Two Reborn, One Throne novel Chapter 31

The Madison Group's legal department was located on the twenty-sixth floor of the Twin-Star Towers.

The entire floor was exclusively dedicated to handling all of the corporation's projects and legal defenses.

Sharif Madison wasn't a fan of outsourcing legal matters to external law firms; he preferred keeping his own dedicated team on the payroll.

In her past life, on her very first day as his secretary, Amber Newman had commented that it was just a way to burn through excess cash.

But keeping things in-house had its perks. Catching a subtle look from Sharif, Julian Zeller stepped into the legal department under the guise of taking a phone call. With one hand, he passed Amber's file to a colleague, and with the other, he ordered the rest of the team to amend the funding agreement exactly to her specifications.

"Hurry. You have five minutes to get this into Mr. Madison's inbox. I want a deep dive on all her recent financials, especially."

Though the legal team was stunned, they were well-acquainted with their boss's ruthless efficiency. Asking no questions, they scrambled to their phones. It was like they were launching a full-scale defensive operation, furiously digging up every detail of Amber's entire history.

Back in the interview room, Amber sat perfectly relaxed, entirely unfazed by Sharif's suspicions.

He was a paranoid man, but once you earned his trust, he would protect you to the death.

In her past life, during the three years she worked by his side, an elite colleague had backstabbed him. Ultimately, because Sharif's loyalty and compensation were unparalleled, that same colleague had confessed everything the rival wanted him to do straight to Sharif.

Even Amber had assumed that despite the confession, Sharif would fire the guy. But to everyone's absolute shock, after crushing his rival, Sharif handed the rival's company over to that very colleague to manage.

She still remembered the exact words he said back then.

He had told the man, "The fact that you struggled with the choice but ultimately decided to tell me the truth proves your loyalty. For that trust alone, you are worth it."

Amber had nearly cried hearing that. The outside world painted Sharif as a cold-blooded, ruthless tyrant who didn't care about human rights, but every single person who worked for him was fiercely loyal. She had been too foolish back then, entirely blinded by love. The moment Lucian Juarez's contract ended with the company, she resolutely chose to resign.

Looking back now, Sharif must have been furious when she quit.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have dragged out her resignation approval for over two months.

In this life, Amber hoped he would grant her that same trust. She could confidently promise she wouldn't walk away like she did last time. Of course, she wasn't going to be his secretary anymore—they were going to be partners.

She was going to become the wealthiest woman in Riverport, and Sharif was an indispensable key to that success.

Let him investigate all he wanted; he wasn't going to find anything anyway.

Sharif waited in silence for Julian's update. Fortunately, the people he hired were top-tier. In less than five minutes, his phone screen lit up. The legal department had already sent Amber's recent movements to his inbox.

As Sharif opened the file, a message from Julian popped up on the screen.

[Mr. Madison, we checked. No movement in her accounts. Her story checks out.]

Sharif had anticipated this. If her backer was smart enough to send a high school student to test the waters, they wouldn't leave a paper trail for him to find.

Typically, they would only call approved students after the final grades were published, as there were always PR logistics to handle.

Amber was the first student in the history of Madison Group's scholarship program to get this treatment.

He just hoped she was a friend, not an enemy.

"Miss Newman, I am very pleased with the three interview gifts you brought. Our company has decided to make an exception and sign you today, however..." Sharif sat perfectly straight.

Amber couldn't read a single emotion on his devastatingly handsome face. She only saw the slight curve of his thin lips and a fleeting glint in his narrow, dark eyes. She instantly knew this old fox, even in his early twenties, hadn't lost his favorite hobby: setting traps for her.

"Two billion dollars in revenue within three years. If you can achieve that, the contract is yours, and my company will fully fund you." Sharif slid the revised contract Julian had brought over to her.

Amber wasn't surprised. Everything was going exactly according to plan. She met his calculating smirk with a sly smile of her own. "You really flatter me, Mr. Madison."

Nice try, buddy. Did he really think he had the upper hand? Sorry, but she had already predicted he would demand two billion before signing. The initial one billion was just her foot in the door.

"With that much confidence, Miss Newman, two billion is just a number to you. But to me, that's a whole lot of wealth." He mocked her earlier tone effortlessly.

Amber wasn't mad. "Deal. Just as you say, Mr. Madison. Thank you for your support. Within the next three years, just sit back and wait to collect your money."

Amber handed over the signed contract that secured her funding and equity.