Bitcoin Billionaire: I Regressed to Invest in the First Bitcoin!-Chapter 176: A Hidden Participant
The wind outside was crisp as Darren and Amelia stepped out of the office building, their polished shoes echoing faintly on the pavement as they approached the waiting car.
Amelia was reading through her note, already processing the meeting details from Delverate, while Darren remained pensive.
As she read, she explained to Darren some details of the investment, pointing out the amount left in their investment fund which was around 40 million.
She let Darren know that Sandy decided that 10 million should be kept in the vault for emergency add-ons, pay offs or repairs.
Darren suggested that since their investment strategy was increasing, it would be wise to increase the investment fund starting next month. Perhaps double the present amount, just to make sure they don't end up without funds when a major asset is available.
Amelia agreed with that and added it to her note:
'Increase investment funds.'
Just as they were about to step into the vehicle, one of Darren's personal security staff approached swiftly, holding a sleek black envelope with a red wax seal.
"Mr. Steele," the guard said, eyes tense. "This just arrived. It was delivered by hand, no return address. But the quality… it appears to be from someone powerful."
Darren took a good look at the envelope before taking it calmly.
He cracked the seal and unfolded the letter.
It wasn't written by hand, it had been printed. Darren sneered at it as he went on to read its content:
'To Darren Steele,
I would caution a man in your position to remember the weight of legacy. You have overstepped into matters that do not belong to you.
Your recent involvement with Grant Hayes, and your interference in matters concerning the Golden Hay Empire, are not unnoticed. We have let it slide, thinking it a temporary fancy. But as of this moment, you are being watched.
We are not interested in petty back-and-forths. But if you persist in dragging your company into affairs where it holds no original claim, we will be forced to act.
This is not a threat. This is a promise.
Stand down, or your empire will be next.'
- Vector Callahan
Senior Partner, Ashridge & Moore Law, Legal Division for Golden Hay Group
Darren raised a brow as he finished reading.
---------------
POW!
A hand slapped a piece of paper violently on a wooden table. The hand was Darren's, and the paper was the letter he had just received moments ago.
He was back in the war room where everyone else except Kara was, still formulating the defense plan.
At least they were. Now, they were all staring at Darren— the source of the noise— and the paper under his palm.
"I was just threatened." he said, then pushed the paper.
It surfed on the table, and headed right for Vance, stopping exactly where he stood at the edge of the table.
Jonathan Vance picked it up and began reading, Daisy Chen walked to him, and read alongside him, one of her hands resting on her hip.
"Printing it rather than writing was a smart move," Vance said. "Even if there's his name here, he can simply deny it in court. Anyone could have forged that, especially since he didn't even sign it."
He shook his head and kissed his teeth twice. "Vector Callahan, the fucker is still working for Ashridge. Sly man, he is. But he's still a veteran. We have to be careful with him."
"This isn't just a veiled threat," Daisy muttered. "It's a declaration. They're escalating."
She narrowed her eyes as she scanned the letter. "He's essentially saying, 'Back off or we burn you.' They're getting desperate."
Darren remained standing, arms folded. "Yeah, that's one way to see it."
He turned to Rachel who stood nearby, awaiting instructions.
"Rachel," Darren said, "I want a rough valuation. Net worth of the entire Golden Hay asset pool. That includes the parks, the hotels, the casinos. Everything."
Rachel turned to her computer, fingers flying over the keys. After a few tense moments, she looked up.
"Estimate comes in at just above five billion dollars."
Vance gave a low whistle. "Five billion? That's no joke."
Daisy frowned. "That can't be everything. A conglomerate like Golden Hay? They're hiding off-books wealth, private stakes, shell holdings… but even at five billion, it's an empire."
Darren nodded. "Give me updates. Everything you've sniffed out since our last sit-down. Who's pulling strings? Who's benefiting?"
Daisy tapped her tablet. "Alright. We've identified three primary beneficiaries pushing for asset redistribution: Donald Henderson, Marla Gentry, and Keith Lang. All former partners of Terrance Hayes— Grant's father. They've been consolidating backroom influence through MWMO and legal proxies."
She pointed to a diagram projected onto the table. "Some have priority for the hospitality wing— luxury hotels and resorts. Some are focused on the parks. Others on the casinos."
And that was it. That was when it struck Darren.
An instant outside thought.
The lawyers wanted to allocate the assets separately. But what if it wasn't for the reason they had always thought?
Maybe it wasn't just about everyone owning a piece. Maybe it was about a particular person owning a particular piece.
His eyes lit up with realization. 'I've got it wrong all this time.'
Everyone looked at him.
"What are you thinking, Mr. Steele?" Vance asked.
Darren turned slowly to Rachel. "Rachel. Out of all the Golden Hay assets — hotels, casinos, parks — which one is worth the most on its own?"
Rachel ran a quick breakdown. A few moments later she said, "The casinos. They have a worth of $1.3 billion alone. It's nearly double the next asset class."
"That's surprising." Vance said. "I would have guessed the hotels."
"The casinos... the casinos..." Darren muttered to himself, still thinking. "Daisy," he called, "who among the board members is slated to take control of the casinos under the proposed restructuring?"
Daisy tapped into the access logs, eyes scanning rapidly. "It says here that... With legal transfer already in motion contingent on Grant's removal, full executive oversight for the casinos is slated for...
Donald Henderson."
Darren froze.
Then turned to Vance.
"Donald Henderson?" Vance said. "That's Gillian Henderson's father. He owns Franchise Casinos."
The room fell silent.
Darren's heart dropped.
"Call Grant Hayes. Now."
