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

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

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?

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

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

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