Jakarta that morning was drenched in heavy rain, but inside the hotel executive suite where Arthur stayed, the atmosphere was colder than the rainwater outside. Arthur sat before a row of monitors displaying the stock movements of the Pratama Group. His hand gripped an espresso cup, while his eyes never left the numbers that were beginning to turn blood red.
"James, start executing the share buy-back through our shell companies in Singapore," Arthur commanded over the phone. "I want us to hold 30% of their shares before the market closes this afternoon."
Elena entered the room with a towel still wrapped around her hair. She saw Arthur so deeply focused. "Are you really going to do it? You're going to take over Father's company?"
Arthur turned, his gaze softening only for Elena. "He didn't give me a choice, El. He's collaborating with Julian and Oliver. If I don't take over his company, they will use it to destroy our gallery project in London. I'm not destroying your father; I'm saving your legacy from the wrong hands."
Elena sat beside Arthur, staring at the screen filled with complex charts. "Then what will happen to him?"
"He will remain the President Director, but he will report to me," Arthur answered firmly. "He will no longer have the power to threaten anyone. He will be a prisoner in his own palace."
Ririn and the Conspiracy Theory
Elsewhere, Ririn was busy in her office when Elena called. Upon hearing Arthur's plan, Ririn nearly choked on her iced coffee.
"Insane! Arthur is actually buying your dad's company?!" Ririn screamed (as usual). "El, that's called a Hostile Takeover! In K-Dramas, this is the part where the main lead becomes wealthy for seven generations, but their relationship with their father turns into World War III!"
"I know, Rin. But it's the only way to make Father stop bothering us," Elena said weakly.
"But you have to be careful, El," Ririn's voice turned serious. "I got some gossip from a friend in the legal department of Pratama Group. Your dad is preparing documents to sue you for 'theft of trade secrets' regarding that gallery design. He wants to claim that the Mega Mendung design belongs to the Pratama Group, not to you personally."
Elena's eyes widened. "Father... would he really do that?"
"Money makes people turn into demons, El. That's why, if Arthur wants to buy that company, tell him to hurry up! Before your dad actually signs those lawsuit papers."
At 4:00 PM, the Pratama Group building was in an uproar. An emergency board meeting was called. Mr. Surya sat at the head of the table, his face appearing tired yet still showing a lingering arrogance. However, his smile vanished when the door swung open and Arthur Montgomery walked in, followed by an elite legal team and Elena.
"What is the meaning of this?! This is an internal meeting!" Surya barked.
"Not anymore, Mr. Surya," Arthur tossed a black folder onto the long teak table. "As of 3:45 PM today, Montgomery Global officially became the majority shareholder of the Pratama Group. I am the owner of this building now. And I have every right to sit in that chair."
The room instantly descended into chaos. The board members whispered frantically to one another. Mr. Surya stood up, his face flushed with rage. "You... you are devious! You used Montgomery money to seize my life's work!"
"Your life's work was nearing bankruptcy because of your ego, Mr. Surya," Arthur replied in a calm, almost robotic tone. "I came to save it. But I also know about your plan to sue Elena regarding the copyright of the Mega Mendung design."
Elena stepped forward, looking her father directly in the eye. "Father, that design was born from my hands, from the dreams you threw away seven years ago. How could you be so cruel as to want to imprison your own child just for money?"
Surya Pratama fell silent, looking around the room. He saw the shareholders who had always bowed to him now looking at Arthur with hope, as if Arthur were a savior. He had lost everything in a matter of hours.
"These are my new terms," Arthur spoke, his voice echoing in the room. "Withdraw all plans for legal action against Elena. Sign over full control to me. And in return, I will not fire you. You can keep the title of 'Chairman,' but you will not have access to a single cent of company money without my permission."
Arthur approached Surya, lowering his voice so only the two of them could hear. "This is the price you pay for touching Elena. Seven years ago, you made her cry at the airport. Today, you lose your kingdom in front of me."
Surya Pratama slowly sat back down in his chair. His shoulders slumped. For the first time, the Lion of Jakarta looked like a frail old man. Elena stared at her father with mixed feelings—there was satisfaction, but also a deep sadness because their relationship had to end like this.
Arthur took Elena's hand, guiding her out of the room with a victorious stride. Outside, the rain had stopped, replaced by the golden light of the late afternoon sun hitting the skyscrapers of Jakarta. The war was over, and Arthur Montgomery was the winner.