded eagerly, though her smile looked noticeably less convincing than before.
"Exactly. He transferred two million dollars. So what? That doesn't mean Chairman Whitmore is going to sell him the hotel."
Collins folded his arms.
"The chairman is probably explaining how acquisitions actually work. He'll ask where the remaining millions are. And when Raiden can't answer, he'll come back out looking even more pathetic."
The receptionist laughed along, but her eyes drifted toward the closed conference room.
"What if..."
She stopped herself.
"What if what?"
"What if he really has the money?" she asked.
Collins immediately dismissed the thought with a wave of his hand.
"Don't be ridiculous. If he had eight or nine million dollars sitting in his account, do you think he'd have walked in here looking like that?"
She didn't answer. Because, deep down, she couldn't explain the two-million-dollar transfer either.
***
Inside the conference room, Whitmore closed the door before taking a seat at the head of the table.
He didn't offer Raiden coffee. He didn't waste time on pleasantries.
"My investors have been waiting upstairs for nearly half an hour," he said, resting both hands on the polished wooden table. "Every minute I spend in this room costs me money, so let's not waste each other's time."
Raiden took the seat opposite him.
"You've earned thirty minutes. No more. Convince me why I should sell Aurora Hotel to you instead of the investors already waiting in my conference room."
Raiden met his gaze steadily.
"Because none of them came here intending to save Aurora Hospitality."
Whitmore's eyes narrowed slightly.
"They came here because they know you're running out of options."
He didn't interrupt.
"So they'll spend the next several hours pretending they're doing you a favor while pushing your price lower with every offer."
Raiden leaned forward just enough to emphasize his next words.
"I came here to close the deal today."
Whitmore remained silent for several moments, his fingers lightly tapping the table.
"I'll admit you've surprised me," he finally said. "Most people in your position wouldn't have been able to produce two million dollars on such short notice."
His expression, however, remained unreadable.
"But a deposit doesn't buy a hotel. It only proves you have enough money for a deposit."
Raiden nodded.
"I agree."
Whitmore folded his hands.
"Then we're back to where we started. You've made an offer. But I still have no reason to believe you can pay the remaining balance. My investors upstairs may be driving a hard bargain, but at least I know they're backed by real capital."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"I don't know where your money came from, Mr. Bolt. And frankly, I don't care. What I care about is whether you can actually complete this acquisition."
Raiden met his gaze without the slightest hesitation.
"I can transfer the remaining balance right now."
One of Whitmore's assistants couldn't help exchanging glances with the others.
Even after witnessing the two-million-dollar deposit, they found it difficult to believe anyone could casually transfer another several million dollars within minutes.
Whitmore slowly leaned back in his chair.
"Very well. If you're truly able to complete the payment immediately, I'll sell Aurora Hotel to you. But there's one condition. The price is no longer eight and a half million."
Whitmore's eyes never left Raiden.
"You've delayed my meeting, kept my investors waiting, and forced me to spend the last half hour reconsidering a deal I thought was already decided."
His voice remained calm, but carried the unmistakable firmness of a seasoned negotiator.
"The price is now eight point seven million dollars. If you can transfer the full amount today... The hotel is yours. But if you can't..."
Whitmore's tone hardened.
"I'll return your two-million-dollar deposit in full. Our conversation ends here. And you'll never bring up this acquisition again."
"Deal," Raiden said.
Raiden took out his phone and logged into his banking application.
A few seconds later, one of Whitmore's assistants' receive the notification for the Hotel account. He frowned as he looked at the notification.
"Chairman, the transfer has been received."
Whitmore stood up at once.
"Let me see."
The assistant handed him the tablet connected to Aurora Hospitality's corporate account. Whitmore refreshed the transaction history himself.
Incoming Transfer
$6,700,000.00
Status: Completed
Combined with the earlier deposit, the total amount received was exactly $8,700,000.00.
"I've spent thirty-five years in business," he said quietly. “I've learned that a man's word means nothing unless he can honor it."
He looked directly at Raiden.
"You honored yours."
Whitmore rose from his chair and extended his hand across the table.
"A deal is a deal. Congratulations, Mr. Bolt. As of this moment, Aurora Hotel belongs to you."
Raiden stood and shook his hand.
"Thank you."
Whitmore gave a small nod before turning toward his assistants.
"Notify the investors upstairs that today's meeting has been canceled."
One assistant hesitated.
"Chairman..."
Whitmore smiled faintly.
"Correction. I'm no longer the chairman of Aurora Hotel."
He glanced at Raiden.
"The hotel has a new owner."
Latest Chapter
A New General Manager
The morning sun poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Presidential Suite, casting a warm glow across the spacious living room. Raiden stood quietly beside the glass, his tailored charcoal suit replacing the casual clothes he had worn the previous day. The city stretched before him, alive with the rush of another ordinary morning.His phone remained silent. Not a single update about Gerard.A knock came from the door."Come in."Arthur Hayes stepped inside, carrying a tablet in one hand. "Good morning, Mr. Bolt.""Morning. Any news?"Hayes shook his head. "Not yet. Our security team searched every major hospital overnight, and the investigator has already contacted his informants. No confirmed sightings so far, but everyone is still looking."Raiden remained silent for a moment before replying, "Tell them not to stop until they find him.""They won't."Hayes hesitated briefly before adding, "The department heads are waiting in the executive conference room. They've all pre
The First Order
The private elevator came to a smooth stop with a soft chime.Warm lighting reflected off polished marble floors, while handcrafted walnut panels lined the walls. A crystal chandelier hung above the entrance, casting a gentle glow over the spacious living area beyond. Floor-to-ceiling windows stretched across the entire suite, offering a breathtaking view of the city's glittering skyline. A grand piano occupied one corner of the room, and beyond it lay a private office, a formal dining room, a fully equipped kitchen, and several elegantly furnished bedrooms.It was less a hotel suite than a luxurious penthouse.Hayes stepped aside with a respectful smile."Welcome to the Presidential Suite, Mr. Bolt. If there's anything you require, simply let us know."Raiden's eyes barely lingered on the room. Instead, he turned around immediately."Mr. Hayes."Hayes sensed the urgency in his voice."Yes, sir?""I need your help finding someone."Hayes nodded without hesitation."Of course."Raiden
Table Turns
The conference room door finally opened. Whitmore stepped out first and Raiden followed a step behind.The moment Collins saw them, the tension that had been building inside him for the past thirty minutes vanished.He immediately concluded the negotiation had failed. Why else would Whitmore be wearing such a stern expression?A triumphant smile spread across his face."I knew it," he muttered under his breath.The receptionist let out a quiet sigh of relief."I told you. No one buys a hotel in half an hour."Collins straightened his suit before walking toward them with practiced professionalism."Chairman."He bowed slightly."I apologize for the disturbance earlier. I've already instructed security to escort Mr. Bolt out if necessary."Whitmore didn't answer. He simply looked at Collins for a moment before turning his attention elsewhere.Collins mistook the silence for disappointment. He shot Raiden a smug look."I did warn you. I hope you enjoyed your little fantasy while it laste
The New Owner
The moment Whitmore accepted the bank card, he handed it to one of his assistants without a word."Verify the transfer," he instructed.The assistant nodded and hurried behind the reception counter, where Aurora Hospitality's secure banking terminal was connected to the company's corporate account. His fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard as he logged into the system, the soft clicking of the keys echoing through the unusually quiet lobby.No one spoke.The laughter that had filled the room moments earlier had vanished completely.Even Collins, who had been wearing a smug smile since Raiden first walked into the hotel, found himself staring at the monitor. Although he refused to admit it, a tiny voice in the back of his mind urged the assistant to hurry and expose Raiden's bluff once and for all.Whitmore checked his watch. His investors had already been waiting far longer than they should have. If this turned out to be another empty performance, he intended to throw Raiden out o
The First Inheritance
The payment terminal let out a crisp electronic chime. The receptionist glanced at the screen and her confident smile froze."Approved?"The word escaped almost unconsciously."What?" Collins asked.She slowly turned the display toward him."The payment... went through."The laughter throughout the lobby gradually died away. Collins snatched the receipt from her hand. His eyes swept over it once. The result remained exactly the same. It was approved.For a brief moment, he simply stared at the receipt in disbelief."Impossible."A businessman standing nearby leaned over to take a look."It actually worked? I thought all of Bolt Group's accounts would've been frozen.""So did I."Whispers spread through the lobby. Nobody had expected Raiden to successfully pay for even a single night's stay.Collins recovered quickly, forcing an awkward laugh."Well... It seems you still have enough money for a hotel room."He tossed the receipt onto the counter."Congratulations, but don't mistake tha
Attempt to Purchase
A few guests laughed quietly, while others continued staring at Raiden with unconcealed curiosity.Raiden ignored every pair of eyes fixed on him."Are you finished?" he asked calmly. "I'm here to book a room, and I'm prepared to pay."Collins let out a dismissive snort."How many times do I have to tell you?" he said impatiently. "You're not welcome here, Raiden Bolt."He looked Raiden up and down with open disdain."You're not the wealthy young master you were yesterday. Bolt Group is gone, and so is your fortune."Collins gestured around the lobby."Take a good look at yourself. You're covered in dried blood, your clothes are filthy, and you reek of smoke. You're driving away my guests."A mocking smile spread across his face."Now tell me... what exactly are you planning to pay with? Imaginary money?"Collins spread his hands as if explaining the most obvious thing in the world."My responsibility is to protect the comfort of everyone staying here. I’m telling you to get out of th
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