RISE OF THE SCORNFUL CRYPTO LORD

3. THE POWER THEY DON'T SEE

Liam's POV

I entered my room and slammed the door immediately. I sat down and placed the book on my lap.

With the textbook almost gone, I flipped through the pages as I recalled the pages where I scribbled the phrases in college.

Page one had Moon.

Page ten had Parent.

Page twenty had Frog.

All the way to page ninety.

I grab the textbook and my phone as I jot them down.

Nine phrases are clear, but the tenth, on page ninety, is fuzzy. The book was burnt, but it showed it started with “Advan.”

Is it enough? Absolutely not.

I open my laptop, hands shaking, and log into my old Bitcoin wallet. I type the phrases up to the ninth.

Then the tenth stumps me. “Advan” could be anything.

I tried a few words that started with ‘Advan’, but it kept saying an error. I was lost and didn't know what to do. But I kept trying until I became scared.

The screen warns: three tries before the account locks.

The more my hand wavered on the keyboard, the more I got scared. Then, I tried *advance*.

Error.

I tried *advantage*

Error.

Sweat beads on my forehead as my palms felt slick.

One try left.

I close my eyes, picturing my college dorm, the late nights mining Bitcoin when it was just a geeky hobby but nothing comes.

I’m about to toss my laptop in defeat, but I take a breath.

One last shot.

I typed *advanced* as slowly as I could and pressed enter.

The screen spins, rolling, rolling, like it’ll never stop.

Then, like a dream, it clicks—access granted.

My account opens: $92 billion in Bitcoin. I laughed so hard that I forgot I needed to keep quiet. I’m richer than all the Harringtons combined!

I stood up as I turned the screen to the wall.

Suddenly, Claire bursts in, “Liam, what’s wrong?”

At that moment, I wanted to show her, tell her I’m not the nobody they think, but something stops me.

“Nothing,” I said, shutting the laptop. To change the subject, I asked, “Any leads on a buyer for the company? I overheard you and your relatives. I think the starting price should be at least $900 million.”

Claire throws her hands up, standing beside me. “Exactly my thoughts! $900 million, not $600 million like they want.” She sighed. “I tried convincing them you could run it. You’re smart, Liam, with your computer science degree, your market skills. But they won’t let an outsider take over. I wish Dad had left the company in my name, not shared it with them,” she adds.

I nodded. “It’ll be okay,” I say, wanting to believe it. I leaned to kiss her, needing the Claire I loved.

She pulls back, planting a quick kiss on my cheek. “Wash up, Liam. You still reek of champagne.” I scoffed as I watched her leave.

***

I barely slept as my mind was filled with different plans on how I can buy the company and make everything easier for Claire.

Monday morning, I shower, ready for work, but as I wanted to dress, I found out that my clothes were missing, and I thought Nathan or Lila’s playing tricks again.

I’m about to fume when Claire walks in, holding my work shirt and pants, neatly ironed. “I took them to the laundry when you were out two days ago,” she says, handing them over. “They came in yesterday, but you were sleeping.”

I smile, surprised. “Thanks,” I say, and she nods. “No breakfast for me today. I’m meeting buyers. Mother’s pushing me to sell.” Her voice sounds tired, and I frowned.

“You okay?” I asked.

She shrugs. “I’ll be fine. I just want a good buyer.” She leaves, and I’m left wondering why she cares for me one minute and pushes me away the next.

At work, I can’t focus, my $92 billion which had leaped to $93 billion secret buzzing in my head.

The Harringtons want to sell Claire’s company for $600 million, but she’s holding out for $900 million. I contact a lawyer through an encrypted app, using an alias—John Gray—to stay anonymous.

I offered $450 million as half payment for the company and the other half when the deal has been completed. I wired half the deposit from my Bitcoin wallet. The lawyer confirms the bid is in, and Claire will meet “John Gray” tomorrow.

I grin, imagining Nathan’s face when he learns someone he had looked down on for years will be his boss soon.

That evening, the Harringtons hosted a dinner, their relatives packed around the dining table.

I’m forced to serve again, my warehouse job meaning nothing to them. 

Claire sat at the head. “I got an offer for the company,” she says, “$900 million. I’m meeting the buyer tomorrow.” The table gasped, and I can’t hide my smile.

Nathan slams his glass down. “Who’s this buyer?” he snaps.

“His lawyer said he wants to keep a low profile.” Claire responded.

“Some nobody trying to steal our legacy?” Lila snickered. “Probably another loser like Liam.” My smile fades, but I stay quiet.

I couldn't get angry any more.

I only blessed myself with the picture of buying their whole empire and firing them all from the board.

So instead of lamenting, I grab a napkin, wiping the gravy as they all laughed. Claire’s eyes glared at me, but she said nothing.

Why does she let this happen every fucking time? I thought as I stormed to my room, locking the door.

Suddenly, my phone rings. It was an unknown number.

I answered. “Who’s this?” A low voice growled. “You think you can outbuy me, John? Withdraw your $900 million bid or you’ll regret it.”

Apart from the gimmicks of the Harringtons, this one sounded like an actual threat and for once I had forgotten that having greater wealth means getting head on with other wealthy men.

My blood runs cold almost immediately, but I'm calm because they don't know my name.

“Who are you?” I demand, but the line goes dead.

Then as I sat in silence, I remembered Mr. Edwards words, “One day you'll sit where I had been and you'll realize, living a simple life is worth more than riches.”