"What did you say?"

During the usual dinner in the large dining room, forks and knives dropped when Blaze Jager told Alison Lee he wanted her to withdraw his 15% share from Maxie's hold to support his 2nd uncle. Alison Lee pressed a hand to her forehead because the situation felt like déjà vu to her. Just a year ago, she was shocked when Maxie wanted to become Jager Corp.'s CEO, now she's shocked that grandson wanted to help the enemy.

"Have you lost your mind Blaze?" Alison Lee looked at her 16 years old grandson from across the table.

Maxie was still eating the food with a nonchalant attitude, while Blaze Jager was glaring like she was his adversary. What's more, sitting beside Blaze was three of his classmates who were heirs of prominent family - one of which was Lukas Rivera. The teenager had invited his possy to dinner, thinking to intimidate Maxie by having support on his side.

"We will not talk of this in front of guests" Alison Lee warned. "Now eat up and_"

"I've already made up my mind" Blaze said stubbornly. "I've promise uncle not to be involved with the company, so_"

"So stay un-involved" Maxie's voice held a teasing tone.

"I'm not talking to you, ugly bitch" Blaze glared.

"Blaze!" Alison Lee was stunned by the teenager's hatred glare. "Maxie is your older cousin! She's your blood family. How could you speak that way to her?"

"Grandma, you're too old to see what's going on, but I know exactly what she's doing" Blaze spoke to his grandmother harshly - upset that the old woman was defending his enemy. "She's taking control of Jager Corp.!"

"Of course she is" Alison Lee scolded. "Maxie needs to control the company. Who do you think she's doing it for? Maxie is_"

"She's not doing it for me" Blaze stood up with anger. "Grandma, she's going to take what's mine!"

Alison Lee was dumbfounded. The dining room was completely in silence until Maxie giggled.

"What's so funny?" Blaze shouted at Maxie.

"How cute" Maxie set her chin on the back of one hand while her other hand held the gold fork. "Still throwing tantrum at this age"

"You_"

"But you're right. I'm not slaving away at Jager Corp. for you" Maxie lifted her fork and pointed at Blaze with an unreadable smile. "Why should I?"

"See?" Blaze ignored Maxie and turned to his grandmother. "She admitting to her scheme"

"How am I scheming when I told you my plans from the start?" Maxie laughed softly. "Did I not say I'll work as Jager Corp.'s CEO for 6 years? After six years, you can legally take the position"

"Liar" Blaze glared at Maxie. "You say that now, but you won't step down from the position. You tricked grandma and me into believing that you'll give me the position_"

"Wait a minute" Maxie laughed. "When did I say I'll give you the position?"

"You_"

"Dear little cousin" Maxie smiled. "I said I'll step down from the position. Whether or not you have the ability to take it is all up to you"

Blaze was suddenly confused by Maxie's words.

"Little Blaze" Maxie continued to smile, seeing the boy's confusion. "The CEO position is not something you can just inherit. What gives you the idea that I can hand it off to you?"

Again, Blaze was confused.

"Let me simplify" Maxie laughed as she set the fork down and leaned back against the wood chair. "Cain Jager owns 45% shares. You and I both have 15% each. 2nd uncle owns 7%. 3rd uncle owns 3%. Alan Rivera owns 5%. Along with Cain Jager's current wife, there is a total of 9 board members who each owns 1% share. The CEO is selected by the amount of votes he or she received. 1 percent equal 1 vote."

Maxie continued to smile at the teenager.

"Congratulation, you have the upper hand with 15% shares to your name." Maxie clapped her hands with a teasing smile. "Although, that doesn't mean the CEO position is guarantee to you"

"What do you mean?" Blaze was like a lost child.

"Still don't get it? You only have 15%. Your opponent only needs 16% to win over you"

Blaze's eyes widened with shock - as if he never put the numbers together.

"Y_ you also have 15%" Blaze tried to find the logically solution to the problem.

"That's true. But why should I put my votes to you?" Maxie taunted playfully.

"You promised grandmother!" Blaze was again, angered. "Even now you're using my 15% to_"

"Ok-ok, I'll give you my votes" Maxie laughed. "So what will happen if your opponent gets 31%? Now, what can you do?"

Maxie challenged the 16 year old to think beyond the profit shares numbers. Unfortunately, Blaze Jager was still too young to understand the rules of business.

"Lukas can help me" Blaze suddenly gloated with a smile. "His grandfather has 5%"

Maxie laughed so hard, Blaze became indignant.

"What are you laughing about?" Blaze shouted.

"How stupid are you?" Maxie continued to laugh.

"You_"

"Tell me Blaze, why would the little master of the Rivera family help you?"

Although Maxie's attention was still on Blaze, she could see from the corner of her eyes the slight frown on Lukas Rivera's face.

"He's my friend. Why wouldn't he help me?"

"Friend?" Maxie said with surprised. "Really?"

Blaze scowled at Maxie's obvious mocking.

"Little master of the Rivera family" Maxie could tell the 16 year old boy was not happy with the way she's calling him and continued to smile brightly. "Blaze sure is lucky to have you as a friend. He'll be depending on your family 5% vote in the future"

Lukas Rivera's expression was unreadable while he did not respond to Maxie's words.

"You will help Blaze in the future won't you?" Maxie purposely taunted. "Blaze is confident you will"

The more Maxie push, the emptier Lukas Rivera's eyes become. Blaze Jager quickly took noticed.

"Lukas?" Blaze was sure his friend was on his side so couldn't understand why the guy wasn't saying anything to refute Maxie.

After a long moment of silence, Blaze understood that Lukas Rivera had no intention of being involved. That 5% Blaze had boasted to receive is now pointless.

"I still have 2nd uncle 7%. He said he'll_"

"Hopeless idiot" Maxie was too tired to educate the stubborn boy further.

"What did you say?"

"I've lost my appetite" Maxie folded her napkin, set it on the table, and stood.

"Where do you think you're going? We haven't finished_"

"Let me make this clear little Blaze" Maxie's smile was cold - no longer teasing. "You're 16. Shut up and enjoy your little high school life with your so-call friends."

Maxie's eyes went to the three boys beside Blaze. Lukas Rivera did not flinched or paled to Maxie's cold and intimidating eyes, while the other two boys look like frightened little kittens.

"You want your 15% share? Wait until you're 18 and can legally claim it" Maxie's cold eyes went back to the startled Blaze. "You want to be Jager Corp.'s CEO? Wait until you're 21 and can enter the game. Right now, both your 15% and the CEO position are mine"

"You_"

"Nothing you can do or say will change it" Maxie smile grew sharper - meaner. "Want to play? Until you grow out of your stupidity, you're not qualified to step in the same ground as me"

Maxie then turned to Alison Lee giving the old woman an incomprehensible expression.

"You really did raise your grandson well, grandmother"

Maxie hadn't wanted to mock or hurt the old woman, but the protagonist's current behavior was all due to the old woman's past indulging ways. Alison Lee clearly understanding Maxie's hidden words and felt guilty seeing her granddaughter leaving. Then the old woman looked at her grandson seeing the anger and confusion on his face. Suddenly, Alison Lee Jager felt disappointed in the boy who she had placed all her hopes on.