The Hidden Trillionaire Heir of Royal Elite Academy

A new Boss

Cross staggered backward, one hand clutching his burning cheek while the other pointed shakily at Arthur.

His eyes looked like they were about to pop out of their sockets.

"You..." Cross stammered. "You hit me. You actually hit ME!"

"Oh my God!" Priscilla caught her breath sharply beside him. Her clipboard slipped from her fingers and crashed loudly onto the warehouse floor. "You animal! What did you just do?"

"Something I should have done," Bruce responded, "a long time ago. There's a new law around here and that law is me."

"You're dead!" Cross roared, spittle flying from his mouth. "Do you hear me? DEAD! I'll get you arrested and make sure the bank buries you alive!"

He turned violently toward Priscilla. “Call the police right now!”

Priscilla scrambled for her phone, her fingers fumbling against the screen.

But Arthur didn't panic. Instead, he slid his hands into his pockets and glanced down at them through narrowed eyes, as if time were on his side.

"That's no way to talk to your new boss," he said coldly.

Both of them froze.

Cross lowered his hand from his face. His cheek was already red and swollen, but he didn't seem to notice the pain anymore.

"What... What was that you just said?" Cross asked cautiously.

Even Priscilla held her breath for a moment.

"New boss?" she muttered. "What do you mean by new boss?"

Arthur tilted his head just a bit. "I bought the bank," he said casually. "Which means the $35 million debt I owe is settled."

He paused, taking a step forward. "And more importantly," he smirked. "I now own both of you."

* * * *

For a moment, there was only silence. Then Cross threw his head back and laughed so hard he almost coughed.

"You?" Cross wheezed, pointing a trembling finger at Arthur. "You bought the bank? A delivery boy who can't even afford his mother's medication? Oh, don't make me laugh!"

Priscilla joined in. "He's lost his mind," she sneered, shaking her head. "He's completely lost it."

Cross stepped forward, his confidence returning. "You're biting off more than you can chew, boy. Do you honestly think you can walk in here and intimidate us?"

“You can’t even pay your own debt!” Priscilla snapped. “And now suddenly you own the bank?”

Arthur said nothing. He simply smiled at their ignorance.

This angered Cross so much that his face turned uglier. He thought Arthur was making fun of them.

“You’re going to regret this little stunt,” he growled. “When the police arrive, I’ll personally make sure you spend the rest of your miserable life paying off your debt until you're dead and buried."

"You'll wish you never raised your hand at manager Cross," Priscilla added, her voice gaining strength. "The bank will destroy you. Think about your sick mother. She will suffer a miserable death from heartbreak when she learns what you did."

Arthur waited until they had finished. Then he spoke.

"Before I came back here," he said quietly, "I stopped by the bank and called for an emergency board meeting."

Cross rolled his eyes. “Oh, this should be good.”

Arthur ignored him. "During the hours I was away," he continued, "I acquired the bank. Through a private acquisition, I purchased 67% of the controlling shares."

Arthur took out his phone and showed them the screen. The screen displayed a document filled with acquisition figures and digital signatures.

A brief pause, then Arthur added, "The total acquisition cost amounts to $120 million, paid in full. The transaction closed three hours ago."

Cross's face suddenly turned the color of old cheese. His lips moved, but no words came out. Priscilla was stunned after studying the documents. She couldn't believe her eyes.

"Where did you get that kind of money?" Priscilla finally whispered, her voice barely audible. "You're poor. You can't even pay your own debt. Who on earth gave you $120 million?"

Arthur put away his phone. "The Executive Chairman of the bank will be calling you shortly. Then you will believe me."

Right after the words left his mouth, Cross's phone started buzzing. Cross stared at the screen as if it were a venomous snake. His hand shook as he lifted it.

The moment he saw the caller ID, his expression changed. It was the Executive Chairman Office.

Cross swallowed hard. "Hello?"

"Manager Cross," the executive chairman said. "This is an official announcement. Arthur Moore is now the biggest shareholder in the bank. His outstanding debt is now cleared immediately. From now on, you report directly to him."

Cross's phone slipped from his ear. It fell to the floor with a crack.

Priscilla stared at him in raw shock. "Cross? Cross, what did they say? What's happening?"

Cross didn't answer. He couldn't. His mouth just stayed open as he gaped at Arthur in disbelief. The boy he had slapped. The boy he had insulted. The boy he had treated like an animal.

Now owns the entire bank.

"It's... it's true," Cross whispered. His voice sounded broken. "Arthur owns the bank now."

Priscilla's legs folded beneath her. She grabbed the edge of a crate to keep herself from collapsing.

The warehouse suddenly felt tight and small, just like a cage. Cross dropped to both his knees, groveling on the concrete floor like a dog.

"Arthur," Cross said, his voice cracking. "I sincerely apologize from the bottom of my heart. I was wrong about you. I was just doing my job. Please. I'll do anything to atone for my mistakes. Anything at all. Just don't fire me."

Arthur looked down at them. They looked like two broken puppets kneeling at his feet.

Priscilla joined Cross on her knees. "We're at your service," she repeated. "All you have to do is say the word and we'll obey."

Arthur didn't respond immediately. He turned away from them and walked slowly toward the center of the warehouse floor, his footsteps echoing in the vast, empty space.

He stretched out his arms and filled his lungs with fresh air. He felt different now. He had cleared his father's debt and finally reclaimed Moore and Son Logistics.

Arthur opened his eyes and glanced down at Cross and Priscilla, who were still kneeling on the cold concrete, waiting for their punishment.

"Stay there," Arthur said quietly. "I haven't decided what to do with you yet."

He made his way to Cross's office at the back of the warehouse and opened the door. He sat comfortably in the chair behind the desk. From now on, this desk belonged to him.

Arthur leaned back, set his boots on the mahogany surface, and laid his hands over his chest.

He gently shut his eyes, sighing in satisfaction. For the very first time after his father's death, Arthur actually smiled genuinely.