The Almighty Dominance novel Chapter 143

Chapter 143

Marco raised his spoon and rapped it smartly against the rim of his wineglass.

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A bright, ringing note sliced through the air, snapping heads around to face him. He cleared his throat, letting the hush settle. “Folks, I have some damn good news,” he began with a wide, self–assured grin.

“I made a killing today, and I want to celebrate with all of you.”

The crowd stirred, excitement flickering in every eye.

Florence straightened in her seat, practically brimming with curiosity. “Well, don’t keep us in suspense, Marco! Spill it already!”

With exaggerated pride, Marco leaned forward. “I just sunk my entire fortune–one hundred million dollars–into a stock. In a week, that investment will shoot straight to a billion.”

Gasps rose around the table. Jack nearly choked on his drink, eyes bulging. “A billion? Are you out of your mind?”

“Oh, I’m in my right mind,” Marco retorted, his tone smug.

“It’s Vermont National Life Group–Vermont’s top company. Jericho Kane owns it, and everyone knows him. This isn’t some rinky–dink operation.”

Florence nodded so vigorously her curls bounced.

“Of course we know it. Vermont might be another state, but National Life Group has made headlines everywhere. It’s enormous. Pays hefty dividends, too—just as big as Kingston in Vancouver.”

A faint buzz ran through the group.

Someone spoke up with uncertainty. “But isn’t Vancouver under Kingston’s state laws? As far as I know, Vancouverites can’t invest in out–of–state companies.”

Marco’s grin widened, like a wolf that just spotted easy prey.

“Not anymore. Vermont National Life is about to open a branch here in Vancouver. They’ll start selling stock locally for the first time. Right now, the shares go for only ten bucks a pop, but once the official launch hits, I’m betting on a tenfold–no, maybe twentyfold–jump.”

Jack narrowed his eyes, still skeptical. “You sure about that?”

Marco, as if letting them in on a grand secret, lowered his voice.

after the announcement, “You know my ties to Charles Kingston, yeah? He just signed the approval papers for Vermont National Life to enter Vancouver. By tomorrow morning, it’ll be front–page news. I threw in my entire hundred million. Believe me, those shares will explode in value.”

A hush hung over the gathering, thick with tension and greed.

Jack finally broke the silence. “Marco… think you can help me get in on this?”

Marco drummed his fingers on the table, feigning hesitation.

“Oh, I don’t know. Normally, it’s forbidden. But since I’m tight with Charles Kingston and Jericho Kane–two of the biggest power players around–they’ll let me buy as many shares as I want

“If you want a piece of the action, I can sneak you in before the price goes through the roof. You’d be considered a new investor, and trust me, you’ll be rolling in money when it all goes up.”

That lit a fire under the group.

Whisners became a chorus of eager pleas as they jockeyed for Marco’s favor.

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“I can put in half a million!” Jack practically shouted, slapping his palm on the table.

“I do five million!” Florence’s eyes shone with excitement.

“Sign me up for four million!”

“Five for me–I’ll scrape up everything I have!”

Their voices overlapped in a chaotic scramble.

The fear of missing out took hold, turning rational folks into desperate gamblers.

When the clamor finally eased, Marco set his gaze on Sophia, giving her a smooth, almost predatory smile.

“How about you, Sophia? Care to join the party? I can swing some extra shares for you, given our… relationship.”

Her hesitation was palpable.

Sophia had learned the hard way never to leap without looking.

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She took a steadying breath. “I appreciate the offer, Marco. But I have to be cautious. My current dealings with the Kingstons- and the whole Chris Roland fiasco–have left me on edge. I can’t afford another disaster.”

Florence snorted, impatience creeping in. “Don’t compare Chris Roland’s bumbling nonsense to Marco’s business savvy. That’s apples and oranges, Sophia.”

Marco, seizing the moment, softened his tone.

“Look, I get it. But trust me–your money is safe. If this deal goes south, I’ll personally give every cent back. Now, how much have you got on hand? Let’s be real about this.”

Sophia shifted, feeling the weight of all the stares.

“Forty million, it is company money,” she said quietly.

Marco’s eyes nearly gleamed with triumph. “Perfect. Honestly, you’ll only have it in there for a week–maybe less. Once the official news hits in three to five days, you sell, and we all pop champagne to our fortunes.”

Florence flashed her a bright, almost desperate smile. “Don’t be a fool, Sophia! This is the kind of break people pray for.”

“Come on, sis,” Jack chimed in, nodding vigorously. “Mr. Ashford’s looked out for you before, hasn’t he?”

Marco exhaled in a long, theatrical sigh, sounding both exasperated and indulgent.

“If you believe in me, invest in National Life. If not, that’s your choice.” He spread his hands,

“But I’ve already pumped in a hundred million of my own money. You really think I’d risk all that if I wasn’t dead certain?”

Sophia hesitated, glanced around, then exhaled. “Alright… I’ll do it”

She told herself it wasn’t greed–she owed Marco for all his help, and refusing him now would have seemed like a slap in the

face.

Besides, the deal sounded genuinely lucrative.

In that moment, Marco’s gaze shifted like a hawk to Alex, who’d been quietly observing the frenzy.

Marco’s lip curled. “What about you, Alex? You want a piece of the pie? Minimum buy–in’s a million, but for Sophia’s sake, I’ll let you in with just a hundred grand. I’d hate for you to sit on the sidelines looking like some sorry cheapskate.”

Alex didn’t even blink. “I’ll pass.”

Laughter flickered across Marco’s face, but his eyes brimmed with condescension.

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“Come on, Alex, what’s the matter? Don’t have the cash? Or maybe you’re just too dense to see a good deal staring you in the

face?”

Unmoved, Alex crossed his arms. “Neither. I’m simply not interested in a company that’s about to pack it in.”

A charged silence descended, the festive buzz turning icy.

Marco’s self–assured smile wavered, and the crowd glanced warily from Alex to Marco.

Insults and opportunism hung thick in the air, and in that moment they all wondered if Alex knew something they didn’t–or if he was just a fool.

Marco’s expression hardened as though he hadn’t heard Alex correctly. “What did you just say?” he asked, his voice turning cold.

“I said I’m not interested in a business that won’t make it in Vancouver,” Alex repeated, calm as ever.

“That company’s headed for bankruptcy sooner rather than later.