Chapter 3

Britney Tanks—the woman with the alluring figure—had started as a receptionist too.

However, she was exceptionally beautiful, skilled at dolling herself up, and well-versed in the ways of seduction.

She had carefully orchestrated several chance encounters with Edwin until, eventually, he succumbed. She had slept with him and managed to secure a promotion.

Britney was likely Edwin's most intimate associate, yet even she had never heard of a teenage benefactor.

And this brat thought he could summon Edwin with just a phone call? Edwin was so high up in the hierarchy that even the mayor had to respect and accommodate him.

No one could ever demand the reverse!

Britney's smile hid the threat in her tone. She was certain Reinhard would leave now.

Unexpectedly, he didn't.

"A receptionist's job is to do as I ask and inform him with a call!" Reinhard said firmly.

"She was about to do just that before you showed up. She didn't do anything wrong. What's there to criticize? How is she unsuitable for her job when she did exactly what she was supposed to do?

"You didn't even try to verify my request before threatening me with security. Is this the best manager Skycastell could get?" he demanded.

His indignant tone shocked Britney. Soon, however, a grim expression darkened her face.

"This isn't a joke, kiddo. I wasn't humoring you," she retorted. "And really, who asked for your oh-so-sagely advice on our business practices? You're just some random brat still wet behind the ears!"

Reinhard remained unfazed. "Oh? I can do more than that. I can even fire you. Wanna bet?"

"Fire me?!" Britney scoffed in scornful amusement. "You—firing me?"

She was Edwin's favorite sex partner!

No one other than him could do anything to her. Even her superiors had no power to fire her.

And now, some random kid was threatening to fire her? On what grounds? With whose authority?

"God, this isn't the place for your delusions!" Her patience had run dry.

Turning to another receptionist, she ordered, "Get our security!"

She started toward the elevator, not even caring to see how things would unfold.

The woman hesitated for a moment before making the call.

Bianca remained at her spot, helpless.

Four burly men in security uniforms arrived with electric batons. They surrounded Reinhard.

"Do you want to leave on your own, or should we make you, kid?" one of them asked.

Reinhard shook his head after sizing them up. "The four of you are too weak."

The guards were understandably upset at his contempt.

The captain waved and barked, "Get him!"

Three guards lunged simultaneously.

There was a loud thud.

All three lay on the floor, clutching their stomachs and whimpering.

Reinhard stuffed his hands in his pockets, his eyes calm as he towered above the guards he had just defeated. "I told you. All of you are too weak."

The hall watched in stunned silence.

The receptionists and the captain were slack-jawed. No one had even seen him move.

-

The CEO's office was located on the highest floor of the building.

A square-jawed man in a clean, pressed suit sat behind a large desk, his piercing eyes scanning his documents.

He exuded an apex predator's unyielding, unfazed aura—much like anyone who had occupied the top of the hierarchy for a long time.

Someone knocked on the door.

Edwin Sterling called out without lifting his head, "Enter."

His voice was baritone and gravelly—a man's voice. It made Britney's knees weak. She thought of his domineering hunger during sex and felt her cheeks burn.

"I've missed you," she cooed and slinked through his arms and onto his lap, her skin brushing against his shirt.

"What are you doing? You should be at work!"

Edwin's face remained serious, but the bulge in his pants told a different story.

"I've finished everything I had to do today… except one. Help a girl out?" She slid closer to his chest, like a helpless prey waiting to be devoured.

"Goddamn succubus!" Edwin growled.

The only thing keeping him from devouring Britney whole was his work.

"Mr. Sterling, I think we should bolster our security. We don't want all sorts of crazies storming our building, do we?" she said glibly.

"What was that?"

"I just returned from inspecting the ground floor. A kid, who should still be in high school, demanded to see you. He even ordered the receptionist to call you so you would go out there and meet him!

"The nerve! I told him to leave, and what did that get me? He criticized us from some imaginary high horse. He even said he would fire me!" she recounted with disdain.

"God, all the brain-rotting kids these days have gone completely delusional," she added.

Had she not been eager to see Edwin, she would've stayed to watch Reinhard get his ass handed to him.

It would have been pure comedy gold, given how hard he tried to act cool and composed!

Edwin seemed to miss the disdain in her voice.

"A young man who asked for me?!" He sat up straight and tossed Britney aside. "Did he tell you his name?"

His seeming panic confused her, but she answered nonetheless. "Reinhard Castell, or something like that. He said you'd run to meet him downstairs if you heard his name."

She smiled smugly. "Hilarious. I had our security kick him out."

Suddenly, Britney felt a sharp sting on her cheek.

"Why did you slap me?!" she asked, clutching her face.

Edwin's expression had never looked so contorted. "You bitch! Do you even know who that is?! How dare you sic security on him?!

"Get up and come with me, right now! You better pray he's okay—or I will kill you!"

Britney panicked.

Edwin wasn't just a businessman—he was also the head of Luchenstad's underworld.

That was his true origin. He might have become the face of a legitimate, booming business, but he was still an unopposable force in the city's seedy underbelly.

Mafia and gang bosses alike would gladly meet his demands.

He could kill her. For real.

Panic aside, Britney was also shocked by his sudden behavioral change.

Who was this Reinhard brat?

-

A dozen security guards lay on the floor.

Another dozen surrounded Reinhard, but no one dared make a move.

Reinhard's hands were still tucked into his pockets. Somehow, just his kicks alone had made fools of these professional guards.

The captain felt humiliated. "There's no way he can beat all of us if we attack together!"

The other guards exchanged glances.

They were about to lunge when they suddenly heard a roar from the elevator. "Don't you dare, you morons!"

The crowd turned and immediately fell back to their best—and anxious—behavior. Their CEO had emerged from the elevator with Britney, whose left cheek was visibly swollen.

"Sir!" The captain saluted.

Before he could explain the situation, however, the man slapped him across the cheek.

"Get the fuck out of my way!" Edwin barked.

The guard winced in pain but stood aside, confused.

Edwin approached Reinhard and, right there in public, bowed. "My deepest apologies, Mr. Castell!"

The hall went silent.