Tuesday arrived. The clouds hung low in the sky, but sunlight still filtered through. The cold wind of late autumn blew around, rustling the bare branches from their leaves.

At the towering Alvord Corporation headquarters, Chairman Alvord adjusted the platinum cufflinks at his wrists. Then, he strode down the hall with measured steps.

His black suit was perfectly tailored and his expression calm, but tension simmered beneath the surface. The gray of his temples matched the color of his tie.

"Father."

Chairman Alvord glanced behind his shoulder, looking at Vincent, who had just appeared. He simply nodded at his younger son, gesturing at him to follow.

Vincent nodded slightly, his jaw tight and eyes darting now and then. He quietly followed his father. They had an important meeting today.

Neither man had eaten that morning, only consuming a few cups of black coffee. Both were anxious because too much was at stake.

The father and son headed to the basement parking lot. No one spoke as they rode the private elevator.

"Mr. Chairman, Mr. Vincent."

George Armand, the trusted shareholder and ally to Chairman Alvord, greeted him at the car. Though usually composed, even his fingers twitched slightly with restless anticipation.

"Get inside," Chairman Alvord said curtly. The two men quickly obeyed him.

The chauffeur drove the three men to Edenia Avenue. They were on their way to a fine dining restaurant there, one so exclusive it catered only to the highest echelon of society.

And today, Chairman Alvord would meet the young and cunning CEO Faulkner, as well as Mr. R, the elusive billionaire who held the power over Edenia Avenue.

The man who never showed his face.

The man whom they had been courting from the shadows for months.

An oppressive silence filled the luxury sedan until Chairman Alvord spoke. They were just leaving Alvord Corporation behind.

"Don't screw up. I'm certain CEO Faulkner will bring his investment arm to our table... and if we can secure Mr. R, we'll get the same prestige that falls under Edenia Avenue."

Vincent nodded, though a small bead of sweat rolled down the side of his temple. He asked quietly, "Do you think he'll agree?"

Chairman Alvord glanced at Vincent, dissatisfaction flickered in his eyes, "They're business-minded. They'll go where the numbers are."

Vincent simply hummed, saying nothing anymore.

Please read this chapter on its original platform—*.

From the first time Vincent heard that they had finally secured a private meeting with not only Nathaniel Faulkner but also the mysterious Mr. R, uneasiness clung to his heart.

He couldn't help but think something was wrong. When he voiced his concern, his father scolded him back.

"I've been in this field for decades. They obviously have tricks up their sleeves, but should this mean we have to give up? No. We'll face them."

Seeing how stubborn his father was, he no longer persuaded him to backtrack. After all, he was aware that his father was on his last lifeline.

The board would kick him out by this week if he still failed to bring in any new major investors.

In fifteen minutes, they arrived at Edenia Avenue. They entered the luxury mall through VVIP access and headed directly for the restaurant on the top floor.

Security guards greeted them discreetly before leading them through a private elevator. Every corner of the place spelled wealth, but what unsettled them most was that this space was someone else's kingdom, not theirs.

Once they reached the fine dining restaurant, the attendant led them to a private dining room. Only a few tables were occupied by patrons in the main dining area.

A man in a dark green suit stood alone outside the private dining room. He was Julian Tsu, the executive at Faulkner Investment.

"Mr. Tsu," Chairman Alvord greeted smoothly, his face calm.

Julian turned with a smile, extending a hand, "Chairman Alvord. Mr. Alvord and Mr. Armand, welcome."

The men exchanged handshakes.

"Where are our hosts?" Chairman Alvord asked, eyes sharp.

"CEO Faulkner is on his way," Julian replied, his voice cool, "And he's bringing Mr. R with him. They'll appear soon. He told me to greet you first."

Chairman Alvord's eyes lit up, "Ah, good. I've been waiting for this moment."

Julian nodded, "Mr. R has been quiet all this time. I haven't met him yet. Consider this a rare chance for all of us."

George's lips thinned, and a slight uneasiness flickered in his eyes, "Let's not waste time. We should wait for them inside."

"Come."

The men entered the dining room. It was a refined space, minimalist yet luxurious. A long walnut table sat at the center, adorned with a simple white orchid arrangement and crystal water glasses.

Large windows overlooked the skyline, but none of the men cared to admire it as they seated themselves at the table. The air grew heavier with every second that passed.

Chairman Alvord tried to appear relaxed. He clasped his hands and rested them on his lap, "Faulkner Investment is set to close their new deal with Qingxi Industry in China. You're involved in this, aren't you?"

Through the information gathered by his assistants, Chairman Alvord learned that Julian was a key part of the project. The latter was truly a remarkable figure in his field.

Julian nodded, a faint smile tugging on his lips, "We've assisted with due diligence. It's been a smooth process."

As the two men spoke, Vincent remained quiet. He looked toward the door more than once, wondering when CEO Faulkner and Mr. R would appear.

Then, came a knock, two polite raps on the door. An attendant stepped in once he opened the door, bowing slightly before announcing, "Mr. Nathaniel Faulkner has arrived."

After the attendant shifted to the side, Nathaniel appeared. Not even a ghost of a smile lingered on his lips as he coldly looked at the people inside the room.

Chairman Alvord rose from his seat immediately, a gleam of confidence in his eyes, "CEO Faulkner, right on time."

"Chairman Alvord," Nathaniel nodded slightly, seemingly to acknowledge his presence. Then, he glanced behind his shoulder, talking to someone, "Everyone's here. Come in, Mr. R."

Chairman Alvord, Vincent and George; everyone was anxious as they heard Nathaniel talking to Mr. R. The former unconsciously held his breath as he waited for the elusive figure to finally reveal himself.

But...

The moment the familiar figure of Ruediger walked into the room, all breath seemed to vanish.

Vincent's mouth went dry. His eyes went wide, chest tightening with something sharp and sickening.

George froze mid-motion, blinking as though unsure if his eyes betrayed him.

And Chairman Alvord...

He stared. The blood drained from his face and his eyes widened in shock.

Ruediger was calm and composed. He was dressed in an immaculately tailored dark gray suit. His hair was neatly styled, a ponytail hanging over his shoulder.

His expression was unreadable, but his eyes burned with clarity as he looked directly at his estranged father.

The silence was thunderous.

Chairman Alvord finally opened his mouth, confusion laced with disbelief, and anger simmering inside, "...Ruediger? Are you pulling our legs?"

"Didn't you want to meet me?" Ruediger asked, voice smoothed as glass but gaze as icy as winter air, "Mr. R, wasn't it?"