THE HIDDEN HEIR'S VENGEANCE

CHAPTER 17 : A Test of Loyalty

Three days later,

Inside an unnamed skyscraper in Shanghai, a middle-aged man with burn scars along his neck stood before a massive wall of monitors. News footage of the collapse of Davies Venture Capital played on an endless loop.

“Interesting,” the man murmured in Mandarin. “A very clean strike. Too clean for the chaos of the American market.”

An assistant entered the office, bowed respectfully, and said, “Mr. Chen, the intelligence report you requested. Matthew Thomas of Lane Corp.”

Vincent Chen, one of the most powerful conglomerates in the Asia Pacific region, took the file and skimmed through it. A thin smile curved his lips, a smile that promised neither kindness nor mercy, only challenge.

“He wiped out a minor pawn like Davies in a single move,” Vincent Chen said, impressed. “Let us see whether he can survive on the chessboard of kings,” he added, closing the file.

“Prepare the contract for the New Port Project, but set the deadline beyond what any normal human could meet. I want to see whether this so-called genius truly has talent or if he is simply riding on luck.”

Meanwhile, in New York, Matthew Thomas sat in his new office on the top floor of Lane Corp, a room that had once belonged to Mark Davies.

As he took in the atmosphere of the space, Matthew suddenly felt a strange vibration from the ARC system. It was not a danger alert, but anticipation.

He quickly opened the notification on his tablet. A digital invitation had arrived in his private email. The sender was Vincent Chen. The subject line read: A One Billion Dollar Opportunity.

Matthew smiled faintly. Mark Davies was history. Now, the real giant was beginning to stir.

“Welcome to the big leagues,” Matthew murmured to himself. “I hope you brought enough money.”

***

The next day,

The forty-fifth floor of One Vanderbilt offered a breathtaking view of New York, as if the world below were nothing more than a toy beneath the feet of gods.

Inside a private conference room with bulletproof glass walls, the atmosphere was so cold it seemed to freeze the bones, a stark contrast to the warm afternoon sunlight outside.

At the head of the long black marble table sat Vincent Chen. The Asia Pacific infrastructure tycoon did not smile. He slowly rotated a crystal glass filled with rare fifty-year-old whiskey, studying Matthew Thomas and Viviane Lane as if they were two fascinating insects.

Behind Chen stood two assistants, rigid as statues, ready to record every breath their boss took.

“You destroyed Davies with elegance, Mr. Thomas,” Chen said, his voice deep, his accent subtle but sharp. “I appreciate efficient cruelty. In my world, it is a currency more valuable than the dollar.”

Matthew sat with a relaxed posture, but his eyes were alert. Across his retinas, Vincent Chen’s risk profile flickered in yellow, a moderate danger warning.

“I accept the compliment, Mr. Chen,” Matthew replied calmly, “but we are not here to discuss the past. We are here to discuss the future of the New York port.”

Viviane, seated beside Matthew, struggled to hide her tension. This was the largest business meeting in Lane Corp’s history. The project was worth 2.5 billion dollars. If they secured it, Lane Corp would not merely recover; it would become a giant.

Chen set his glass down on the table. The sharp clink of crystal against marble sounded like a gunshot in the silent room.

“I have a contract here,” Chen said, gesturing. One assistant placed a thick document in front of Matthew. “The New Port Project. Automated docks, smart warehouses, and AI integration. The value is fantastic, but I have one condition that may be somewhat unreasonable for a local company like yours.”

Matthew opened the document, his eyes scanning page after page at inhuman speed with the help of ARC’s visual enhancement. “Just state the condition,” he said, continuing to read.

“Time,” Chen replied curtly. “I require full groundbreaking and material mobilization within forty-eight hours. Not planning, Mr. Thomas, but physical presence. Steel, concrete, heavy equipment, labor. Everything must be on-site in two days.”

Viviane gasped. “That is impossible, Mr. Chen. City permits alone take three weeks. Specialized steel procurement requires two months of shipping from China or Germany. There is not a contractor in the world who can mobilize a multibillion-dollar project in forty-eight hours,” Viviane protested sharply.

Chen shrugged, his face expressionless. “If that is the case, then Lane Corp is not worthy of being my partner. I heard your husband is a genius, Mrs. Lane. I would like to see whether his genius can bend logistical reality, or if it is merely a stock market trick,” Chen said casually.

He leaned forward, his gaze locking onto Matthew. “If you fail to meet the deadline after signing this, there is a penalty clause. Lane Corp will pay a late f*e of thirty percent of the contract value. Cash. It will bankrupt your company instantly.”

The room became suffocatingly silent, as if all the oxygen had been sucked away. Chen’s offer was not a partnership. It was a death trap. He was testing whether Matthew was truly a dragon, or just a common snake.

Viviane turned quickly to her husband, subtly shaking her head. “Matthew, don’t. The risk is too high. Global logistics are gridlocked. We can’t…”

“Pen,” Matthew cut in calmly.

“What?” Viviane stared at him in disbelief.

Matthew extended his hand toward Chen’s assistant. “Give me a pen.”

Chen raised an eyebrow, surprised, then nodded. Matthew took the gold pen and, without the slightest hesitation, signed his name on the final page.

“You’re insane, Matt,” Viviane whispered, her face drained of color. “We just committed suicide.”

“No,” Matthew replied as he closed the document and looked at Chen. “We accept the challenge. But Mr. Chen, if I manage to mobilize everything within twenty-four hours instead of forty-eight, I want an additional five percent ownership stake in the port.”

Chen laughed, a short, dry sound. “You are greedy, young man. I like that. Very well. Agreed. Show me your magic.”