Bitcoin Billionaire: I Regressed to Invest in the First Bitcoin!-Chapter 320: Confronting Caldwell

Caldwell stood frozen in the doorway, his round face, usually flushed with self-importance, was now completely drained of color, his balding head gleaming under the new light.

His small eyes darted from Darren to the escort and back, his pudgy hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. The jacket he'd shrugged off lay crumpled on the floor like a discarded skin.

"How... how the hell did you know where I live?" Caldwell stammered, his voice pitching higher than usual.

He took a hesitant step forward, his short, stocky frame shrinking even more under Darren's unyielding gaze. "And how did you get in here? This is a secure building!"

Darren remained seated in the armchair, his expression was like cold steel, his dark eyes narrowing further as he remained still. His anger, even though he hadn't even spoken yet, was very tangible.

"Caldwell. Have you already forgotten who I am associates with? Grant Hayes owns over sixty percent of the hotels in this city, and that happens to include this one."

His voice was even, polite almost, but it was undeniably meant to be menacing. It made the room feel smaller, diminished under his powerful voice.

Caldwell's mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air, his ruddy cheeks paling further.

"This... this is trespassing! Breaking and entering! I'll call the cops, Steele. You can't just—"

"Trespassing?" Darren tilted his head. "If that's how you want to play it, I could just buy the hotel then. Can't trespass on my own property now, can I?"

Caldwell blinked, dumbfounded, his hands trembling as he fumbled for his phone in his pocket. "What are you even doing here? When did you even get back?"

Darren remained cold. "Today. I cut the trip short. I had to return in earnest, especially after I heard a rumor I didn't like."

His voice dropped lower. "So, let's talk about that rumor, Caldwell. What happened in my board room yesterday"

Caldwell swallowed hard, his eyes flicking to the escort as if seeking an ally, but she remained silent. This wasn't the part she was paid for.

He straightened his rumpled shirt, trying to muster some of his former bluster, his round face twisting into a defensive scowl. "What? Nothing happened. Just a routine meeting with some potential investors. They came in talking about stock options, premiums. It all really sounded good for the company, you know? With you gone, someone had to step up. I was looking out for everyone's interests, including yours."

He let out a difficult chuckle. "I take it that you heard it from Brooklyn. But it's not at all like she put it. Brooklyn overreacted, that's all."

Darren's eyes hardened, his jaw clenching as he circled Caldwell slowly, like a predator assessing prey. "She overreacted? Two agents from some no-name firm attempted to buy my stocks without my presence and you think she overreacted?"

"Selling stocks is what companies do, Steele. What do you want me to say?"

Darren narrowed his eyes. "You fat idiot. You were pushing a 22% premium deal, ready to sign away shares that could gut my control. You called me complacent. What part of that is 'looking out for me'? Hmm?"

Caldwell's sweat beaded on his forehead, trickling down his temple. His hands raised placatingly, his voice turning whiny.

"Who told you that? Baker? She's exaggerating! I was just venting… I mean, it's normal to get frustrated by the absence of someone important. That's all that happened.The deal was solid; it would've injected cash flow, stabilized things amid the crypto volatility. I thought it was best for the company. Honest!"

"Best for the company? Or best for you?"

Caldwell froze. "Hey, come on. What are you trying to say now? I'm no traitor."

Darren remained apathetic, precise. "Aren't you? Do you think I don't know about the cut you were promised? All you had to do was get the other sponsors to sell so I could lose the company."

Caldwell's eyes widened fractionally, a flicker of genuine fear breaking through his facade, but he recovered with a forced laugh. "I don't know what you're talking about. ? Those agents approached me legitimately. No promises, no backroom deals. And even if there were talks, it's my shares! I can sell if I want!"

Darren was suddenly on his feet.

Caldwell froze, backpedaling in fear as Darren coldly and silently approached him. "What are you doing? Hey!"

Darren

grabbed Caldwell by his tie, pulling him closer.

"Legitimate? That firm's a ghost. All the trustees are anonymous. You knew it. And those 'other things' like leaking internal memos to tip off the SEC? Or staging incidents at the hospital to devalue it? You were in on more than stocks, weren't you? Feeding info on my tech firms, helping poach engineers. All to carve me up."

Caldwell choked on his words, his face turning beet red as he tugged at his tie. "I... I don't know what you're talking about! No leaks, no staging! This is slander! I was just... exploring options. For stability!"

Darren released him with a shove, stepping back as Caldwell gasped for air. Turning slightly, he addressed the escort with a polite nod. "You've done well, Elena."

Elena's eyes sparkled with amusement, and suddenly, the pretense shock in her eyes disappeared to a sly smile as she sauntered over to Darren's side.

Caldwell's jaw dropped, his small eyes bulging in disbelief. "What the hell? How do you know her name? Elena, what is this?"

Darren looked at him despicably. "Elena's not just an escort, Caldwell. She's one of my spies. And she's been with you all day. She heard every call you made. 'Scotland' and 'Mr. Richie'? I suppose that's Adam Scotland and Richard Morrison, right? She listened to everything so I know everything, Caldwell."

Caldwell staggered back, collapsing onto a sofa, his round body sinking into the cushions like a deflated balloon. "You... you set me up? This is entrapment! I didn't say anything like that! It was just talk!"

Darren loomed over him. "You truly repulse me, Caldwell. And you leave me with no choice. You're fired. Effective immediately. You're no longer an associate with Steele Investments."

Caldwell's eyes widened. "No. You can't do that."

"Yes, I can," Darren stated matter-of-factly. "And per our contract, your shares are forcefully repurchased at half market value for breach of loyalty. The transfer should be processed anytime soon."

Ding.

Caldwell took out his phone from his pocket with trembling hands, and once he looked at the screen, the color drained from his face entirely.

His mouth fell open in horror as he stared at the wire confirmation:;millions deposited, but half what his shares were worth.

"You... you can't do this to me. I was your first associate. I built the associate group!"

Darren's expression remained unmoved.

"And you planned to destroy my company with it. Use that group to sell out to my enemies. So why don't I destroy your company? Do you remember that your oil company relies on me?"

Caldwell's eyes widened to saucers, sheer terror etching his features as the reality hit. He slid off the sofa, falling to his knees on the plush carpet.

"Please... please, Darren! Don't! That's all I have left! The funding is all that's keeping my oil business afloat. Without your investments, the pipelines shut down, creditors swarm, my board revolts! I'll be bankrupt in weeks! I beg you. Mercy!"

Darren watched impassively, Elena chuckling softly beside him. After a long, agonizing pause, Darren sighed. "Perhaps if you lie down on your stomach."

It was a degrading demand, but Caldwell, a man older than Darren by almost two decades, didn't even hesitate.

He flattened himself to the floor, belly down on the carpet, his round body sprawled awkwardly, face pressed to the fibers as he looked up, tears welling in his eyes. "Like this? Please, Darren. I'll do anything! Just don't pull the funding! Don't cancel our company contract!"

Darren stared down at him, barely even amused. "Get up, you slob. I was never going to cancel it anyway."

As Caldwell scrambled to his feet, bewildered and humiliated, Darren continued, his tone shifting to steel. "I still have use for you."

"Yes," Caldwell nodded. "Anything!"

Darren sighed, looking at the ground in thought. "I need you to pretend everything's normal. You're still 'hired,' still in the loop. You will feed Scotland and Morrison fake intel, while you inform me of every plan, every move. You'll be my informant and in return, my funding for your oil company continues."

Caldwell nodded frantically, wiping sweat from his brow. "Y-yes, anything! I swear!"

Darren gave him a final look of disgust then headed for the door.

He paused again, hands in his pockets. "But if you fuck with me one more time, Caldwell, I'll make sure you lose more than just money or a contract. Do you understand?"

Caldwell whimpered a yes, collapsing back onto the sofa as Darren turned away.

Striding to the door with Elena, Darren pulled out his phone and dialed Cheyenne's number

Once the line connected, he gave the other, "Cheyenne, prepare the shareholders."