LOGINShare
Chapter 155
Related chapters
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 156
"Then you should sit in the middle. It's more convenient for me that way!" I turned, sidestepping her and pushing her in front of me.Soleil spun and shoved me forward. "I am not sitting with Ren! He's so gonna nag me again!"Oh my God, the embarrassment of taking turns shoving each other while the car sat there for minutes…In the end, I had to sit in the middle.His scent immediately flooded my senses—fresh, musky, regal.I gulped. It felt like the half of my body closest to him had suddenly been ennobled."Bye, Jeannie! Thanks for the meal!" Soleil called out.Jean waved back.The window started to roll up. The car was turning claustrophobic.My muscles tensed."Oh, that was so much fun. Jeannie meets the weirdest guys." Soleil sighed, leaning against my shoulder—squeezing me even closer to the other side…Before I could say anything, Soren suddenly spoke. "How much did you drink?""Not a lot! I could drink one more bottle of that stuff!"Soren chuckled darkly. "Ah, I s
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 157
I was pretty sure Soleil wasn't asleep. She had to be quietly listening in, waiting for tea…Silence enveloped Soren and me, thick with awkwardness. The air felt stifling, and I grew uncomfortably hot.Was it nervousness, or was the wine finally catching up with me? I tried to suffer through it quietly, but my back was beginning to sweat."Um, is the AC working? I'm feeling a little stuffy…"Soren's driver was a young man with tanned skin and a muscular build. He looked like a soldier doubling as Soren's bodyguard.He glanced at me through the rearview mirror, obviously stunned. "It's 22°C, Miss Jones."Shit. That was supposed to be the optimum temperature!Before I could respond, Soren added, "Turn the temperature down a little, please.""Alright.""Not too low. Soleil might feel cold," I interjected.Soren turned slightly in her direction and smirked faintly. "Your acting's not too shabby.""Oh, just get on with your chit-chat. Right now, I don't exist…" she muttered, her
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 158
As a consolation, they had told me I'd make a perfect lingerie model. They had suggested I consider it.Consider my ass! I loved money, but that was a line I would never cross!Besides, I'd already been harassed several times by creeps while working as a model. When Edward heard about it, he insisted I quit the job.Reflecting on it now, I had to admit—those days were truly wonderful. I stayed busy, yes, but I was full of energy, and each day felt like a fresh adventure. I never felt tired .I couldn't say the same these days, though. As the head of a company, I was constantly overwhelmed. Even spending time with my closest friends over good food and wine had become a rare indulgence.A single, innocent remark sent my mind spiraling down memory lane.In the real world, however, Soren was still trying to understand what I meant. "Your figure is somehow not qualified?""No. If I were, I'd be a supermodel by now," I replied.He fell into stunned silence, but I was too self-conscio
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 159
I let my arm fall in silence, and the coat unfurled on its own.I wondered if the previous conversation had influenced my thoughts. It seemed that the safety belt made them appear stronger and firmer.I really wanted to cover them with the coat, but I didn't want Soren to think I saw him as some kind of perv.In silence, I studied his face. He was leaning against the door, his elbow propped on the window, supporting his chin. I could see his Adam's apple sliding up and down.For some reason, I found it hot. It was manly. It even made me wonder if he was trying to suppress something.I gulped and quickly searched for a new topic. Before I could speak, his phone rang.Soren's arm—the one closest to me—moved as he reached for his phone. I made sure to give him as much space and privacy as I could."Hello? Yes, Mom. On the way home. She's with me. Right. We'll be sending Taylor home first, so we'll be a little late. Yes, you should sleep first. Goodnight."It had to be Lisbeth. Kno
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 160
I nodded. "That sounds about right. An alumnus with sterling achievements like yours definitely deserves the academy's top brass to stand with you."He smiled humbly. "Those people are more trouble than they're worth. I wish I could be free of that.""Sounds like a problem only the very successful ever need to worry about. We normies will just watch y'all like the audience we are."Soren lowered his head and chuckled in embarrassment. Then, quite suddenly, he said, "We can go to the National Academy together.""Oh! I was going to take the metro. Are you too?" I asked.The academy would surely be packed that day. One didn't get to see an institution celebrate its 100th birthday every day, after all.To ensure student safety, the academy would likely restrict the number of cars entering. So, I thought—why not just use public transport?"You're going to take the train after putting on your best look?" Soren raised an eyebrow. "I think I'll come for you in a car. We can enter the ac
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 161
After a brief pause, Lola slowly asked, "Would you be able to lower the price just a little more? I honestly don't have that much money on me."Yeap, just as I had expected…I kept driving as I responded, as I always did with people like her. "I'm going through a lot myself these days, Aunt Lola. I haven't been getting any sleep lately because of the 40,000,000 dollars I still owe, and my anxiety has been so bad that I've lost a lot of hair."I'm under so much stress that I'm working overtime on both Saturdays and Sundays. I can't afford to rest at all."I had already witnessed just how vicious and disgusting people could be, especially The Jones family.I knew being soft with them was pointless. They'd likely mock me for how stupid and easily manipulated they thought I was, even if I played along with their demands.That's why I wasn't going to back down anymore.As expected, Lola was rendered speechless after hearing my pity rant.She sighed. "I know you're going through a lo
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 162
Cameron stormed into the room, her anger flaring with the same bitchy intensity. "Who said you could transfer your shares, Taylor?"And you, Lola! This company is Harry's life's work, and you've torn it apart? This is fucking outrageous! Over my dead body will you take ownership of this company!"Everyone, including Lola, was flabbergasted.Lola stepped forward and explained, "How is Harry going to run this company when he's in jail, Cameron? I've been in this company for over a decade. There's no one here more qualified to take this position than I am.""No one more qualified, my foot! You think I don't know what you're planning? You're stealing your own brother's wealth right in front of us!" Cameron shrieked."That's not what's happening, Cameron. I bought these shares with my own money. I didn't steal them.""Your brother's being fined close to 13,000,000 dollars by the IRS because of this company, and now he's drowning in debt. And here you are, taking his company from him.
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 163
"Huh?!" I was so shocked that my face turned completely red from embarrassment.Did I just make him stop whatever he was doing in the toilet to take my call? Oh my god, what had I done?I slapped my forehead, trying to shake the image of what he might have been doing out of my mind."Did you need me for something?" Soren asked, likely sensing how embarrassed I was."Oh! Yes!" I quickly composed myself and put my hand down. "I just wanted to ask for your bank details. I'd like to return 9,500,000 dollars to help pay off some of my debt."Soren was surprised. "Where did you get that much money?""I sold all my shares in my father's company for 8,000,000 dollars, and I have some savings left," I replied."I wasn't expecting you to gather that much money so quickly, to be honest."I giggled. "That company's a ticking time bomb, so holding onto its shares was too risky. I figured I might as well get rid of them before anything happens," I explained."Smart," he remarked. "However,
Latest chapter
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 202
"Good evening, Taylor." Soren's voice was low and soft.The way he enunciated his words made him sound so proper and gentlemanly. It was so refreshing that I felt as if the cold had left me.My mind started to blank. I suddenly realized I could not speak. In the end, I could only squeeze out lamely, "So… had your dinner?"He chuckled. "Yes. You?""Me?" I suddenly felt like my soul had snapped back into my body. "You really don't know?""Huh? Is that something I should know?" Soren asked, confused.Wait. So Richard didn't report anything to Soren after all! I had been fooled!"Oh… damn it," I muttered, smacking my forehead. "Mr. Rockefeller played me like a fiddle…""Huh? You mean Ritchie? What did he do?"I sat up straight and forced myself to calm down. Well, I started the conversation, so I had to finish it myself."I had dinner with that colleague after we finished discussing work. We were eating at a seafood hotpot place. Then, when we were about to finish, we saw Mr. Roc
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 201
When we were almost finished, I heard someone call out, "Miss Jones! Fancy seeing you here!"I looked up, stunned. It was Soren's best friend, Richard!"Mr. Rockefeller, hello!" I said, rising to greet him.He nodded. "Hello to you too."Richard then glanced at the man sitting opposite me."This is my newly hired General Manager, Jamie Young," I quickly introduced. "Mr. Young, this is Richard Rockefeller of Rockefeller Media. He's one of the city's elites. Who knows, we might work with him one day."Jamie stood and extended his hand. "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Rockefeller!"Richard shook his hand. "Likewise!"He turned back to me. "It's the weekend today, so why aren't you hanging out with Soren? It's the first snow of the year. People are in a pretty festive mood."I knew exactly what he meant. The snow had blanketed the city in white, and people were out enjoying it, taking pictures, playing, and simply reveling in the change of season."We met earlier today, but I have thin
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 200
When someone cared about another person, they were mindful of everything that person possessed. Even the smallest pain was worthy of concern.Real life wasn't like fiction. Most people didn't experience cataclysmic events or life-threatening situations. Thus, where else could we show our care and love, if not through the mundane sufferings of daily life?The more I thought about it, the more I regretted how I'd spoken to Soren. I really needed to apologize."Miss Jones? Miss Jones!"I snapped out of my thoughts. "Oh! Yes?"Jamie fixed me with a questioning look. "Are you alright? We can always talk about this on Monday.""No, let's do it today. I'm free today." I forced myself to sit up, holding the ice pack to my forehead while flipping through the documents with my free hand. "What are your questions? I'll answer them."This company was the culmination of my blood, sweat, and tears. And now, I had found someone just as invested in making it better as I was! How could I be a de
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 199
Jamie started toward the pantry. "What would you like to have, Miss Jones? Tea? Coffee? Or perhaps milk and juice?""Coffee will be good.""Got it."As he prepared my drink, I rubbed my forehead.To my dismay, I could feel the swelling! I quickly tried to cover it with my bangs.Jamie brought two cups of coffee over. "These coffee beans were gifts from a friend from Oz. Have a taste.""Thanks!"I took a sip.Before I could even savor it, Jamie suddenly asked, "Miss Jones, is your forehead alright? I think it's… swollen…"I gulped down the coffee and tried to cover my forehead with my hair. "Oh! It's, uh, nothing! I just bumped into something, haha.""It'll recover faster if you put some ice on it," he said, heading toward the fridge.This office used to belong to Edward. He rarely stayed in his office for long, but it was well-equipped regardless. The pantry, fridge, lounge, and bathroom were all included.Jamie found an ice pack and started looking for a clean towel to wra
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 198
The loud "thud" I made nonetheless startled both the people inside the escalator and Soren."Taylor?" he called out suddenly.But I was so embarrassed that I quickened my pace.As people entered the escalator, I pressed my forehead and called out to them, "Hold the door!"I dove into the escalator, and the doors closed.I breathed a sigh of relief. My heart was pounding, and my mind was still reeling from the shock.I couldn't imagine Soren's reaction to my "near-miss." He must think I was the clumsiest woman on Earth. Or perhaps he thought I was so taken by his confession that it had broken me, leaving me incapable of functioning properly.-I entered my office, and as I passed by the General Manager's room, I was surprised to see someone inside.I peeked through the window. It was my new recruit. He was working overtime today.He noticed me too and looked up in surprise. "I didn't expect to see you here today, Miss Jones!"I smiled. "That's my line! It's the weekend, and y
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 197
Soren's gaze was soft and calm. After a while, he finally said, "I can wait. It doesn't matter how long you'll need. I can wait."I felt a bolt course straight through my veins. I could faint.Just like that—without warning or any plan—he tore down the wall between us and spoke his mind candidly!I had no idea what expression I might have been wearing, but I could tell my heart was beating at warp speed.How the hell was I supposed to respond to this? Reject him again or say, "Well, I hope you like waiting!"?"Look, M-Mr. K-Kenway—""Don't call me Mr. Kenway."I froze, my mouth still open. Just that interruption alone made my mind go blank.Soren got out of the car, circled it, and came to me.I turned mechanically toward him, my eyes wide enough to fall out of their sockets. I stared at him helplessly."I couldn't bring it up before because, firstly, you were still legally tied to someone else. Secondly, I couldn't tell if you liked me. If I made my feelings known too soon,
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 196
I froze. "Oh, I'm not sleepy!"And then I cracked a yawn.Soren laughed. "Just take a nap. It'll take an hour to reach your office anyway."Well, here were my options. If I chose not to sleep, this silence between us would feel awkward. If I chose to talk, what happened when our topics veered into certain territories, and we're back to being awkward again?You know what? A nap was the best choice after all. Even if I had to pretend to be asleep."Sounds good," I replied.I intended to pretend to sleep. I thought I could close my eyes and imagine some designs and arrangements for the fashion show in Medhelanon next year.What I didn't expect was Soren pressing a button and adjusting my seat to the most ergonomic position. I was reclining way too comfortably!I stared at him. He flashed a smile. "It's more comfortable this way.""Ha, okay… Thanks…"God, the embarrassment was killing me. Could you imagine what this felt like?It felt like we were a couple. A married one, even!
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 195
Lisbeth rose and simply said, "I've finished my meal and would like to rest in my room. Please, enjoy your meal. Taylor, please visit me from time to time."I thought for sure I must have offended her enough that this would be the last time I'd sit here. But instead, she extended an invitation for the next time!I was moved. I rose from my seat politely and replied, "It'd be my pleasure, Madame Kenway.""The pleasure is all mine," she replied, smiling faintly, before heading toward the stairs.Soren noticed I continued to stand and called out, "You can sit down now, Taylor."I looked at him with downcast eyes. "I'm fine. I need to get back to my office.""Hey now. Did what my mom said startle you?" he asked gently. "She didn't mean any malice. It was her way of expressing sympathy—she seems to think you've always been alone in everything, and she hopes you can find a reliable partner to weather the storm with you soon.""I know she means well.""Phew, that's a relief to hear!"
The Richest Man in Metropolis is My Backer! Chapter 194
I breathed a sigh of relief. My eyes met Soren's, and he offered a faint smile, as if reassuring me not to be nervous.But how could I not be? The ambiguous tension between us—were we or weren't we?—had only grown more intense.I shouldn't even be this close to a family of such blue-blooded stature. I was no match for them. Yet, as the owner of my own company, I couldn't afford to turn away a valuable client like Soren. Social connections had become more crucial than ever.Having a powerful and elite friend like Soren was undeniably beneficial—not just for me, but for my company and the people who relied on it. This connection could open doors to endless opportunities and revenue.Some might see my actions as undignified, as if I were constantly accepting handouts. But this was simply how the world worked.It wasn't as though I was leeching off him—he was the one offering his generosity. And who could fault me for accepting it?Finally, I managed to calm myself down, at least a
