System: From Trash Son-in-Law to Billionaire

Chapter 4

The Manhattan morning sun had just begun to emerge from behind the towering skyscrapers when Seraphina Monroe stepped into the headquarters of Monroe Consulting Enterprises. The sound of her Christian Louboutin high heels echoed firmly across the granite floor of the main lobby.

The irritation caused by Daniel's shameless visit the previous night still lingered slightly in her mind. However, today was far too important to be ruined by a poor ex-husband. This morning, she was scheduled to sign a massive logistics partnership contract with Ashford Global—one of the largest multinational conglomerates on the East Coast. This contract was the golden ticket that would propel Monroe Consulting into the ranks of Wall Street's elite companies.

"Good morning, Ms. Seraphina," greeted her personal secretary, Mia, who immediately hurried to her side while carrying a tablet. "The representatives from Ashford Global have just confirmed that Miss Cheryl Cole Ashford herself will be leading the contract-signing meeting at ten o'clock this morning."

Upon hearing that name, a victorious smile appeared on Seraphina's beautiful face.

"Good. Make sure the main conference room is completely prepared and all the documents are ready. By the way, has Young Master Evan Vanguard arrived yet?"

"Young Master Evan is already waiting in your office, ma'am."

Seraphina nodded in satisfaction. Thanks to the connections and guarantees provided by Evan's Vanguard Clan, Ashford Global was willing to consider a mid-sized company like hers. This proved that her decision to get rid of Daniel and rely on Evan had been the most logical and brilliant choice of her life.

The moment she pushed open the door to her office, Seraphina was greeted by Evan, who was sitting comfortably while sipping coffee. The man looked impeccable in a three-piece Armani suit, radiating the aura of an upper-class successful businessman.

"Sera, darling." Evan stood up and lightly kissed Seraphina on the cheek. "So? Has that piece of trash Daniel caused you any trouble again after last night? Keith sent me a message about his ridiculous bluff."

Seraphina snorted in amusement as she placed her Hermes bag on her desk.

"He tried to forge documents claiming ownership of the land beneath the Monroe mansion, Evan. Absolutely ridiculous. He actually thinks he can scare me with such a cheap circus act."

Evan burst into laughter and slicked back his neatly styled hair.

"Hahaha! Poor men tend to lose their sanity once they're frustrated. Don't worry. After the Ashford Global contract is finalized this morning, I'll have a few people teach that bastard a lesson so he learns his place and gets out of New York."

"Thank you, Evan. I'm lucky to have you," Seraphina said softly, feeling as though her future was now standing at the very top of the world.

At exactly 9:50 a.m., a convoy of luxurious black Rolls-Royces stopped in front of Monroe Consulting's lobby. The car door opened, and a woman with an aura of absolute elegance stepped out.

Cheryl Cole Ashford.

The sole heiress of Ashford Global, a woman known as the "Business Goddess of New York." Dressed in an elegant black business outfit with her blonde hair neatly tied up, every step she took radiated an authority capable of making male executives lower their heads.

Seraphina and Evan were already standing in the lobby alongside the board of directors, welcoming the arrival of the business goddess with the friendliest smiles they could muster.

"Good morning, Miss Cheryl. It is a tremendous honor for Monroe Consulting to welcome you personally," Seraphina said respectfully as she extended her hand.

Cheryl Ashford merely shook Seraphina's hand briefly. Her face remained expressionless, characteristic of a cold-blooded negotiator.

"Good morning, CEO Monroe. Let's proceed directly to the conference room. My time is limited."

The group then moved toward the main conference room on the highest floor. The atmosphere inside was extremely formal. A thick contract worth one hundred and fifty million dollars had already been placed at the center of the long marble table.

Seraphina presented their cooperation proposal flawlessly, while Evan occasionally added assurances of liquidity support from Vanguard Group to strengthen the Monroe Clan's position. Yet throughout the presentation, Cheryl Ashford never once touched the pen in front of her. She merely glanced occasionally at the diamond-studded Cartier watch on her wrist, as though waiting for something.

At exactly 10:15 a.m., Cheryl's personal phone vibrated softly on the table.

A text message had arrived.

Cheryl read it, and for the first time, a flash of deep respect appeared in her beautiful eyes.

She placed her phone down and looked at Seraphina and Evan in turn. Her gaze suddenly became cold and piercing.

"A very good presentation, CEO Monroe," Cheryl said. Her voice was clear, yet it caused the temperature in the room to seem to drop sharply. "However, I have just received direct instructions from Ashford Global's new highest controlling shareholder."

Seraphina frowned, sensing that something was wrong.

"What do you mean, Miss Cheryl? Isn't the Ashford family the absolute owner of the corporation?"

"Twenty minutes ago, someone purchased forty percent of Ashford Global's outstanding shares on the international stock market in cash, making him the highest and absolute voting shareholder on our board of directors," Cheryl explained flatly.

Evan Vanguard immediately interrupted in an arrogant tone, attempting to demonstrate his influence.

"Miss Cheryl, whoever this new shareholder may be, our Vanguard Group is prepared to inject additional funds if capital is an issue. The partnership between the Monroe Clan and Ashford Global has already been guaranteed by my family's reputation."

Cheryl Cole Ashford looked at Evan as though he were nothing more than a noisy insect.

Slowly, Cheryl rose from her seat and folded her arms across her chest.

"Young Master Evan, the order from our new highest shareholder is actually very specific," Cheryl said, a mocking smile now appearing on her red lips. "He has instructed Ashford Global to unilaterally cancel all cooperation plans with Monroe Consulting Enterprises effective immediately."

THUD!

The words struck Seraphina's heart like lightning from a clear sky.

Her beautiful face instantly turned pale.

"W-What?! Cancelled unilaterally? But Miss Cheryl, the documents are already prepared for signing! Why?! What mistake has our company made?!"

"Your company has done nothing wrong, CEO Monroe," Cheryl replied as she organized her documents into her bag. "But you personally have offended someone you should never have touched in this world."

Evan Vanguard also stood up, his face red with anger as he felt the dignity of the Vanguard Clan being trampled upon.

"Miss Cheryl! This is outrageous! Who is this new shareholder who dares to act so arbitrarily?! Tell us his name! Our Vanguard Group will not sit idly by!"

Cheryl Ashford slowly walked toward the conference room door.

Before stepping out, she turned around and looked at Seraphina, who was trembling from overwhelming shock and frustration.

"He is not hiding his identity from you," Cheryl said in a voice filled with weight and emphasis. "The new highest shareholder of our company, the man who now holds your business fate in his hands starting today... his name is Daniel Leonard."

BOOOOM!

That name echoed through the conference room like a time bomb exploding, shattering every wall of arrogance Seraphina had built since the previous night.

Seraphina Monroe froze in place.

Her eyes widened.

Her breathing stopped.

Her mind went numb.

Daniel Leonard? Her poor ex-husband? The cafe waiter she had thrown divorce papers at last night?

"N-No... Impossible... This must be a mistake! Daniel is nothing but poor trash!" Evan Vanguard screamed hysterically, unable to accept the reality that the man he had trampled the night before was now standing far above him.

However, Cheryl Ashford no longer paid any attention to the foolish outburst.

She walked away with her bodyguards, leaving behind a terrifying silence.

Seraphina slowly sank back into her chair, her body limp and boneless.

Daniel's cold words from the previous night suddenly echoed clearly in her ears:

"From this moment onward, I will personally show you... what it feels like to be destroyed by money."

She had thought it was merely the bluff of a heartbroken loser.

But now, in less than twelve hours, Daniel had truly proven his words.

The Dragon's financial revenge had only just begun, and Monroe Consulting now stood on the brink of total destruction.