The Rebirth Of A Titan

CHAPTER 5

I walked into my office the next morning feeling like a brand new man. The sun was hitting the glass windows and for once I did not feel like a prisoner in my own suit.

Back then, this was the day the sky started falling. This was the day Mr. Henderson walked in and took away my manufacturing contract.

Losing that deal was the first domino. It started a chain reaction that almost bankrupt me before Marcus and Sarah finished the job.

I sat behind my desk and waited. I did not have to wait long.

My door swung open and Henderson marched in like he owned the building. He was a big man with a red face and a fake smile that never reached his eyes.

Last time, I stood up and offered him coffee. I had practically begged him to stay.

This time, I stayed in my chair. I did not even look up from my tablet.

"Victor, we need to talk," Henderson said. He sat down without being asked and threw a folder on my desk.

"I am listening," I said. My voice was calm and cold.

I activated my Market Intuition. Suddenly, a blue light flickered in my vision.

The folders on my desk were not just paper anymore. I could see the truth behind his company.

A bright red box appeared over Henderson’s head. It read: Insolvency Warning. Total Debt: Fifteen Million.

I almost laughed out loud. In my past life, I thought he was a giant. Now I could see he was just a house of cards.

"The market is changing, Victor," Henderson started. He leaned back and crossed his arms over his belly.

"Material costs are up and my board is getting restless," he lied. I could see his heart rate spiking through the System display.

"I am going to have to pull the contract unless you can double the payment," he said. He looked at me like I was a little kid who did not know how to do math.

In my past life, I cried. I told him I would find the money even if it killed me.

I looked him dead in the eye this time. "Double the payment? That is a bold move for a man whose company is about to go under."

Henderson froze. The smug look on his face vanished instantly.

"What did you just say?" he stammered. He tried to laugh it off, but it sounded like a dying engine.

"I know about the secret loans, Henderson," I said. I leaned forward and rested my chin on my hands.

"I know your main supplier in Asia cut you off last week," I continued. "And I know you are three months behind on your warehouse rent."

He turned a shade of white that I had never seen on a living person. He looked like he was about to have a heart attack right there in my office.

"How do you know that?" he whispered. He looked around the room like I had hidden cameras everywhere.

"It does not matter how I know," I replied. "What matters is that if I tell the bank what I know, you are finished by noon."

I let the silence hang in the air. I wanted him to feel the walls closing in on him.

"You wouldn't do that," he said. But his voice was shaking so hard he could barely get the words out.

"Try me, you son of a bitch," I said. I felt a surge of power that was better than any drug.

"Here is what is going to happen," I said. I pulled a new contract out of my drawer.

"You are going to sign an exclusive five year deal with me," I told him. "And you are going to give me a thirty percent discount on everything."

Henderson gasped. "Thirty percent? That will destroy my margins! I can't do that!"

I picked up my desk phone and started dialing. I did not even look at him.

"Wait! Stop!" he yelled. He reached across the desk and slammed his hand on the phone.

He was sweating through his expensive shirt now. The smell of fear was thick in the room.

"Think about it, Henderson," I said. "Thirty percent less profit is better than being a homeless man in a suit."

He looked at the contract like it was a death warrant. He knew I had him by the throat.

He picked up the pen with a trembling hand. He looked at me with pure hatred, but he signed his name on every page.

"There," he hissed. He threw the pen down and stood up. "I hope you are happy, Victor."

"I am thrilled," I said. I stood up and straightened my jacket. "Now get out of my office before I change my mind."

He scrambled out of the room so fast he nearly tripped over the carpet. I watched the door slam behind him.

Suddenly, the System chime rang in my head. It was a loud, triumphant sound.

[Strategic Move Confirmed] the screen flashed. [Dominance Stat Increased: +10].

I felt a strange warmth spread through my chest. I felt taller, sharper, and more dangerous.

I was not just defending myself anymore. I was taking what belonged to me.

I looked at the signed contract. This single move had saved me millions and secured my supply chain for years.

In my first life, I was a victim. I let men like Henderson walk all over me because I wanted to be a "good guy."

But being a good guy got me a knife in the stomach. This new Victor was not interested in being good.

I was interested in being a King. I was interested in watching my enemies crawl.

I walked over to the window and looked out at the city. I could see the building where Sarah worked in the distance.

She was probably at her desk right now, thinking she was the one in control. She had no idea the wolf was already at the door.

The Market Intuition skill was still humming. It was showing me new opportunities everywhere I looked.

This was just one supplier. This was just one small victory.

But I could feel the momentum building. I could feel the power of the System growing with every move I made.

I sat back down and pulled up Marcus's personal bank files. In my past life, I never would have dreamed of hacking my own brother.

But now? Now I was going to enjoy every second of tearing his life apart.

I had the money. I had the stats. And most importantly, I had the will to do whatever it took.

The decline of the company stopped today. The rise of my empire started right now.