2025-03-30 19:46:20
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THE TRILLIONAIRE'S UNDERSTATED DOMINANCE RIDDLES
Roman stood in front of the jagged rock face, his heart pounding like a drum in his chest. The ring on his finger felt heavier than usual, as if it were alive, pulsing with some kind of ancient energy. He glanced at Kade, who was a few feet away, arms crossed, looking thoroughly unhappy.“Are you sure this is the right spot?” Kade asked, raising an eyebrow. “Because, no offense, but it just looks like… a rock.”Roman ignored him, pressing the ring against the rough surface. For a moment, nothing happened. Just silence. The kind of silence that makes you feel stupid for even trying. He frowned. Maybe Kade was right. Maybe this was just a wild goose chase.But then — something. A faint tremor beneath his feet, so subtle he almost thought he’d imagined it. Dust and tiny pebbles rained down from above, and Kade straightened up, his eyes narrowing.“Uh… Roman?” Kade said, his voice tinged with unease. “Did you feel that?”Before Roman could answer, a thin, glowing outline began to form on
THE TRILLIONAIRE'S UNDERSTATED DOMINANCE Another Jungle Cruise
They returned home. Roman sat hunched over the vial. He was using his fingers to trace the inscriptions on it. The light from the desk lamp made the symbols seem to dance on the glass surface.Kade flopped onto the couch and kicked his feet up on the armrest. “So, what’s the verdict? Is it another ‘drink this and turn into a superhero’ potion, or are we dealing with something more… explosive?”Roman didn’t look up. “Not sure yet. But these inscriptions… they’re different from the last one.”Kade groaned, running a hand through his already messy hair. “Of course they are. Because nothing in our lives can ever be simple.”Roman ignored him. He kept his focus entirely on the vial. He tilted it slightly, letting the light catch the surface, and that’s when he saw that the symbols shifted. Just a fraction, just enough to make him doubt his eyes at first. But then it happened again, the lines rearranging themselves into something new.“Whoa,” he muttered, leaning closer. “Kade, look at thi
THE TRILLIONAIRE'S UNDERSTATED DOMINANCE Off The Record
“You think they’re friendly?”Roman didn’t answer immediately. His eyes scanned the tree line, catching brief flickers of movement—figures slipping through the undergrowth, dark shapes blending with the green.“If they were friendly,” he finally said, voice low, “they’d have said hello by now.”Kade sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. “A hostile welcome committee.”The two of them kept moving, slow but steady, acting like they hadn’t noticed the shadowy figures. But their hands were close to their weapons, just in case. “Outsiders,” he said. “You do not belong here.”Roman’s grip tightened around the artifact in his pocket. He took a step forward, raising his hands in a non-threatening way. “We’re here for the temple’s secret. We have reason to believe we’re meant to be here.”The leader’s eyes went to the vial peeking from Roman’s fingers. Then he shook his head. “The temple does not welcome intruders. Turn back.”Roman met his eyes, unwavering. “I don’t think you understand. I ha
THE TRILLIONAIRE'S UNDERSTATED DOMINANCE The Monastery
The monastery was quiet. Too quiet. Roman had expected some sign of life. Maybe a few monks that were still keeping the place going. But instead, unnatural silence stretched over the ancient stones.Kade noticed it too. He frowned and adjusted his bag as they stepped over the worn stone threshold. “Creepy. But that’s to be expected since we started this search.”Roman didn’t respond. He was already scanning the interior. The place was massive, built from weathered gray stone, with towering pillars reaching up to the high, vaulted ceiling. Faded murals lined the walls — scenes of devotion, monks in deep meditation, figures bowing before what looked like the herb they were searching for. The herb that could supposedly heal wounds no medicine could. The herb that someone else had tried to keep hidden.Roman could feel the gut-deep instinct that told him they weren’t alone even though the place felt deserted. He didn’t acknowledge it outright. Instead, he murmured, “We should move quickl
THE TRILLIONAIRE'S UNDERSTATED DOMINANCE The Broker
Roman and Kade staggered into a rocky outcrop, hidden beneath the jagged peaks. Their breaths came out in ragged puffs, as the adrenaline from their escape ran in their veins. Dust and debris clung to their clothes, and Kade’s left sleeve was torn where he’d barely dodged a blade.The mercenaries had caught up with them while they were driving and had blocked them upfront. They had to ditch the car and run after getting the tires blown out. They followed a path that was too narrow for cars to drive on, and before the group could mobilise themselves for foot pursuit, they finally escaped. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Just the sound of their heavy breathing and the distant howl of the wind filled the silence. Then, Kade let out a sharp laugh — half exhilarated, half incredulous.“That,” he gasped, dragging a hand down his face, “was insane.”Roman sat on a boulder, exhaling slowly. He was still holding the herb they had risked their lives to retrieve, the small bundle of l
THE TRILLIONAIRE'S UNDERSTATED DOMINANCE Assistant Calls
Roman was halfway through his third cup of coffee when his phone rang. Roman glanced at the caller ID. It was an assistant from the company he'd just bought from Reginald.“Talk to me.”“We have a problem,” the assistant said, cutting straight to the point. “The permits for the expansion project are stalled again. And there’s been an attempted buyout of one of our prime properties.”Roman sat up. “And who is behind it?”“We don’t know yet. The offer came through a shell company. But it’s clear someone’s moving against you. Lesser companies are getting approvals without any issues.”His jaw tightened. This wasn’t random. It was calculated. And he had a good idea why.Kade watched him closely. “Trouble?”“Looks like someone’s trying to choke out my business while I’m distracted.” Roman exhaled, rubbing his forehead. “We’re heading back there. We’ll only be there a day or two.”By the next day, Roman was back in the very country where his new company was located. He had employed quite a
THE TRILLIONAIRE'S UNDERSTATED DOMINANCE Unknown Caller
They agreed to speak further face to face, so Roman drove home. Kade didn’t bother knocking. The door slammed open, and he strode in. Without a word, Kade tossed a thick folder onto the table. A few pages spilled out, but Roman took his time picking them up, flipping through with lazy precision.The names Damien Vaughn and Victor Moreau were stamped all over the reports — contracts, cancelled permits, under-the-table deals that led straight back to them.Kade crossed his arms, waiting. His patience didn’t last long.“This is why your real estate deals keep hitting walls,” he said, voice tight. “They’ve been pulling strings, bribing people, blocking permits. Every damn move you make? They’re already ten steps ahead, making sure you fail.”Apparently, Damien had found a way to spite Roman. He seemed to have a new sponsor, and the timing was awfully suspicious.Roman smirked, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. “Let them think I don’t see it coming.”Kade’s frown deepened. “Wait. You’re
THE TRILLIONAIRE'S UNDERSTATED DOMINANCE Shell Companies
Annabel noticed the shift in Roman that night. She tried to ignore it, but acting uninterested was not something she could do. She would talk about it today, even if she was sure that Roman would shut her out. “What’s going on, Roman?” she demanded. “You’re shutting me out.”He hesitated, then made a decision. He told her everything —the sabotage, the herb hunters, the warning call.Annabel was not impressed. “You’re fighting on two fronts, and you didn’t think I should know?”Roman sighed. “I didn’t want you to worry.”They spoke for a while and discussed strategies. The next few days, Roman played his role flawlessly. He let himself appear frustrated by the sudden legal and financial setbacks. He started making reckless decisions like intentionally selling shares, pulling investments, and acting erratic in public.Word spread fast. The empire Roman had built looked like it was cracking under pressure. Damien believed Roman was losing control.Kade would always say, “You better know
Latest Chapter
Deliberations
Roman leaned back against the couch. Just then, his phone rang. He stared at it on the table for a second, unsure if he wanted to pick it up.It rang again. He moved to pick it, half expecting some hollow message from a board member, or another headline pinged by his news app.But it was Freya.“Just checking in. I hope you are alright?” she said. “No.” Roman did not know when he responded, and why he just did that. She responded instantly. “Want to talk?”Roman stared at the screen for a long second. Then typed back: “I don’t think I can talk. But I also don’t want to be alone.”He barely had time to keep the phone down before it pinged again.“I’m coming over to your place. Don’t argue. I’m bringing ice cream. Just give me the directions.”And so, Roman gave Freya his location and she was on her way to him that night. When she knocked on his door twenty minutes later, Roman stood up slowly and went to open the door. She stood there, smiling warmly, wearing jeans, a sweatshirt, an
Board Suggestion
Roman straightened the cuffs of his blazer as he stepped into the courtroom. Today was different. It was going to be more intense than the last hearing. The press bench was half full, and a few unfamiliar legal faces lined the gallery. They were likely just observers from other firms who smelled blood in the water. Everyone wanted a seat for the show.Kade walked beside Roman silently, while scanning the room. Martin was already seated at their table. There were stacks of binders and a neat yellow legal pad in front of him. He gave Roman a curt nod as he sat.Across the aisle, Ezra Winfield leaned slightly toward Pope and was speaking in low tones. Pope reclined with an expression that looked close to boredom. Prance sat beside him.The room was very tense. At exactly ten o’clock, the bailiff stood. “All rise.”Judge Hauser entered briskly. She adjusted her glasses, surveyed the room once, then sat.“You may be seated.” She said. Everyone settled. She continued immediately. “This
Shifting
Roman reached his office and closed the door quietly behind him. He saw that there was already a coffee cup waiting on his desk.He stared at it for a minute before letting out a small breath through his nose. He could tell that it wasn’t from his assistant. It was a different kind of cup, the kind that came from the cafe just down the block.Freya had been there. It must have come from her. She was the only one he knew who liked that place a bit too much.He picked it up. The cup was still quite warm, meaning that she had been there not long ago. A note was even tucked under the cup.“Didn’t want to interrupt. Thought you might need this.”Roman sat down and stared at the cup for another beat before finally sipping. Too sweet again. She still didn’t know how he took it.But he drank it anyway. It wasn't her fault he didn't like too sweet coffee. It only made him remember Annabel. She knew how to make his coffee perfectly. Roman took his focus to the work at hand, and by late afterno
Stubborn Gf
The days blurred together after his encounter with Freya.Roman moved through them the way a man wades through deep water. Work didn’t pause for grief, or exhaustion, or the quiet unraveling of everything he had built.The lawsuit was bleeding him dry. And if he wasn't as wealthy as he was, he would have been bankrupt. Investors were calling in daily to withdraw their stocks. His board members held emergency meetings he wasn’t always invited to.The press did not help much either, with their news. Roman responded the only way he knew how, which was to bury himself deeper into the grind.But even that did not feel like armor anymore. It felt like weight. Overworking. And the worst part wasn’t the pressure, or the losses stacking up in inevitable columns.It was the silence, the empty apartment he came home to, the unanswered messages, and the way Annabel’s name sat in his phone like a ghost he didn’t know how to speak to anymore.And as if it was some wrong timed thing, Freya started
Mislead Her
In no time, two weeks ran by and it was time for the second court hearing. The second hearing moved faster than the first.Roman sat at the defendant’s table again. His hands were loosely clasped together. Martin sat beside him, flipping calmly through the day’s submissions, but even he couldn’t hide the sharpness in his movements.The Valeys sat across the aisle, looking confident. Pope, Dexter, and Prance; they were all dressed in shades of gray and black. Ezra Winfield sat nearest to the bench, perfectly composed, with a faint smirk at the corner of his mouth.The courtroom beamed with a restrained energy. Today mattered.The bailiff called them to order, and Judge Hauser took her seat with the same clipped efficiency as before."This is the matter of Valey Group Incorporated versus Roman Averne, continued for preliminary evidentiary review," the clerk announced.Judge Hauser peered over the rim of her glasses. "I understand both sides have submitted documentation since our last he
Another Coincidence
The morning light was very bright. Annabel blinked against it, realizing only as she sat up that she hadn’t made it to her bed the previous night. She was still curled on the living room couch, with a thin throw blanket tangled around her legs. Her sweatshirt was rumpled from hours of restless half-sleep.Her mouth was dry. Her head ached from the tension that had knotted her entire body and refused to let go.Her phone buzzed once on the table, and it made her stomach tighten immediately. She picked it up without thinking. It was Roman.The message was clipped. “I’m sorry. Call me when you’re ready.”She stared at it for a long time. She could almost hear his voice, the way it had sounded when he tried to explain, right before everything had broken.Annabel kept the phone back down without replying. She pushed herself up and made her way toward the kitchen. She found a little solace in the normal rhythm of her morning routine, which was coffee, breakfast, emails and other mundane st
Not From Him
Annabel was busy scrolling through the internet when she saw it.She was sitting at the kitchen counter at home, with her laptop open while a half a bagel was growing cold on her plate. Her coffee was already lukewarm. It was a quiet morning and she had called in sick at work, just to be able to spend the whole day at home. So, that morning, it was just her, and the comfort of an unhurried breakfast.She was scrolling mindlessly and clicking through headlines on a news app out of boredom more than interest. There were politics, a celebrity divorce, and even a new city ordinance on traffic lights. Then—“Roman Averne Faces Lawsuit Over Breach of Contract”She blinked.Her finger hovered for a second before tapping the article. And when she did, the headline expanded and a photo loaded. Roman was walking out of a courthouse with Martin beside him. There was no expression on his face.The article was short. "Valey Group Incorporated filed a civil lawsuit against Mr Roman Averne citing
Preliminary
The conference room on the forty-second floor of the Valey tower was cold. There were no windows and no distractions. Pope sat perfectly still at the head of the table with his hands folded beneath his chin as he read through the printed schedule for tomorrow’s court hearing. Even though it was night already, his suit remained neatly pressed and unwrinkled, as if it had been made exactly for this moment. Dexter leaned back in his chair across him, while chewing on a toothpick and spinning a silver pen between his fingers. Prance sat beside him, scrolling on a tablet, and occasionally tapping out notes.At the far end of the table, Ezra Winfield was flipping through a tabbed binder, page by page. He was skimming but not rushing. Every tab was color-coded. Every section was marked. And his glasses rested low on his nose.“So,” Ezra said without looking up, “we’re first on the docket. Judge Hauser. 9:00 a.m sharp.”“Hauser’s a stickler,” Pope said. “I assume you’ve played this clean?”
Mediate
The house smelled like cinnamon tea and lavender polish. Freya had lit one of the scented candles again. Janice noticed it the moment she stepped into the kitchen. It was late afternoon. Marren was upstairs in Janice's guest room napping or reading something. Donald hadn’t shown up all day, and that was good as well. Janice preferred calm when she was collecting results.Freya sat at the counter, scrolling on her phone. She looked up when Janice walked in.Janice poured herself a cup of tea without asking. “So?”Freya blinked. “So what?”Janice glanced at her over the rim of the cup and blew softly on the steam. “Don’t be coy, Freya. You said you’d be near the cafe around noon. I assume you found him.”Freya shifted slightly on the stool, trying to look nonchalant. “I saw him briefly.”Janice sat across her in a perfect pose. “Briefly?”Freya nodded. “He was just sitting there alone. I said hi and we talked for a few minutes. That’s all.”Janice didn’t say anything for a few seconds.
