Return Of The Argent Heir

CHAPTER 4

The dining room fell into a stunned hush. Every fork stopped mid-air. Every whisper died in throats that had, seconds ago, been eager to mock.

Darius turned his head slowly, following the hand that rested on his shoulder up to the face of the woman who owned it.

She was striking in the effortless way that only came from never having tried very hard — sharp cheekbones, dark eyes lined with quiet amusement, and a posture that suggested she had never once in her life been told to sit up straight, because she simply already did.

"Excuse me?" the waiter stammered, still clutching Darius's declined card.

"You heard me." The woman didn't even glance at the waiter. Her eyes stayed fixed on Darius. She reached into her designer clutch, pulled out a sleek, titanium card, and tossed it onto the silver tray without looking. "Put their entire bill on my tab."

She tilted her chin slightly, directing a cool, dismissive glance toward the table where Mars and Kimberley sat. "Including theirs, if they'd like. Consider it a birthday gift from Mr. Darius. I happened to hear it is someone’s birthday today."

Someone? The words hit like a physical blow. Kimberley’s face, which had been flushed with malicious triumph, instantly drained of all color. She sat frozen, her lips parted in disbelief.

Mars’s jaw tightened. The humiliation of being patronized especially in front of his wealthy peers and by a woman who looked like she stepped off a high-fashion runway was too much for his fragile ego to bear. He pushed his chair back, the legs scraping harshly against the marble floor.

"And who the hell are you supposed to be?" Mars sneered, trying to inject his usual venom into his voice, though it lacked its usual weight.

The lady finally looked at him, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. "THE Natasha," she stated simply, as if the name alone should end the conversation.

Judging by the way three separate tables audibly gasped, it did.

"She's savage, I like her already!" One of the guys chuckled.

Kimberley, unable to bear the loss of control, abruptly stood up from her seat. Her eyes darted frantically between Darius and the mysterious woman.

A toxic mixture of jealousy and curiosity flared in her chest.

"Darius," Kimberley called, her voice high and strained. "Is she your new girlfriend? Is this the little game you're playing now? You go to hire some ladies just to spite me? You should be ashamed of yourself."

Before Darius could even open his mouth, Natasha cut in defensively.

Her voice remained entirely level which only made it more terrifying. "Hire? Why do you have to make everything about you, you are not that special, baby girl. How even is that information possibly relevant to you?"

Kimberley forced a tight, mocking smile, desperately trying to claw back her shattered dignity. This was supoosed to be a prideful birthday dinner, but she didn’t like where this was heading.

"Look, I don't know who you think you are, 'Natasha,' but you need to know there are ways things are done around here. You can't just walk into a place like this and—"

"Hold on, are you not the daughter of Mr. Erling Chapman?" Natasha interrupted, her eyes narrowing slightly as she looked Kimberley up and down, as if examining a particularly uninteresting speck of dust.

Kimberley’s gaze narrowed in return. "Yes, I am. What about it...?"

Natasha’s lips curved into a tiny, chilling smile. "When you get home," Natasha said, her voice dropping into something quiet and razor-edged, "ask your father exactly who pays his salary." She let the words hang there, unhurried, and the effect rippled outward.

Half the restaurant seemed to hold its breath at once, forks suspended midair, mouth opening wide with awe.

Then, just as smoothly as she had arrived, Natasha turned her attention back to Darius, her expression softening into something almost gentle. "Perdon my manners sir. Could we step outside for a moment?"

Darius gave a slow nod, curiosity knawing at him. He stood up, smoothing his jacket, and looked over at his roommate. " I'll be right back."

Charlie could only nod dumbly, his eyes still darting between the empty space where Natasha had just stood and the pale, trembling figure of Kimberley.

Darius followed the young lady out of the restaurant, into the cool night air. But what waited outside stole the breath from his lungs.

Parked directly in front of the main entrance were three identical, highly customized luxury armored sedans. Standing around the vehicles were six imposing men in tailored black suits.

The moment Darius and Natasha stepped outside, the men instantly stood at attention, their eyes scanning the perimeter.

Darius stopped in his tracks. He couldn't hold it in any longer. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice steady but demanding.

Natasha stopped, turning to face him. She offered a small, respectful nod and extended her hand. "I am Natasha. Your personal assistant, young Master, I believe the grandmaster must have informed you about me."

Darius’s face lit up in sudden realization. He extended his hand, shaking hers. "Right, Natasha... But how did you know I was here?"

"Well, I am responsible for your safety and well-being, sir," Natasha replied smoothly, her voice dropping to a professional, quiet tone. "It is my job to always know where you are."

Darius’s brief smile vanished. His expression returned to a neutral, guarded mask. The idea of being constantly monitored, even for his own safety, was a jarring adjustment for someone who had spent his entire life invisible.

Seeing his shift in mood, Natasha bowed her head slightly. "I must apologize, young master. I am incredibly sorry you had to endure that humiliation inside. I should explain: your primary black card is set on a highly secure network. Because of the sheer volume of assets being transferred, the activation sequence takes about twenty-four hours to authorize through the Swiss federal reserve. It will be fully active by tomorrow."

Darius let out a slow breath, nodding. "I see. I didn't realize that. And... Thank you. For stepping in when you did."

"It is my absolute duty, sir," Natasha said warmly.

She gestured toward the open door of the center sedan, which one of the suited guards had silently opened. "If you could come with me now, we have a secure location prepared. Your grandfather is anxious for you to begin reviewing the consortium's active files. He wants you involved in the primary decision-making processes as soon as possible."

Darius ran a hand through his hair, staring at the luxurious leather interior of the car. The temptation to step in and just drive away—to leave the petty drama of Greywick University behind and was immense. But then, the reality of his current situation crashed back over him.

"I’d love to, Natasha," Darius said, shaking his head regretfully. "But I can't. My disciplinary hearing is scheduled for tomorrow morning. If I'm found missing from the campus grounds tonight, or if I fail to show up, they’ll use it as grounds for immediate expulsion. I can’t afford that, I only have one more semester to graduate."

Natasha didn't hesitate. "Thqt shouldn't be a problem. I can have the hearing cancelled immediately, Sir... I just need your order. One phone call and there will be nothing like that by the time you wake up tomorrow morning."

Darius shook his head again, his jaw setting. "No. If we do that, everyone will start asking questions. I need to stay under the radar for as long as possible, just like my grandfather said. I want to handle this hearing on my own terms."

Natasha studied him for a quiet moment. "I understand. A wise decision, sir."

Her expression then turned serious. "We also received reports that your dorm room was ransacked earlier today by campus security and the Bentley family's personal guards."

"It was," Darius confirmed, his eyes darkening. "They tore the place apart. But I'll get it fixed."

"Is there anything at all you would like me to do regarding the university, or the Bentley kid, in the meantime?" She asked, her tone indicating that she could make the Bentley family's business vanish overnight if he gave the word.

"No, nothing," Darius said quietly. "After tomorrow's hearing... I will contact you. Let's see how they play their cards first."

"Very well, young master." Natasha bowed deeply. "I will await your call."

She stepped into the back of the car and within moments, the three-car convoy out of the parking lot.

Darius took a deep, centering breath, feeling the heavy weight of his new reality settling onto his shoulders before turning towards the restaurant entrance, only to find Charlie standing there, alongside a few lingering students who had crept out to watch the spectacle.

Charlie walked up to him, his eyes still wide, his hands shoved into his pockets. He stared down the empty street where the convoy had gone, then looked at Darius. "Who... who on earth was that, man? Where did you know her from?"

Darius didn't think twice. "Oh, her? She's one of the administrators from the orphanage I grew up in. She just came to inform me about the new development projects at the orphanage."

Charlie blinked, letting out a breathy, bewildered chuckle. "Man... she is an absolute badass. The way she shut down Kimberley and Mars..." He shook his head in awe. "Honestly, I already thought we were going to jail tonight."

Darius clapped Charlie on the shoulder. "We need to go, Charlie. Tomorrow is going to determine my fate at Greywick University and I gotta be ready.”