Bitcoin Billionaire: I Regressed to Invest in the First Bitcoin!-Chapter 72: Legalizing the Business

Not very far from where she was, Darren's car had just parked expertly into a space in a parking lot.

Turning it off, he leaned against the sleek black hood of the car, arms crossed as he watched Rachel fix the collar of her fitted blazer. She adjusted the cuffs next, her expression set with quiet determination.

"I really wished you had listened to me. I enjoyed your presence the last time," Darren muttered, exhaling as he checked his watch. "But I can handle registering a company myself."

Rachel gave him a look of admiration and respect. "You have acquired my service, Mr. Steele," she said. "I want to make sure that you receive it to its full extent."

Her eyes glistened as they grew more intense, gazing at him. "I am your secretary. This is what secretaries do. I wouldn't be doing my job if I let you."

Darren sighed, shaking his head.

This wasn't the first try. He had tried at least three times before, but Rachel had been relentless.

She wanted to prove herself. Again. Not just as his secretary but as someone he could rely on, someone who ensured his business ran smoothly.

Her drive to satisfy him, to make things work for him, was something he couldn't argue with.

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Ringgg!

He took out his phone. Seeing the caller, he cancelled it and slid it back into his pocket.

"Let's go then."

They both stepped down from the ride; Darren in a pure black suit with a red tie, and Rachel with a red fitted gown and high black heels.

The building they were walking into was the Los Alverez Secretary of State Office.

┏Beginning Phase One of Company Creation.┛

Darren wasn't following the phasing sequentially. He didn't need to.

When an opportunity came by to complete an aspect of building the company, he took it quickly. Just like hiring Kara and Rachel when Job Hirings were all the way in Phase 3.

But at this point, Phase One was what he needed to get done to move to the more serious parts of building a company.

Phase 1 was: FOUNDATION AND PLANNING.

The Los Alverez Secretary of State Office was housed in a sleek, modern government building downtown.

Entering inside, a large, marble lobby greeted visitors, its high ceiling and pristine floors gave off the air of bureaucratic authority.

Unsurprisingly, rows of service counters stretched across the main hall, where people sat filling out forms or waiting for their numbers to be called.

"You were almost too relaxed about this," Rachel told him. "This should have been one of the first things you did, but I guess being non-conventional has been your style. I'm also glad I came along just in time, that way I can make sure it goes as smoothly as you need."

Darren hid his smile. If this went on, Rachel was going to make him lazy.

As they approached the front desk, a receptionist greeted them with a professional smile. "How can I assist you?"

Rachel, standing beside Darren, didn't hesitate. "We're here to register a Limited Liability Company under the State of Calivernia laws."

The receptionist nodded, sliding a clipboard across the counter. "You'll need to fill out an Articles of Organization form. Is it just the two of you handling this?"

Rachel answered before Darren could. "Yes. He's the owner. I'm here to make sure everything is done properly." Her tone was crisp, professional, and of course, just daring anyone to try argue with her.

They were directed to a waiting area, where Darren leaned back in his chair, watching Rachel work.

She filled out the form with practiced ease, her handwriting sharp and deliberate.

'Yup. She's certainly going to make me lazy.'

"Are you always this efficient?" he asked her.

Rachel shot him a look. "I want everything done perfectly for you, sir."

Darren smirked but said nothing. 'Sir...' he thought. 'I like that.'

His phone buzzed again. He took it out, checked the ID.

'Brooklyn Baker.'

He exhaled sharply and ignored the call.

Rachel noticed. "That's the fourth time. You really don't want to deal with whoever that is, huh?"

"Not right now."

Rachel didn't push. Instead, she stood and returned the completed form to the counter. Within minutes, they were called to a desk, where a woman in a navy blue suit glanced over their paperwork.

"Alright," the woman said, adjusting her glasses. "I see you're filing as an LLC. You'll need a registered agent— someone or preferably a corporation who can receive legal documents on behalf of the company."

Rachel glanced at Darren, who appeared disconnected. When he noticed her looking at him, he gave her an eyebrow raise that said, 'Didn't you want to do everything yourself?'

Rachel turned around and said, "We don't have one yet, but we do have some corporations in mind."

"You have a month to get one. There are some popular ones like Moon Wealth Management Offices, the Sagomoto Offices or PenWealth. Do get one in time."

Rachel nodded. "We'll do just that."

Darren's gaze darkened at the thought of Moon Wealth Management Offices.

They were already looking for him, weren't they? Wanting his signature. But... they were a subsidiary of Moon Enterprises.

And Darren would never work for them, not even for the cliche idea of breaking them down from the inside like some corporate saboteur.

When he came for them, he wanted them to know it was him.

The woman typed something into the system. "Let's move on. Please, what's the name of the company and what operations will it be running?"

Darren answered this time, leaning forward. "Steele Investments,"his firm voice said.

Rachel looked at him with a slight smile of admiration, then she answered the rest of the question. "A multi-asset investment company strategically allocating capital across a spectrum of investment opportunities, encompassing established sectors such as real estate and equities, alongside emerging digital asset markets, including cryptocurrency"

Impressed, the woman nodded, inputting the information.

"Do you have an Operating Agreement drafted?"

Rachel was already pulling a document from her bag. "We do."

The woman blinked, clearly surprised at how prepared she was. Darren shrugged.

"Nice," the woman murmured, skimming through the file. Her eyes flicked to Darren, lingering a little too long. "Very efficient. It's good to have a sharp secretary like this."

Rachel's expression didn't change, but Darren noticed the sudden coldness in her posture.

"Yes," Rachel said flatly. "Now, what's next?"

The woman cleared her throat, flustered. "Right, you'll need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for tax purposes. Hold this document, let's get that done quickly.."

Darren accepted the documents she handed him, his eyes drifting over the paperwork.

Rachel took it from him, earning an eyebrow raise from him. She pursed her lips at him, making it clear that she didn't want him working when she's around.

"That's what a secretary is for."

And she did the reading herself.

An hour later, they were done with the EIN and it seemed their job was done.

Darren tapped the desk impatiently. "We're done here, then?"

The woman smiled at Darren. "Yes, unless you need help with anything else."

Rachel caught that look in her eyes and instantly narrowed hers. "We don't," she said with a razor-sharp voice.

The woman took her smile away. "Okay."

Darren glanced at the two of them, then got up from his seat with a sigh. He wasn't blind — Rachel had been watching the woman like a hawk ever since she started flirting with him.

Was it also a secretary's job to be jealous?

As they walked out, she handed him the paperwork, still looking mildly annoyed.

"You should've let me handle that part too," she muttered.

Darren chuckled once. "What part?"

Rachel didn't answer, cheeks reddening.

They were just stepping into the lobby when two businessmen in suits crossed their path. Their eyes landed on Rachel, and one of them immediately brightened.

"Hey there, miss," one of them said, approaching her friendly. "If you don't mind, now that I've ran into you, I would like to book an appointment with your boss."

Rachel frowned. So did Darren.

"My boss?" she repeated.

The man hesitated, confused. "I'm sorry. Aren't you Gareth Smithers's secretary?"

Rachel's eyes instantly widened with fear.