A Nobody to a Trillionaire: The $100 Trillion Vault Changed Everything-Chapter 12: The Conference Meeting

It finally was the day.

Cars cruised to the front of a tall, opulent golden glass-built structure. It towers if not as high as the Holland Penthouse, maybe because both were owned by the same person. This was the world-renowned Holland Corporations.

Black limos, Range Rovers in different builds, and even multi-million cybertrucks pulled over before the Holland Corporations, and they stepped out over the red carpet... They, the filthily rich shareholders. Reporters rushed at them like an army of ants, asking questions about what was happening today and sorts. The internet itself buzzed with the headline "Mr Holland taking over the empire".

Moments later, a red Lincoln Continental revved over to breathe out the red-suited Kieran Holland who walked over the carpet with his P.A. dressed in a similar attire. Cameras clicked one after the other, but he paid no one heed as usual... His bodyguards knew their assignment.

Minutes later.

A set of ladies pushed the golden Palmer door and Kieran walked into the conference room. The distinguished men and women inside looked his way, but Kieran didn't waver. Social anxiety was the first man he ever killed.

Cameras clicked as he walked up to the forefront, where his seat was. The best spot is always for the influential ones, they say.

Kieran settled in his seat – no one spoke, not yet.

Amanda stood by his side, hands clasped afront. She bowed at the shareholders, "Good morning everyone. I am Amanda Williams, Mr Holland's personal assistant. Though everyone here knows about him already, I will do a little more briefing..." She then gestured at Kieran, and that moment, both of them shared a knowing glance, "While there are many circumstances about how he's lived the past twenty-five years, the top boss Holland had a reason for choosing him."

Amanda took a moment to turn at the wall behind her, snapping her fingers in the process. The wall lit up the next second, showing illustrations of medals placed on a pristine white surface. Then, the next second, Kieran giving a man an upper cut in the boxing ring. Some of the shareholders shared surprised glances, but one was unwavered. The grey-bearded man seating very close to Kieran, clean glowing skin... No wrinkles, and a black suit that seemed as though it were glowing.

Kieran peered at him by the side of his eyes. That was Mr Alan Martinez, no?

Amanda continued, "He has won many medals as a Rockfighter apprentice in the Skybridge City. Known for his fearless punches and just everything else." She was adding salt to the soup, and Kieran was liking it. "While we know things like this aren't enough to prove Mr Holland as the rightful successor of the empire, let's look forward to the votes first. Thank you."

Then she bowed. Alan peered at Kieran as well – he hadn't even said anything, yet his P.A. was giving out the sugars.

'Exciting.'

Soon, the wall changed interfaces and displayed two rectangular shaped screens instead. One was green – agree – while the other was red. Disagree.

But before that, a brown-suited man seated between Alan Martinez spoke up, leaving the room in still silence, "It's a nice chance to be seeing you today, Mr Holland."

Kieran turned his glance at him in a moment. He was grinning, but he wasn't. Kieran had lived with a man that does that all the time, so he knows when one is genuine or not.

"Why don't you show us something impressive?" the man asked, the hyprocritic grin never leaving his face. "Something... that sets you apart from the hooligans who throw punches on the street. You know, we're businessmen who want profits. And we're not going to allow someone not capable enough to run everything for – "

"Well, should I beg you to take over my father's company?" Kieran cut in, shifting in his seat. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

The man tilted his head with a tight chuckle, "What?"

Everyone paid attention to him. This breaking of habit was so sudden and unexpected. Even Martinez raised his brows, getting interested.

Kieran let the word sink in for some seconds before saying, "It's funny I need your permission to get what's mine. Tell me..." he looked all of them in the eyes, "... what other than profit do you lots care about?"

The man cleared his throat...

Kieran rose from his seat, pacing around the seats while moving his hand across the chair arms.

"Every single one of you, men and women, young and old... have done sorts of things to get to where you are now," Kieran pronounced, his tone bold and unwavering. "Money. That's all you wanted and still... want."

Reaching Mrs Ava's side, he stopped behind her, leaning closer such that his chin was almost touching her shoulder. Amanda smiled slightly – they were right all along to have chosen this one. A word is surely enough for the wise.

"... And trust me, that's what I am after as well," Kieran declared, almost whispering at Miss Ava alone. The woman's neck was stiff, but she had a smile. Kieran continued pacing. "I have studied each and everyone of you guys overnight. Your tastes, your common goals, and scandals too, for some. Some are ugly to the core, but I don't care about personality. Just a spark to want money is enough..."

A spectacled middle-aged man at the end of the left row voiced out. "You're surely right in a way, Mr Holland. But, doing this only raises the chance people might end up voting against you – "

Kieran looked at him for a few seconds, chuckled and stared. The room grew more still.

"Vote against?" Kieran imagined, smirking. Then he paced on. "Listen to me, everyone. Maybe it's high time I let you know this..."

He looked all over the room...

"Go ahead and vote. But trust me, if you vote against, you're out of the empire..."

Murmurs rose among the shareholders immediately. Some shouted "Mr Holland, you can't do that", "you're bringing the empire down if we withdraw our shares"... Cameras clicked from the reporters.

Kieran declared, "Vote against, leave the empire and I'll gladly buy your shares... Then find beggars around the street who are more knowledgeable than you all, and give the shares out to them for free."

The murmurs were up, though they had died down a little.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Kieran scoffed, chuckling. "The empire worths two trillion dollars, and I fucking have that in fifty folds. Do you think your petty shares are that important? Absurd."

His words sank in, bringing men holding their heads down, gritting their teeth and groaning... while one watched in admiration, smiling. If he could possibly do this, then why did he waste so much to get the ten majority shareholders on his side?

Only a naïve person thinks he actually wasted his money. A suitcase with a few dollar notes on top while stacks of paper lay beneath, a fabricated contract file, empty promises... He hadn't only faked everything for those shareholders, but showed them they're nothing to worry about for a trillionaire.

Even Amanda knew nothing about this. Kieran had lived so long without trusting anyone, and even doing it here was absolute foolishness.