Volume 3: The Rise to Power
Summary: Richard's company faces a trading halt and investigation for alleged illegal transactions, jeopardizing his standing.
The New York Stock Exchange trading floor, once Richard Clayton's stage where he commanded with authority, manipulating vast sums of money under the admiring gazes of thousands, had now turned into his grave. Countless eyes watched him with schadenfreude and scorn.
On the exchange's electronic boards, bright red numbers bled like an open wound, declaring the death of the Richard Group. The bold red letters announcing the trading halt served as a death sentence, stripping away Richard's last hopes.
Jack stood by the window of his modest office in Lower Manhattan, a steaming cup of coffee releasing its faint aroma into the air. He gazed toward the stock exchange, his expression deep and serene, like a seasoned general observing the enemy's collapse.
"Trading halt! Jack, they really halted trading!" Kevin's voice boomed beside him, making his eardrums ring. Kevin jumped around the small office like a lottery winner, waving his arms in excitement. "Official announcement is out! The SEC has initiated a formal investigation into the Richard Group! That old bastard is finished! Completely finished!"
Kevin grabbed a cheap bottle of champagne, eager to celebrate, but Jack raised a hand to stop him. "Not yet, Kevin. This isn't the time for celebration." Jack's tone remained calm, showing no sign of elation, as if the trading halt was just another minor step in his plan. "The real show is just beginning."
He knew that the trading halt was merely a signal—a harbinger of Richard Clayton's downfall. Following the halt, the SEC would launch a deeper, more comprehensive investigation, uncovering the dirty deals hidden beneath layers of deceit within the Richard Group. And Richard Clayton wouldn't go down without a fight; he would struggle desperately, cornered like a rabid animal.
"Isabella just sent word," Jack said, setting down his coffee and picking up a note. It read simply: "Political upheaval, old foxes stirring."
"The SEC's swift action, besides our evidence, must have been spurred by others too," Jack mused, dropping the note and flashing a glint of wisdom in his eyes. "Richard has made too many enemies on Wall Street. The established financial families have long resented this nouveau riche who rose through shady dealings. Now that he's fallen, they're only too happy to kick him while he's down."
Kevin nodded in agreement. "Those old families value tradition and pedigree above all else. To them, Richard, who climbed the ranks through black money and connections, is nothing more than a clown. With this clown falling, they're eager to give him one final push."
"Richard must be scrambling right now, trying every means to save himself," Jack's gaze sharpened, locking onto his target like a hawk. "He'll use every connection he has to try to stop the investigation. He'll destroy evidence, buy loyalty, and even threaten those who know too much."
"We have to stop him!" Kevin declared, his earlier excitement fading into seriousness.
"Of course," Jack replied with a cold smile. "Have Isabella continue closely monitoring Richard's every move, especially his political connections. I want to know who he meets, what he says, and what promises he makes. We need to block off all his escape routes, leaving him isolated and trapped."
"It's already arranged. Isabella will keep a close watch," Kevin responded swiftly.
"And," Jack paused, a chilling light flickering in his eyes, "have our hacker team go full force into infiltrating the Richard Group's servers. I want all records of their illegal transactions, including evidence of offshore money laundering and asset transfers. I want his crimes exposed to the fullest extent, leaving him nowhere to hide!"
Jack walked back to the window, lighting a cigarette and taking a deep drag. In the swirling smoke, his eyes grew darker, like bottomless pits. "Tell Isabella to be extremely cautious. Richard is desperate now; he'll stop at nothing. Ensure her safety—don't give him any openings."
Kevin's face showed concern. "I'll pass it along. But, Jack, you also need to be careful. Richard might lash out at you in desperation."
Jack smiled nonchalantly. "He's barely holding himself together. How could he possibly come after me? Even if he tried, I won't give him the chance. I'll make sure he understands that he's not dealing with the homeless nobody he once despised, but a true adversary—one capable of utterly destroying him."
Meanwhile, in the once-luxurious penthouse office atop Clayton Tower, not far from Jack's location, Richard Clayton was experiencing the darkest moment of his life. His office had become a wreck, its lavish decor reduced to shattered fragments. Expensive mahogany desks lay overturned, priceless artworks smashed, and crystal chandeliers swayed precariously.
Richard paced like a caged beast, his hair disheveled, bald patches visible through his oily scalp, bloodshot eyes glaring from his pale, ghostly face. He roared and cursed, smashing everything within reach, attempting to vent his rage and fear through primal destruction.
"Jack Chen! It's all you! You damned bastard! You ruined everything! I'll kill you! I'll tear you apart piece by piece!" Richard screamed hoarsely, his voice cracking like a broken bellows, the cry of a wounded beast.
Collapsing onto the plush leather sofa, he covered his face with trembling hands, letting out a despairing wail. Years of painstaking effort, manipulation, and indulgence had culminated in this end. He refused to accept defeat, unwilling to believe he could fail so completely.
"No, I can't give up! I still have opportunities! I still have strength! I won't let Jack Chen, that little punk, ruin everything!" Richard suddenly lifted his head, his eyes blazing with manic determination, like a dying candle flaring one last burst of light.
Shakily, he picked up the phone and dialed a secret number. When it connected, he whispered in a sinister tone, "Get me in touch with 'The Hound.' Tell him I have an important task for him. No matter the cost, I want Jack Chen gone forever! Erased from existence!"
Richard Clayton, once a towering figure on Wall Street, had been consumed by anger and despair. He had lost his reason, willing to take extreme measures, plunging deeper into darkness. A more violent retaliation, a long-brewing conspiracy, was about to unfold. On this battlefield of money, where the victor reigned supreme, Jack and Richard's conflict had reached its boiling point.