182 Chapter 182
"I have filtered the people based on their location, age, marital status, business stability, and relationship with your company," Vernon said.
"And what kind of men did you pick for me to weed out?" Vincent asked. He picked up the document on the desk and opened the file.
He started reading the profile of the people that Vernon picked one by one while listening to his little brother's explanation.
"I picked millionaires with stable business, who are forty-year-old and older, married and currently in a cold relationship with their wives, and have a few buildings— houses, mansions, or apartments, that they can use to hide my sister-in-law and niece."
"I also checked their relationship with you and the Gray family in general, Big brother. I know that you've never shown your wife or daughter in public, so for this benefactor to know about their existence meant that that man has had contact with your company and Gray family as well."
Vincent's eyes darted towards his little brother. A smirk grew on his face, "Vernon, I see that the millionaires you listed are mostly people who've worked with me, and still have a good relationship with the Gray family. If I weed them out, it will put the whole family at a severe disadvantage and potentially massive loss in business and projects. Do you think I'm stupid enough to do that?"
Vincent was like a viper, ready to strike his little brother whenever he wanted. He wasn't an idiot. He knew the people on this list were his working colleagues and important business partners.
He could strike them all down, of course. But it would affect the family in the long term. It would cause a major downfall in their business and the whole economy.
"What you are suggesting to me is to destroy our family, Vernon Phoenix Gray, you know that, right?"
Vernon didn't show any kind of hesitation or fear when facing his Big brother. Normally, when someone was facing Vincent, they would be intimidated by his aura.
But not with him. Vernon and Vincent were brothers, so they had the same intimidating aura that could strike fear in anyone who faced them.
Vernon's hawk-like eyes peered at his Big brother, whose viper eyes did the same. They were like viper and hawk trying to find each other's weakness before going for the first strike.
"Oh, I wouldn't dare, Big brother. Do you think I'm that treacherous that I want my own family to be ruined?" Vernon asked with a taunting tone.
"Who knows?" Vincent smirked maliciously. He found it very interesting how his little brother was able to match his aura. It showed that he had matured so much after ten years. "After all… you have been out of the country for ten years straight, I couldn't watch over you for so long, maybe you have changed and had no more loyalty for our family, Vernon Phoenix Gray."
"Big brother, I don't have anything against my family. In fact, I returned to New York because I want to work with you, to rekindle our sibling bond and hopefully I can reintegrate to the family once more," Vernon replied. He was calm in his response, even though his back was already wet with cold sweat.
He had to admit that his Big brother had put so much pressure on him simply by confronting him casually like this. Vincent was the first person that made Vernon fully guarded like this, and he deserved the title of the New Master of the Gray family.
But Vernon had no intention to back down either, especially when he was already planning everything for the past ten years.
Vincent watched Vernon, who maintained his expression. He didn't look nervous at all. Although Vincent was a lot more experienced than him, he noticed that Vernon took a few short breaths from time to time, meaning that he was nervous about this.
'Maybe he truly has the ambition to destroy his family. It's not impossible if he wants my power as well. Though, if he just wants the Gray family businesses, and even asking for half of the company share, I wouldn't mind at all,' Vincent thought.
'After all, we are brothers, and he has proven himself to be more than capable of managing his business without my help. He just needs to ask.'
'It's quite cute that he wants to one-up his Big brother,' Vincent chuckled. He wasn't worried at all about Vernon's ambition. It was quite funny to see, and he would be willing to spend time and money to see what his little brother was planning to get the Gray family's wealth.
'He could've just asked me, I don't mind. But if he wants to scheme or whatever, I don't mind observing and playing with him.'
Vernon saw his Big brother chuckle, and he frowned instantly, "What's wrong, Big brother? Did I do something funny?"
"Hm? Not at all, don't worry. I was just entertained when thinking about something you do," Vincent replied with a gentle voice, but it was like a knife that scarred Vernon's pride.
Vernon's gaze turned cold and hostile for a split second before returning to normal. He almost let his emotion take over him because he was pissed off to see the grin on his Big brother's face.
'He underestimated me, didn't he?' Vernon assumed. 'It's fine, I will let you underestimate me now. Let's see who will get the last laugh.'
Vincent continued checking the people that Vernon had listed and then put the document on the desk.
He leaned and rested his elbow on the desk, "Vernon, everyone that you've listed has many relationships with our family. Do you not realize that?"
"Well, isn't that the point?" Vernon asked back. "Big brother, sister-in-law and your daughter aren't well known in public. If they run away and hide from your radar for so long, that person must've been someone powerful, especially when he can pay for your daughter's tuition. Thus, I concluded the benefactor who knows about their existence is also one of the people who are close to our family."