The Beggar’s Throne

Chapter Six

Amanda nodded, biting her lip. “I don’t know everything yet. But maybe we’ve been blind. Maybe Jake’s hiding something huge.”

The room went silent. Diane looked at Ethan. “If that’s true, then we need to rethink everything.”

Ethan ran a hand through his hair. “We can’t afford to underestimate him again.”

Amanda’s heart beated faster. The man they’d pushed around might be about to turn the tables. “We need to find out exactly what Jake is up to,” she said. “Before it’s too late.”

Diane’s eyes narrowed. “So what, we keep pretending he’s less than us?”

“No,” Amanda said coldly. “We watch. We wait. And when the time is right, we hit.”

Ethan nodded slowly. “No more underestimating Jake, but we'll treat him like he's still sh!t, he shouldn't have a clue or think we scared, but this might be an illusion”

Amanda’s lips curved into a small, dangerous smile. “Exactly. anything that happens… we’re ready.”

The following morning, Diane sat at the head of the breakfast table, stirring her coffee, with her eyes fixed on nothing.

Jake walked in, clean but dressed in the same plain clothes. He gave a slight nod. “Good morning.”

Amanda barely looked up. Ethan was scrolling through his phone. The room was cold as ever.

Then Diane cleared her throat.

“Jake,” she said evenly. “Sit.”

Jake raised a brow but obeyed. He sat, unsure what was coming.

“I’ve been thinking,” Diane began. “You’ve been staying in this house, eating our food, living under our roof. It’s about time you earned your keep.”

Jake blinked.

“You’ll be joining Carter & Associates officially. You’ll take on a junior project manager role. Mid-level. Nothing too demanding.”

Amanda lifted her eyes, playing along. Ethan looked confused, but didn’t interrupt.

Jake straightened a little. “Seriously? I’ll be working at the firm?”

Diane nodded. “Yes. Don’t think this is some reward or acknowledgment of anything you’ve done. It’s just fair. We need more hands on the next project. It’s purely professional.”

Amanda added coolly, “Exactly. We’re not doing you a favor, Jake. Don’t misread this.”

Jake didn’t care. Inside, a flicker of pride burned. It wasn’t top-level—but it was something.

“Thank you,” he said, trying not to grin. “I’ll do my best.”

Diane waved a hand. “Just show up and don’t mess it up. That’s all.”

He stood and walked out with a spring in his step.

As the door closed, Ethan whispered, “So now what? We just let him walk into the firm?”

Diane’s smile was thin. “No. We watch him. Up close.”

Amanda added, “Let’s see what the pawn does when he thinks he’s becoming a knight.

Two days later, all hell broke loose at the Carter Group.

The boardroom was a mess. With different staff yelling, papers all over the place. Phones rang non-stop.

Diane stood at the head of the table, fuming in frustration.

“Someone inside leaked our pitch documents!” she barked. “Falcon Corp now has our entire strategy. If they present it before us, we lose everything!”

The board members muttered in panic.

Amanda stood to speak. “We can adjust our proposal and rework the angle befor……”

“It’s too late,” a senior board member cut in. “They present in forty-eight hours. The damage is done.”

Diane slammed her hand on the table. “If we lose this deal, how the hell are we going to pay the Vivian Syndicate?”

Everyone went quiet.

At that moment, Jake walked in. Quietly. Calmly. Holding a folder.

He had heard enough.

He didn’t speak right away. He simply walked over, placed the folder on Diane’s desk, and said, “I think I might be able to fix this.”

Diane narrowed her eyes. “What are you talking about?”

Jake shrugged. “Just give me a few hours.”

Amanda stared at him. “Jake… what are you planning?”

But Jake had already turned and walked out.

Three hours later, Falcon Corp suddenly pulled out of the deal with no statement or explanation. Just silence.

The board members were stunned.

Amanda checked her phone again. “They actually backed off?”

Diane stared at her assistant. “Confirm this again.”

“It’s true,” the assistant replied. “Falcon Corp canceled their presentation and withdrew all interest.”

Amanda looked toward the entrance—Jake stood by the door, hands in his pockets.

Diane couldn’t avoid it this time.

In front of everyone, she cleared her throat.

“Jake… Thank you. For whatever you did.”

Jake nodded slightly. “Just wanted to help.”

Amanda looked at her mother, then at Jake again. Something wasn’t adding up.

Then he added, casually, “By the way……. We nearly lost a huge contract because someone leaked internal documents. That can’t happen again.”

Diane frowned. “And your point?”

“I want to be in charge of managing the company’s documents,” Jake said. “No one looks at anything without it going through me first. I’ll protect the files.”

Amanda blinked. “That’s a pretty big ask, Jake.”

Jake shrugged. “So is losing millions of dollars.”

Diane stared at him, thinking.

She didn’t trust him, but she also couldn’t afford another disaster.

Finally, she nodded. “Fine. You’ll work with the document management team. But don’t overstep.” 

Jake stood, gave a small nod, and walked out.

“Bit by bit, I will get them,” he said.

Diane, phone buzzed on the glass table in the center of her bedroom.

She picked it up without looking. “Speak.”

“It’s done,” it was Holt's voice. “Vivian made a move.”

Diane leaned back in her chair. “What kind of move?”

“She’s named an heir. Someone to take over the Kane Syndicate.”

Diane froze.

“Who?” she asked slowly.

“That’s the problem,” Holt said. “She hasn’t said. No name. No face. Just... an announcement.”