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All Chapters of From Trash to Titan: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

153 Chapters

Chapter 21

He saved that company. He'd worked sixteen-hour days. He'd restructured their debt, renegotiated contracts, and brought in new clients. He'd bled for it.And the second it was profitable, they fired him. Erased him. Took credit for everything.On the screen, Ramon was laughing at something a reporter asked. He looked confident. Comfortable. Like he'd earned every bit of success. ‘What a shameless piece of shit!!” Maxwell muttered in anger. And he was justified. Ramon really did embody the image of someone who was shameless.Debra sat beside him, nodding along, the supportive wife. She was just like him, and to Maxwell they deserved each other. They also deserved everything bad that was going to happen to them, and Maxwell wanted to show no, mercy,Maxwell was about to turn off the TV when another reporter spoke up from the crowd."Mrs. Lexus, if I may," the woman said. "There's been a video circulating online from your stepson Armand's wedding. It shows your son, Maxwell, in a rather

Chapter 22

Maxwell stood at the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the city turn orange as the sun dipped lower.His pocket buzzed.He pulled out his phone. It was the old one, the cheap Android with the screen cracked in a spiderweb pattern. He’d had it for three years.The caller ID flashed: Mitchell - Delivery.It was the manager. He was probably calling to scream about Maxwell being late. Maxwell almost ignored it. He didn't need this job. He didn't need the stress. But he wanted the satisfaction of saying the words.He swiped answer."Where the hell are you?" Mitchell's voice scraped through the speaker, loud and angry. "You were supposed to be here an hour ago. I've got orders piling up and you just don't show?"Maxwell didn't speak. He just watched the cars moving like toys on the streets below."Maxwell! Are you deaf? You think you can just skip work whenever you feel like it?" Mitchell shouted. "I don't care what your excuse is. Get your ass down here right now or you're fired.""I quit,

Chapter 23

She stepped up to him, close enough that he could smell her perfume. She reached up and adjusted his collar, her fingers brushing lightly against his neck. Then she smoothed the lapels of his jacket."The fit is perfect," she murmured, stepping back to look at him. "But you're doing it wrong.""What?"She reached out and undid the top button of his jacket. "Never button the bottom button. And never button the top of your shirt unless you're wearing a tie. It makes you look stiff."Her hand lingered on his chest for a split second longer than necessary."Better," she said.Maxwell looked down at himself. "It feels good.""It should. This suit costs more than most cars." Cherry walked over to the shoe boxes. "Try these."Maxwell sat on the couch and slipped on the black leather dress shoes. They were comfortable immediately, no breaking in required.Cherry crouched down to check the fit. "How are they?""Good.""Can you stand up and walk for me?" She asked. Maxwell looked at her. "Why?

Chapter 24

In the morning, at Sterling Corporation headquarters.The executive lounge was quiet, smelling of leather and expensive coffee. Julian sat in one of the high-backed chairs near the window, scrolling through his phone with a satisfied expression.He was feeling good. The quarterly numbers were up, and he had just closed a deal that would make the board very happy. In his mind, it was only a matter of time before his mother officially stepped down and handed him the keys to the kingdom.The heavy oak doors opened. Victoria walked in.She didn't look like she was in the mood for small talk. She walked straight to the small bar cart and poured herself a glass of water."We need to talk," she said, not turning around.Julian didn't look up from his phone. "Can it wait? I'm supposed to meet Alistair for drinks in an hour.""No. It can't wait."Something in her tone made Julian pause. He lowered his phone. "Okay. What is it? Did the merger fall through?"Victoria turned to face him. She look

Chapter 25

Back at the penthouse, Maxwell walked to the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror.He was already picking out what he should wear to the family dinner. The suits were perfect. The shoes were perfect. Everything was perfect.Except his hair.He ran a hand through it. It was too long, shaggy around the ears and falling over his forehead. He'd been cutting it himself for the last two years, just trimming it in the mirror with a pair of cheap scissors whenever it got too annoying.It looked exactly like what it was. A DIY job. He pulled out his phone and checked the time. 12:47. He had over 5 hours before dinner.He still had plenty of time before it was time. He opened his phone and searched for, ‘high-end barber near me.’A dozen results popped up. He scrolled through them, looking at the ratings and prices. One caught his eye.Apex Grooming Lounge. Five stars. Located downtown. The reviews mentioned things like “best fade in the city" and "worth every penny."Maxwell clicked on

Chapter 26

The rest of the afternoon passed slowly inside the penthouse.At 5 o'clock, Maxwell showered again. He took his time, letting the hot water beat against his shoulders. When he got out, he dried off and walked into the bedroom.He pulled out a navy blue suit from his closet. It was sharp, tailored perfectly. The kind of suit that made you stand taller just by putting it on.He dressed slowly. He put on a crisp white dress shirt first, then the navy blue pants. Then the jacket. He buttoned it the way Cherry had shown him, leaving the bottom button undone.He reached for the watch that had come with the wardrobe. It was sleek, silver, with a weight that reminded him it probably cost more than his old car. He fastened it around his wrist and adjusted the cufflinks. Small details, but they mattered.He looked in the mirror again and was immediately impressed by what he saw. It had only been 24 hours, and he already looked like a whole different person. Not the old Max.Even he had to admit

Chapter 27

After the toast, the tension in the room finally broke. For the next twenty minutes, the group mingled. Here, the conversation flowed easily and it didn't take a while for Maxwell to feel comfortable enough around them and get involved in the conversations they were having.Victoria introduced him to the family friends, who individually approached him and shook his hand firmly and looked him in the eye, something he wasn't used to. Clara kept the energy high, chatting about the city and asking him simple questions about his interests. Even the silence from Julian in the corner couldn't dampen the mood. Maxwell stood there, glass in hand, realizing that for the first time in his life, he wasn't just tolerated at a gathering; he was actually welcome."Dinner is served," a staff member announced quietly from the doorway.Victoria stood up, placing her empty glass on a nearby table. "Shall we?"She led the way down the hall. The dining room was grand, lit by a massive chandelier, but the

Chapter 28

Julian didn't even look embarrassed. He just sat there, swirling his wine like this was all beneath him."Mocking? No," he said. "I'm just amazed at how easily everyone's buying into this. One day he's delivering pizzas, the next he's some tragic hero with a cruel mother. It's convenient."Maxwell felt that familiar heat in his chest. The same feeling he used to get when Armand would mock him in front of guests. But he wasn't that person anymore. He didn't have to take it.He set his glass down slowly. "If you've got something to say, just say it."Julian finally looked at him directly. "Your backstory is touching. Really. Poor Maxwell had it rough, so now he gets handed billions. Makes perfect sense."Maxwell understood what this was really about. Julian thought he didn't deserve this. That being Marcus's son didn't make him qualified. And honestly? Maxwell could see his point. Blood didn't equal competence. But Julian was wrong if he thought Maxwell didn't know anything about busine

Chapter 29

The realization was settling in, piece by piece. Maxwell wasn't some lucky idiot who stumbled into a fortune. He'd actually done something. Saved a failing company. Turned it around when the so-called experts couldn't.And Julian? He'd spent five years learning the business under his mother's protection. Safe. Comfortable. Never really tested.Maxwell had been thrown into the fire and came out the other side.Julian's grip tightened on his wine glass. He felt something he rarely felt. Inadequacy."You saved Lexus Corporation," Julian said quietly, more to himself than anyone else. "That was you."Maxwell didn't respond. He didn't need to.Clara was grinning now. "Wait, so you're the mystery CEO everyone was talking about? The one who pulled off the impossible turnaround?""It wasn't impossible," Maxwell said. "It just required work.""And they didn't even pay you?" Clara's voice rose in disbelief. "Are you serious? You saved their entire company and they didn't give you anything?""Ye

Chapter 30

Time passed quickly and before long, the clock on the mantle chimed ten. Maxwell glanced at it, surprised. He had been enjoying his time here so much that he hadn't realized how much time had passed."I should get going," Maxwell said, standing up. "I've got an early start tomorrow, I assume?"He looked at Kieran, who was standing quietly by the door."Yes," Kieran nodded. "Training begins at eight sharp. I'll pick you up.""I'll be ready." He nodded. Victoria stood up too. She walked over to Maxwell and took his hands in hers. "Thank you for coming," she said. "I know this was a lot to handle in two days. But you handled it perfectly.""Thanks for inviting me," Maxwell said. "It was... really good."He meant it. This was the first time he'd actually enjoyed a family dinner. At Debra's house, he'd always eaten alone in the kitchen or his room. Family dinners were for Ramon, Armand, and whoever they wanted to impress. If Maxwell tried to join, he'd get cold stares and pointed comments

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