Apocalypse Rebirth: Making Billions With My Fortune-Telling Skill

Chapter 128: Competing with gifts

"Gifts," Xavier repeated, his deep voice dropping a fraction lower.

His eyes shifted toward the glass windows, clearly mapping out the massive, matte-black custom Jeep sitting out in his private garage. "That means there was more than one. I assume the vehicle and the feline are the results of your excursion?"

​He gripped his dark tie a little harder, a subtle tightening in his jaw giving away his sudden frustration.

A strange, uncharacteristic spark of competitiveness flared in his chest.

Yes, he was currently accommodating her in his primary villa—but that was purely on the terms of their agreement.

He wanted to give her something personal, a tangible asset she could actually use in the coming weeks, like a specialized transport or an advanced tool. He hadn’t expected the Greels to move this quickly behind his back.

​"Miss April," Xavier called out, stepping closer to the edge of the dining area. "If you are not occupied with your schedules tomorrow, I would also like to show you the gift I have prepared for you."

​Behind him, Samuel subtly flinched. The sharp assistant blinked behind his wire-rimmed glasses, his mind furiously spinning through the tycoon’s active financial ledgers and personal manifests.

He was absolutely certain Xavier Reed had not issued a single instruction regarding a private gift for April, nor had any unique capital been allocated for one.

​April lifted her gaze from her chicken, a look of mild amusement flickering across her calm face.

"Ah, you too? Then, I will look forward to it, Mr. Reed. As long as it is not another animal." She already bit way more than she could chew with these mystical beasts at her lap. She glanced down at the sleeping white ball by her phone. "I don’t think my household can handle the collision of any more animal egos going forward."

​"It is not an animal," Xavier stated flatly. His grip on the tie tightened by the second because, truth be told, he had absolutely nothing prepared. He had spoken entirely on raw impulse. "Just... look forward to it, Miss April."

​"If it is coming from you, I know I will," April said smoothly, turning her attention back to her plate.

​Xavier gave a definitive nod, walking past the dining table toward the stairs, heading for his study.

Samuel followed instantly, keeping his steps perfectly aligned. The moment they cleared the corridor and were safely out of earshot, Samuel quickly stepped up beside his employer.

​"Sir," Samuel asked in a hushed, professional whisper. "Was there a secure procurement or a hidden asset preparation I was somehow not made aware of?"

​"No, Samuel. There was none," Xavier grunted, rubbing his temple.

​"But you just informed Miss April..."

​"Samuel," Xavier cut him off, stopping in the middle of the hallway to look at his assistant with an intensely serious expression. "Starting right now, you are going to help me come up with an asset worthy of being presented as a gift. It must possess a utility value as impressive as that custom Jeep out there, and it must be as entirely reliable as a hillside bunker fortress. Use whatever channels necessary."

​Samuel was completely taken aback, his professional composure briefly wavering. Was there even an asset like that available on the open market? "But, sir... with all due respect, there is almost nothing in our current commercial grid that can easily compare to a custom-armored military vehicle or a hillside fortress."

​Xavier gritted his teeth, a rare look of annoyance crossing his sharp features. He was a step too late, and it felt like a massive oversight.

That thought of it made his chest tight, like someone was bailing a peg to his heart. He gripped his chest, his jaw locked hard. I need to do something. He thought.

​Samuel stared at the blueprints still displaying in his tablet, his analytical mind rapidly sorting through their active trade networks. There was definitely nothing that April had not acquired yet.

But then, his eyes lit up behind his lenses. "Ah. Sir, I do know of one unique classification of asset that is currently passing through the high-clearance pipelines. It might perfectly fit the criteria since I am sure Miss April does not possess one."

​Xavier’s shoulders visibly relaxed, a sense of profound relief washing over him. "Let’s hear it."

​Back in the dining hall, April finished the last bites of her grilled chicken. She set her fork down, feeling completely satisfied.

Down on the floor rug, Rufus gave a long, contented sigh, his heavy tongue licking his chops after polishing off a generous portion of premium raw beef.

​"I should start preparing specialized pet food and durable toys," April mumbled to herself, her index finger gently stroking the white furball. The kitten let out a soft, rhythmic purr in its sleep, its tail giving a lazy twitch against her wrist.

​Just then, the sound of footsteps signaled Samuel’s return. The assistant walked down the steps, stopping a polite distance from the table before bowing at a flawless angle.

​"Miss April, the corporate allocations for Mr. Reed are officially locked in for the afternoon. I am completely free for the rest of the day. What would you like to have me do?"

​April looked at him, her eyes blinking. It was as if Samuel was an absolute godsend; whenever her schedule required movement like this, he materialized exactly when she needed him.

​"Let’s drop by the hillside bunker," April said, standing up from her seat. "I think it’s finally time we went to inspect the structure in person before I can properly calculate the capital for the construction. Contact the infrastructure teams and the engineers in charge of the dome construction. Tell them to meet us on-site. I will explain exactly how I want the defenses oriented when we arrive."

​"Right away, Ma’am," Samuel replied smoothly, already taking out his smartphone to initiate the call.

​As Samuel coordinated the transport, April’s mind began calculating the financial scope of the trip.

Once they settled with the calculations for the hillside, she would finally have an accurate estimate of the capital she needed to spend for it.

And with that number in hand, she could easily figure out her daily revenue goals for when she initiated her black-market trade next week. The sooner she locked down the numbers, the better.