Calvin Oswald, a Cansington local, knew Thea from Eternality. "Hasn't Lex broken ties with Trevor already? So why is Thea here?" he wondered.

He'd gone to great lengths to acquire Pacific Group, lending money after vetting the company. He was almost successful, but Thea's sudden appearance threw a wrench in his plans. "Y-you must be Thea from Eternality?" he stammered, standing and extending his hand. "Hello, Ms. Callahan. I'm Calvin Oswald."

Thea glanced at him indifferently. Embarrassed, Calvin withdrew his hand. "Ms. Callahan, you're not here to lend money to Pacific Group, are you?"

"What do you mean 'lend money'? We're here to purchase and take over Pacific Group," James interjected.

"What?"

Larry's expression changed. "Dad, are you really selling Pacific Group?" he exclaimed.

Trevor explained, "I have no choice. Thea's offering a hundred million for one hundred percent of Pacific Group's shares, guaranteeing our current positions and ten percent of the company."

Larry sighed in relief. A hundred million was acceptable; the company was only worth twenty million if sold as a whole. Calvin's expression darkened. He'd worked hard to acquire Pacific Group, only to be thwarted by Thea's sudden arrival. However, he didn't dare challenge her. Her connections to the Celestial Group and Longevity Group, and the memory of influential figures kneeling before her, were still fresh in his mind. Angering Thea, and consequently Alex, would doom the Oswalds. The Xaviers couldn't withstand Alex's wrath, let alone the Oswalds.

Retrieving his loan would suffice.

His face softened. "I see. Ms. Callahan will be handling Pacific Group. I'm here to collect a debt. Pacific Group owes me ten million dollars, plus five million in interest. This is the promissory note."

Thea examined the note, noting the ten-million-dollar principal, three-month term, and five-million-dollar interest. Her face darkened.

"Five million interest for three months? That's usury! This loan is illegal. Pacific Group refuses to acknowledge this debt. Use proper legal channels if you want your money."

James looked at her admiringly. Thea was indeed formidable.

Calvin looked helpless. It was an illegal loan. "I—I'll just collect the principal. Will that do?" he compromised.

"What do you mean? That's five million dollars! How can you just give it up?" a woman on the sofa exclaimed anxiously. She'd been promised one million after the Pacific Group acquisition. Now, she'd get neither the acquisition nor the interest. Standing, she pointed at Thea. "Who do you think you are? Get lost!"

Slap! Calvin struck the woman, sending her sprawling onto the sofa, blood trickling from her lip. "Ms. Callahan, she's a prostitute, unfamiliar with situations like this. Please excuse her."

Thea ignored her and accepted the promissory note. "I'll acknowledge the ten-million-dollar debt. I'll call you when it's settled."

"Alright," Calvin replied, not daring to refuse. He dragged the shocked woman from the room.

James gave Thea a thumbs-up. "You're amazing, darling. Even a cynical rich boy respects you."

His words reminded Thea of the ghost-masked man who'd helped her rise to her current position. Slightly dazed, she quickly composed herself. "Granduncle, let's proceed with the transfer."

The final sentence, "Search the FindNovel.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality," is a promotional line and not part of the narrative and has been omitted.