The Almighty Dominance

Alex's lips twisted into a mocking grin as the security guards closed in, circling like vultures eyeing fresh meat. "So that's it, huh? You've decided to settle this with fists instead of brains?"

Charles sneered, stepping forward with a smug confidence.

"You might be ex-military, Alex, but these men aren't rookies-they're elite-trained killers. You're outmatched. Hand over those shares quietly, or we'll beat them out of you until you're puking your guts up alongside your precious stake."

Alex chuckled coldly, eyes flashing with defiance. Maybe, just maybe, he would've reconsidered had they approached him respectfully.

But threats? They were begging for trouble.

"Cute speech, Charles. You really think scaring me is that easy? Careful, boy—your arrogance is showing."

Charles's face flushed red, fists clenched at his sides. "You worthless bastard! Who do you think you're talking to?"

"Charles, that's enough!" Mr. Dune barked, his voice booming like a gunshot.

"Alex owns those shares legitimately. Miss Jasmine gave them to him personally. If you want them back, use some dignity-not brute force!"

"Stay out of this, old man!" Charles spat venomously. "You're just hired help. This isn't your business." Mr. Dune's eyes widened, his breath hitching sharply, ready to unleash fury on the younger man, when Jessica sharply intervened, grabbing his arm.

"Dune, know your place," she hissed icily. "This is family business. Keep your nose out."

Turning her cold, disdainful gaze onto Alex, Jessica continued smoothly, "And you, Alex. A wise man recognizes when he's outmatched."

"You can't hold onto these shares without consequence. Hand them over quietly. Countless fools have met ruin not for what they've done, but simply for holding onto things that never belonged to them."

"With your past and bleak future, all you're doing is inviting disaster. Don't you think your life is worth more than that?"

"That sounds an awful lot like a threat, Mrs. Kingston," Alex retorted, unwavering.

He had long felt Jessica's disdain, sharpened especially when Jasmine publicly declared her love for him.

It seemed Jessica's grand plans of marrying Jasmine off to some rich aristocrat had crumbled—and Alex was the scapegoat.

Jessica's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Call it friendly advice. Know your limits, Alex. Without Jasmine's protection, you'd be nothing but street trash. Know your place!"

Her resentment ran deeper still, fueled by the humiliation Charles faced when Alfred disowned him.

Charles's fall, and all

back coldly, his voice

success. Jasmine gave me shares as payment-fair and square. I don't care about them one bit, but I won't

violently onto the table, rattling glasses and nerves alike as

you're pushing

contempt. "Oh, so I'm the villain now, huh? Fine, I'm done playing nice. Those shares stay with

glint in his eyes,

break this stubborn dog until he begs to give us exactly

ahead

twice before you cross a line you can't come back from," Mr.

harm Alex, Miss Jasmine and Mr. Alfred will never

stiffened visibly, the

beyond recognition. Another reckless decision could tear it

shifted uneasily to

by Alfred's hawk-eyed financial team, leaving Jessica helpless

brought up needing assistance to snatch the Kingston Pharmaceutical shares from Alex, Jessica felt this might finally be her chance to help

an outsider like Alex control shares that

never accept

who had been silently observing

Kingston, I underestimated how difficult retrieving these shares would be. Need me to handle this? I promise you, I'll have this punk begging

Alex's eyes narrowed dangerously.

hell are you?" His voice dripped with venom. This stranger had set off alarm bells from the moment he'd walked into the conference

mess Charles

father is one of the Chicago Lords. Maybe

sneered. "And how do you know

were notorious, and after Dupont's failed attempt to steal their Emerald

families. Chicago Lords rute far beyond Dupont's petty games. This time, I speak for all of Chicago. Your options are simple-take the ten million, surrender your shares quietly, or

"Here's a counteroffer: leave now or prepare yourself to be

twisted with disdain. “You

the Chicago Lords is like signing your death

don't pretend you speak for every Chicago family. Second, do you honestly think your gang rules beyond

harshly, eyes glinting

kid. It's been a long while since someone dared speak to me like that. But

at a high