Chapter 597: You’re Coming with Me
Although Ortega Enterprise had raised nearly $10 billion in capital from the stock market, Steven, the investment mogul, still held them in disdain, turning their efforts into nothing more than a city-wide joke. Daniel had been trying to reach Steven for so long that his phone died, but there was still no response.
Frustrated, he shifted into his wolf form and let out a sharp, frustrated howl. He then slammed his phone into the ground, his voice filled with anger as he shouted, “What’s with all this arrogance? He’s just an intermediary, and he really thinks Ortega Enterprise can’t survive without partnering with him?”
Before he could say anything more, Tina’s phone rang. Hoping it was Steven calling, she immediately answered, putting the phone to her ear. “Hello? Mr. Lowe, where in the world are you?” she asked in a rush. After a moment of silence from the other end, Tina’s face darkened. She hung up the phone and turned to Daniel, her expression serious. “You’re coming with me.”
At the bank’s VIP lounge, the bank president sat uncomfortably on the couch, looking apologetic. “It’s not that I don’t want to approve the loan for Ortega Enterprise, but the Integrity Commission is watching me very closely right now. I’m just trying to protect myself, and honestly, there’s nothing I can do.” A few days ago, an anonymous letter had been sent to the Integrity Commission. After an investigation, the president was summoned for a “chat” that morning. At such a time, he needed to distance himself from Ortega Enterprise. If he didn’t, both parties might face serious consequences.
Daniel paced back and forth with a cold, unreadable expression. After a long pause, he stopped and sat next to the president, speaking in a calm but forceful tone, “Think of something, or help us find another bank that can assist with this loan. The news about the Southwell Group acquisition has already leaked. We can’t back out now!”
The president sighed heavily. “In the middle of all this chaos, who has the nerve to step in? How about we delay the deal for another year, or even just six months?”
“Are you joking?” Tina snapped. “The stock market is constantly shifting. Timing and information are everything. We can’t afford to wait!” She was near tears. “You promised us your support, and now you’re backing out? Are we just supposed to fail?”
The president, who knew he had no solid ground to stand on, could only look helplessly at them. “I never thought the Integrity Commission would come after me at a time like this…”
The following day, a news story broke online. At exactly the time Ortega Enterprise’s press conference was supposed to take place, Benjamin announced that he was investing billions into Yarbrough Pharmaceuticals, becoming its second-largest shareholder. The news included a photo of Benjamin and Steven shaking hands, sending a clear message. Speculation began to spread quickly: Benjamin had successfully secured funds from Steven, and they had struck a deal.
As the news circulated, Yarbrough Pharmaceuticals’ stock skyrocketed, while Ortega Pharmaceuticals, which was struggling to secure the funds needed to complete the Southwell Group acquisition, seemed to be on the brink of collapse. To make matters worse, Steven had completely ignored Ortega Enterprise’s press conference, cementing the belief that the company had lost all its backing. Within hours, Ortega Pharmaceuticals’ stock had completely halted, hitting the maximum allowed drop!
Hayley’s POV:
I sat in the passenger seat, staring at the news photo of Benjamin and Steven together, and said, “So, you two secretly invested in Yarbrough Pharmaceuticals behind my back?”
Benjamin grinned, clearly amused. “You’re too sharp, my dear. I knew you’d figure it out.” He continued, “The deal was finalized last night, but it wasn’t a partnership between us. It’s just my personal investment. You’ve always said you didn’t want to see Yarbrough Pharmaceuticals fail, so I stepped in. Simple as that.”
I immediately sensed something was off. I turned toward him, my voice serious, “We’re talking about 10 billion in funds, Mr. Southwell… Didn’t you leave Southwell Group with nothing? Where did all that money come from?”
I crossed my arms and pretended to be upset. “So, you’ve been hiding this big thing from me?”
“That’s not fair!” he protested. “If you had asked, I would’ve told you everything. But come on, Hayley, are you really that curious about what I’ve been up to?” He gave me a mock hurt look.
I could feel my wolf, Hera, sensing his sadness, and it made me feel uneasy. I instantly felt guilty.
“Hayley,” he said slowly, his tone soft but pointed, “I get the feeling you don’t care about anything except for the Carsons. Even though I’m your fiancé, it doesn’t seem like I have any special place in your heart.”
I wanted to tell him that he was my destined mate, and of course I cared deeply. But with my young age and the responsibilities of leading the Shadow Pack, aside from my second-in-command, Thomas, I didn’t have many people to truly rely on. I’d become used to keeping my emotions bottled up, unable to trust others completely.
In the end, I stayed silent. Just then, Benjamin’s phone rang, interrupting the moment. He put on his Bluetooth earpiece to take the call. A few moments later, he said, “Got it,” and hung up.
“What’s wrong?” I asked quickly, noticing the serious expression on his face. My concern grew.