Too Late to Hold Me Back novel Chapter 1104

"That's hardly our fault, Mr. Barlow. You're the one with the massive international target on your back," Wesley chuckled.

He then turned to Owen. "Once we head back, you and your mentor are dead-ringers for the wealthiest people in Mavaria. No one is ever going to strip that title from you."

Hank glanced at him dismissively. "Wealthiest in Mavaria? Please. I doubt even those syndicates next door have as much liquid capital as they do now."

"In terms of personal wealth, I'll admit we're likely among the global elite now. But compared to those mega-syndicates, we're still miles behind," Mira reasoned. "They might be tight on disposable cash at this exact moment, but every single one of them has generational leverage and institutional backing that's impossible to beat. Besides, excessive fame is a liability for us. Just look at James—he's the one taking the heat for our actions today."

Money was fantastic, but building an empire quietly was the true goal.

"We get it, we get it. We don't need the vanity of fame. Don't worry, we aren't toddlers. Our lips are sealed," Hank promised with a grin.

"Absolutely. The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. We understand," Wesley agreed.

"I didn't utter a word about the millions I made last time, not even to my own family." Setting aside the handsome commission Harvey had paid him, Wesley's personal five million dollar investment had ballooned into tens of millions, rocketing him straight into Mavaria's ultra-wealthy elite.

Even after pulling their capital out, Mira and the team didn't abandon their command center. They stayed glued to the screens, tracking the Siamese Baht's trajectory.

"It's still climbing," Ethan observed.

"It's climbing, but it's hit the red zone," Owen noted. "The second the syndicates snap and pull the rest of their cash out, it's going to nosedive."

Even though Mira knew from her past life that the syndicates' initial short-selling attempt would end in failure, she had to cash out early to maximize their margins. Besides, what if the timeline shifted? The market was a bloodbath, and profits weren't real until the cash hit the bank.

As Mira's group ate and chatted, a figure approached their table carrying a plate. "Do you mind if I join you?"

"There are empty tables everywhere. Why do you need to sit here?" Jax Weaver asked flatly.

Allowing a stranger into their immediate perimeter was a security risk, giving the bodyguards unnecessary stress.

Mira glanced up, surprised to see Jude Vance. Master Ellis's disguise techniques were flawless—there was no way he could have recognized them, right?

"We're all from the East. I just wanted some company and conversation," Jude offered with an apologetic smile.

Truthfully, he was no longer an enemy. After their last encounter on Wall Street, Jude had been actively trying to bridge the gap into friendship.