Chapter 38; I will crush you

Knoxville's face darkened, his eyes blazing with intensity. He took a deep breath, his fist clenched together, as if restraining himself from lashing out. "I don't believe you can win," he growled. "Once a loser, always a loser. You've always been a loser, and I won't watch you win."

Maxwell burst into laughter, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I guess I should have known who I'm dealing with," he said, chuckling. "I forgot you're a stone that can't be broken easily."

Knoxville's jaw clenched, his anger palpable. "It's good you remember," he warned, his voice low and menacing. "I'll give you my last warning: don't joke with her. Electra's off-limits."

Maxwell's grin widened, his eyes glinting with defiance. "I'll do more than joke with her," he challenged. "I'll marry Electra, and you'll do nothing about it."

The air thickened with tension as Knoxville's face twisted in rage. His fists trembled, and for a moment, it seemed he might lunge at Maxwell.

"You're pushing your luck," Knoxville snarled, his voice barely above a whisper.

Maxwell's smile never wavered. "That's what makes life interesting, Knoxville. You're so predictable."

Knoxville's eyes narrowed, a cold calculation burning within. "You're playing with fire, Maxwell."

The challenge hung in the air, a gauntlet thrown. The outcome was far from certain.

Maxwell sneered, his eyes glinting with malice. "You know that's what I'm good at – playing with fire, watching others burn. As long as you're pained, I'm entertained."

Knoxville's expression darkened, his jaw clenched. He took a deliberate step closer to Maxwell, his fists coiled.

"You're think you're master manipulator" Knoxville growled.

With lightning speed, Knoxville's fist connected with Maxwell's face, the impact resounding through the air.

Maxwell stumbled back, his smirk twisting into shock. He raised a hand to his nose, wincing as his fingers came away stained with crimson.

"You hit me," Maxwell scoffed, incredulous.

Knoxville's eyes blazed with fury. "Of course I did. And I'll do it again if you keep playing with fire."

Maxwell's gaze snapped up, his eyes narrowing. "You'll regret this," he snarled.

Knoxville stood firm, unyielding. "I doubt it."

Knoxville's eyes blazed with intensity. "I'll keep putting you in your place, Maxwell. And let this be my final warning: don't ever joke around with Electra. You'll regret it, trust me."

With that, Knoxville turned and walked away, leaving Maxwell seething. The sound of Knoxville's car engine fading into the distance only fueled Maxwell's anger.

Maxwell's phone pierced the silence, shrill and insistent. He snatched it up, his voice low and menacing.

"I think I'll be back soon," the voice on the other end said, laced with defiance.

Maxwell's grip on the phone tightened. "In your dreams," he snarled. "Don't dare come back now. You'll wait until I give the order."

The voice on the other end faltered, a hint of resentment creeping in. "Stop yelling at me. You can't control me, Maxwell. I've always listened to you, but that's changing."

"And I'm warning you," Maxwell spat, his voice venomous. "You'll only return when I give the order. You know the consequences of disobedience?"

The voice on the other end trembled, yet remained defiant. "Alright, I'll listen... for now. But I might not be so obedient next time!"

The line went dead, the sudden silence infuriating Maxwell.

"Fool!" Maxwell bellowed, slamming his fist onto the table. The wood shook beneath the impact, but Maxwell's rage remained unspent.

"Aargh!" he screamed, his face contorted in fury. "Knoxville, you think you've won? I'll make sure you suffer. You're going to pay dearly for hitting me."

Maxwell's eyes blazed with malevolent intent, his mind racing with sinister plans.

"I'll crush you, Knoxville. Your protection won't last forever. Electra will be mine, and you'll watch helplessly."

The darkness around Maxwell seemed to grow, feeding off his malice.

*****

Electra strode into Matthew's office, her confident presence commanding attention.

"Woah, look who's gracing my office with her presence," Matthew said, a playful grin spreading across his face. "I hope I'm safe, big sis?"

Electra's expression remained stern, her voice firm. "Cut the jokes, Matthew. I'm here for business."

Matthew's smile faltered, his demeanor turning serious. "I know you only come around when it's business time."

Electra's gaze locked onto Matthew's. "My PA informed me we've secured the remaining funds for the project."

Matthew nodded, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Yes! I think we should start prepping for the launch."

Electra's eyes narrowed. "Who's the investor behind the remaining 25 percent?"

"It's the KT Company," Matthew replied, his eyes locked onto Electra's.

"KT Company? You mean one of the top five companies globally, renowned for their philanthropic efforts, supporting those without privileges?" Electra asked, her voice laced with incredulity.

Matthew smiled. "You're quick to catch on."

Electra's expression turned skeptical. "That's unbelievable. No one knows their CEO's identity, yet they're investing in us?"

Matthew shrugged. "I'm still surprised myself, but I see this as a golden opportunity. Partnering with KT could catapult us into the top ten, at the very least."

Electra's eyes grew wide with astonishment. "Wow! Did you initiate contact?"

Matthew shook his head, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "If I had, I would've told you immediately. The astonishing part is they reached out to us. And get this – their representative, Mr. Henry Smith, came to meet me personally. No fanfare, no entourage."

Electra's gaze remained fixed on Matthew, her mind reeling. "What could have sparked their interest in investing with us?"

Matthew leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "That's the million-dollar question. Mr. Smith mentioned their CEO believes in our vision and wants to support innovative entrepreneurs."

Electra's eyes narrowed, intrigued. "Their philanthropic efforts are legendary. This could be a strategic move for both parties."

Matthew nodded. "Exactly! With KT's backing, we'll gain credibility and access to resources we never thought possible."

The room fell silent as Electra processed the implications, her expression a mix of excitement and caution.

"What's the catch?" Electra asked finally.

Matthew's expression turned thoughtful. "That's what we need to find out."

"Hmm, okay, so is Mr. Smith attending the shareholders' meeting?" Electra asked, her brow furrowed.

Matthew shook his head. "Unfortunately not. He messaged me that an unexpected business opportunity arose abroad, and he'll be unavailable for a year."

Electra's eyes widened. "A year? That's a significant absence."

Matthew nodded. "Yes, but he's appointed the company manager, Ms. Rachel Lee, to represent KT's interests in his stead."

Electra's gaze turned thoughtful. "We'll need to establish a strong relationship with Ms. Lee, then."

Matthew pulled out a file from his drawer. "I've gathered some information on her. She's highly experienced and has a reputation for being shrewd in business."

Electra took the file, scanning its contents. "Impressive. Let's ensure we're prepared for the meeting and make a good impression."

The sound of pages rustling filled the room as Electra delved deeper into the file, her mind already strategizing.

"Get Ms. Lee's contact information," Electra instructed. "I want to schedule a prelim

inary meeting before the shareholders' gathering."

Matthew nodded, already typing away on his computer. "Consider it done."