Reborn To Conquer

008

Nate stepped into the conference room, and just as expected, the entire room fell silent.

They had been talking, discussing, whispering, probably scheming…until he arrived.

Now, all eyes were on him.

He could feel their confusion, their unease.

They weren’t looking at the Nate Aldric they had once dismissed.

They were looking at someone else entirely.

And sitting at the far end of the table, looking as if he owned the place, was Lucas.

His cousin.

The same man he had put in that position.

The same man who had betrayed him.

Nate’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t let his smirk slip. No, he wouldn’t give them that satisfaction.

Lucas sat there, back straight, hands folded in front of him, trying to keep his expression neutral.

But Nate saw the hint of discomfort in his eyes.

Good.

This was the same man he had once trusted. The same man he had supported, defended, treated like a brother.

And yet, when Nate had walked into his own bedroom, Lucas had been there…with Serena.

The memory was burned into his mind.

Serena on top Lucas.

Lucas smirking at him.

They had watched him break. Laughed.

And in the end, they had stood together and watched him die.

Nate dragged his chair back, the sound cutting through the heavy silence, and sat down at the head of the table.

Where he belonged.

Ryan took his place beside him, clearing his throat. “We were discussing…”

“I don’t care what you were discussing,” Nate cut in, voice calm, almost lazy. “Let’s get straight to business.”

The board members exchanged wary glances.

One of them, a man in his sixties, cleared his throat. “Mr. Aldric, we were reviewing the market projections. There’s an opportunity for expansion, but it might cause disruptions for smaller businesses. In the past, we’ve always maintained a fair balance…”

“That’s the problem,” Nate said, leaning back. “For years, we’ve been playing fair. We’ve been making sure our competitors don’t suffer too much. And where has that gotten us?”

Silence.

“Seventh place,” Nate answered for them. “Seventh. For a company that should be first.”

The board members shifted uncomfortably.

Lucas leaned forward. “Nate, we have a reputation to uphold. If we go too aggressive, we could damage…”

“Damaging them benefits us.”

Lucas’s jaw tightened.

Nate smirked. “From now on, Aldric Innovations comes first. If other companies fall, let them. If they can’t keep up, that’s their problem.”

This wasn’t how Nate had run things before.

Before, he had cared too much. Considered everyone.

But caring had gotten him nothing.

Not this time.

One of the older members hesitated. “That’s… a bold move.”

“It’s the right move,” Nate said. His voice was steady, firm. “We take the market by force. We raise our stocks. We make sure Aldric Innovations is the only name that matters.”

Silence stretched.

Then, slowly, one by one, they agreed.

For the first time, no one challenged him.

For the first time, they didn’t hold him back.

And as Nate sat there, watching them nod in agreement, he realized something.

This time, he was in control.

…

As Nate stepped out of the conference room, the sound of murmured voices followed behind him.

“That was impressive.”

“Never seen him like this before.”

The men walking behind him exchanged glances, nodding in silent approval. For the first time, they had witnessed a different Nate…one who wasn’t holding back, who wasn’t soft or cautious. He had made decisions without hesitation, prioritizing Aldric Innovations above all else, and they respected that.

Lucas, walking just a few steps behind, smirked as he caught up. "Well, well, cousin," he drawled, his tone laced with amusement. "I almost didn’t recognize you when you walked in earlier. New look, new attitude. What happened? Finally decided to stop dressing like a professor?"

Nate slowed his steps, turning his head slightly. His expression remained unreadable. "Something like that," he said, his voice even. "Decided it was time for a change."

Lucas chuckled, looking him up and down. "I’ll say. You actually look like someone who owns billions now."

Nate smirked, adjusting his cufflinks. "Glad to know I have your approval."

Lucas gave a short laugh, shaking his head. "It’s just surprising. You never cared about this sort of thing before."

Nate let the silence stretch for a moment before speaking again. "How about an outing?"

Lucas raised a brow. "An outing?"

"Just the two of us," Nate said smoothly. "We should catch up properly."

Lucas considered it for a second, then shrugged. "Why not? I could use a break after that intense meeting."

Nate’s smirk widened slightly. "Good. Let’s go."

They left the building together, stepping into the sleek black car waiting for them. Harris, the driver, glanced at Nate through the rearview mirror, awaiting instructions.

Nate’s voice was calm. “Take us to the place I told you about.”

Harris gave a slight nod before pulling into the road.

Lucas leaned back, stretching an arm over the seat. “So, where exactly are we going?”

Nate turned his head slightly, his smirk barely there. “You’ll see.”

The drive wasn’t long, and soon, Harris pulled up in front of an unfamiliar location. Lucas frowned, looking around. It wasn’t a restaurant, bar, or anything luxurious. Instead, it was a quiet, open area, a place people walked through but didn’t linger in.

Lucas gave Nate a sideways glance. “This is where you wanted to bring me?”

Nate stepped out of the car, adjusting his sleeves. “Come on,” he said.

Lucas hesitated but followed. As they walked further in, people started to gather. There was something off about the atmosphere. It felt... staged.

Then it happened.

A figure rushed past Lucas, yanking his jacket from his shoulders.

“What the hell?” he barked, spinning around.

Another came, tugging at his shirt. Then another. Hands grabbed at him from every direction. He shoved one away, only for another to rip the buttons clean off his shirt.

A loud chorus of laughter erupted.

Lucas stumbled, his breathing sharp. “Nate? What the…?”

Nate was a few steps away, watching with mild amusement. He didn’t move to help.

Lucas swung around, his face twisting in confusion and anger. “Do something!”

More hands. More pulling. His pants were next. A sharp tear filled the air, and suddenly, he was standing butt naked, with his hands covering his front.

The laughter grew louder.

A man shoved a torn piece of cardboard into Lucas’s hands. “Cover yourself, rich boy.”

Lucas’s face burned with humiliation. He gritted his teeth, his fingers gripping the flimsy piece of cardboard as he held it over himself.

The crowd pointed, some taking out their phones.

“Look at him!”

“Didn’t he used to walk around like he owned the world?”

“This is too good!”

Lucas’s breathing turned ragged. His body tensed as the reality of what was happening sank in.

And then he heard it…Nate’s voice, cool and detached.

“Careful, Lucas,” Nate said, feigning concern. “You wouldn’t want to trip.”

Lucas snapped his head up, eyes wide.

Nate’s smirk was still there, barely noticeable, but his eyes held something darker.

Understanding hit Lucas like a punch to the gut.

This wasn’t random.

This was revenge.

Nate had figured that he was having an affair with his wife, Serena.