From Bullets To Billions novel Chapter 586

Chapter 586: Everyone Present (Part 1)

After the tense phone call with Bobo finally came to an end, Max didn’t allow himself a single moment to relax. The pieces were on the board, but he needed to make a series of intricate preparations for exactly what he intended to do next, as well as preparing airtight contingencies for what might happen afterward.

He spent the next hour making a few discreet calls here and there, shifting assets, and ensuring his network was on high alert. He formulated multiple backup plans just in case his primary strategy fell through, because things didn’t always work out the way they were intended. That was a harsh, unforgiving lesson he had learned in both his past life and his current one. It was a profound wisdom born from failure, something that Ramon, in his current state of triumph, seemed to completely lack.

Max leaned back in his leather chair, staring out the window as he analyzed his opponent. He’s been through the brutal struggles to get the Gilt Rats up to the syndicate level. I’ll give him that, Max thought, his eyes narrowing.

But there’s a distinct, dangerous curve to these things. It’s incredibly hard for a while, a daily fight for survival, and then it gets really hard when you push for the top. But when you finally break through, when you control the city, when you have everyone and nearly everything practically under your thumb, things suddenly start to get easy again. Too easy.

Max steepled his fingers, reflecting on the psychology of power.

A person gets confident. They start to feel like they are invincible, like they can just do whatever they want without consequence. So, they start to make careless mistakes. They make fewer backup plans because they get too used to things always going their way. They lose their edge.

A dark shadow crossed Max’s face as a memory from his previous existence surfaced. It was the exact same for me. I grew complacent at the top, and I paid for it with my life. Which is exactly why I won’t make that same fatal mistake again. Ramon is blind to his own arrogance, and I am going to use that against him.

Later that evening, however, Max received a genuine surprise. His assistant informed him of a request for a sudden meeting. What made it shocking was the identity of the two individuals who had arrived and specifically requested to see him together.

They were two individuals who were inextricably linked by blood, but who were notoriously not on the best terms with each other, nor were they on good terms with him.

The heavy oak doors of his office opened, and Max stared in quiet disbelief at the sight before him. Standing there, looking incredibly out of place and visibly nervous, were Chad and Karen Stern. Mother and son.

"I really never thought that this would happen," Max said, his voice laced with dry amusement as he gestured for them to step inside. "To see the two of you standing together, and to willingly come into my territory for a meeting with me? Well, to even call a meeting to see me at all is a miracle in itself."

He didn’t offer them a seat. He simply stared them down, letting the silence stretch.

"So tell me, what is this about? I thought my business was entirely done with you two," Max asked, his tone sharpening. He looked at the young man first. "Well, I still deal with Chad from time to time on operational matters. But as for you, Karen, you should be busy making sure the shopping mall runs smoothly so it’s in perfect condition for when it fully goes back into your hands. Why are you here?"

The two of them looked at each other for a long, awkward moment. Finally, Karen gestured to Chad, silently urging him to speak up. She correctly guessed that since Chad had slightly more of a working relationship with Max these days, it would be better received if he was the one who asked for the favor.

Chad cleared his throat, shifting his weight uncomfortably. "There’s been a situation that has come up regarding the family," Chad began, avoiding Max’s direct gaze. "You see, nearly everyone in the inner circle of the Stern family is now fully aware of what is happening to Bobo."

Max kept his face entirely neutral, betraying nothing.

"They know how her company is going to be taken over from the inside," Chad continued. "She didn’t officially ask the family for help, but let’s just say that everyone has their insiders, spies, or connections to these types of corporate things. Secrets don’t stay hidden long among our relatives. In this specific case, Bobo even openly spoke about it on her social media platforms a few hours ago. My guess is she was desperately hoping maybe it would garner some public attention, spark some outrage to scare off the investors, but the posts have been completely buried. Scrubbed from the internet by whoever is pulling the strings."

Chad let out a heavy sigh. "And as for the rest of our family... I guess no one is willing to lift a finger to help her. There’s no profit in it for them."

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