Love beyond the mask201-300

Novel Catalog

Chapter_284

The change in events had been rapid and overwhelming, leaving everyone involved reeling. Just earlier that day, the shareholders had cornered Whitney in the dusty, forgotten storeroom. The air was thick with the smell of old files and neglected paperwork, an atmosphere that mirrored the tense standoff between the two sides.

“Why would the shareholders suddenly sell their stocks like that?” Whitney muttered, confusion etched on her face. “No company in Banyan City operates without my influence. Who would dare to buy them out?”

Felix, ever the diligent informant, had already investigated the situation and had the truth ready. “It was the Royal Jewelry Company,” he explained, “and the word on the street is that you were blacklisting shareholders. In their panic, they sold at rock-bottom prices, and Royal Jewelry emerged as the big winner.”

Ludwik’s brow furrowed, his mind working furiously as the name registered. “Royal Jewelry Company?” he asked, his tone darkening.

“Yes,” Felix confirmed, nodding.

Elaine, who had been listening intently, couldn’t hide her surprise. “The Royal Jewelry Company? Why would a prestigious company like that bother with a small-time player like Skye Gem Ltd.? These shareholders must have been duped!”

Felix’s gaze turned sharply toward Elaine. “You might not be aware of it, but Royal Jewelry acquired those shares because Whitney once served as their Head of Design. The person behind this acquisition is none other than Ms. Whitney Valentine herself.”

The revelation hit Ludwik like a ton of bricks. He looked at Elaine, whose face had shifted from disbelief to growing panic.

“That’s impossible. How could she have ever become the Head of Design at Royal Jewelry?” Elaine’s voice wavered, but she quickly masked her shock with a forced smile. “Felix, you’re mistaken. Whitney is still trapped by those shareholders. Are you sure you’ve got your facts right?”

Felix remained composed, his information irrefutable. “People may be locked up, but those shareholders will regret their decisions,” he continued. “Once Skye Gem’s shares were secured, Ms. Valentine transferred eight billion to Mr. Rufus. With Royal Jewelry’s acquisition, Skye Gem Ltd.’s stock soared to the ceiling in just thirty minutes, even before the official relaunch. It’s expected to hit eighty billion in market value.”

At the mention of the number, Ludwik’s expression remained unreadable, though his anger simmered beneath the surface. “Eighty billion,” he repeated, almost as if tasting the bitter irony. “It’s nothing compared to what I’ve seen, but Skye Gem was only worth thirty billion three years ago—a company on the brink of collapse.”

Elaine’s jealousy boiled over, but she did her best to suppress it. “So Whitney played them all,” Ludwik muttered, barely able to contain his admiration. “She manipulated those shareholders, made them panic, and got everything for a fraction of its worth. She outplayed everyone, including me.”

His words were tinged with both fury and begrudging respect. The more he thought about it, the more he realized just how clever Whitney had been. Her tactics might not have been elegant, but they had been undeniably effective in the ruthless world of business.

Elaine, however, was far from impressed. Her jealousy was palpable. “I won’t let her get away with this,” she snapped, her voice low and dangerous. “She can’t just take everything from us.”

Ludwik’s gaze shifted to Elaine, who was desperately trying to regain his attention. He looked at her, but his mind was still preoccupied with Whitney’s sharp maneuver. “She’s been so confident, so sure of herself. And now she’s the one holding all the cards,” Ludwik said, his voice tinged with frustration. “She didn’t even need my help.”

Elaine’s face twisted with frustration. “Ludwik, we have to stop her. If we don’t, she’ll ruin everything.”

Ludwik paused, torn between his lingering feelings for Elaine and his growing respect for Whitney’s cunning. He couldn’t help but acknowledge that Whitney had bested him—no one else had been able to do that, and it left a bitter taste in his mouth.

“I know,” he finally said, a sigh escaping him. “But we’ll need more than just power to beat her. We’ll need something she can’t fight against.”

Elaine’s eyes sparkled with determination, her smile returning, though it was tinged with malice. “I’ll help you with that, Ludwik. We’ll make sure Whitney regrets ever crossing us.”

Back at the storeroom, Mr. Percy and Mr. Liam returned, their spirits buoyed by the sale of the shares, only to be greeted by the same old gloom of the place. The atmosphere had shifted, and their previous satisfaction was beginning to evaporate.

“Who would’ve thought someone would actually want those cursed shares?” Mr. Percy remarked with a half-laugh, disbelief in his voice.

“The price was a steal, though,” Mr. Liam added, his eyes glinting greedily.

“At least we got something out of it,” Mr. Percy continued, his earlier fear now buried beneath the excitement of their good fortune. “Otherwise, we would’ve been stuck with frozen assets and billions of debt.”

“True,” Mr. Liam agreed. “And to think it was Royal Jewelry that bought us out… How lucky are we?”

Whitney, who had been holding her son close in the chilly air, couldn’t resist speaking up. “Congrats on cashing out your stocks, gentlemen,” she said with a smirk, “but could you possibly spare a blanket or, better yet, let us go?”

One of the shareholders scoffed. “You’ve got some nerve! If it weren’t for that mysterious benefactor, you would have been dead by now!”

Whitney’s expression remained calm, her eyes glinting with amusement. “Oh, don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll be fine.” She paused, her voice dropping to a teasing tone. “By the way, don’t even think about trying to make a deal with Royal Jewelry. You’re too late for that.”

The shareholders scoffed, unconvinced. “You really think you can just walk away with everything, Whitney?” Mr. Percy challenged. “You’re sneaky, underhanded. We should’ve had a piece of that deal, but now… now you’ve taken it all for yourself.”

Whitney stood taller, her voice cool and composed. “Gentlemen, a deal’s a deal. You can keep dreaming about getting anything back. Maybe it’s time for you to head home for dinner. And don’t worry—I won’t press charges for kidnapping.”

Her words hung in the air, each syllable like a weight pressing down on the disgruntled shareholders. They had no choice but to swallow their pride. Faced with Whitney’s bodyguards and her unshakable resolve, they had no room left to maneuver.

One of them, Mr. Percy, spat in frustration. “You’ll regret this, Whitney! You’ll see!”

As they were escorted out, the tension finally began to lift. Whitney turned back toward her son, Danny, who was now standing by her side, the weight of the day’s events still heavy in the air.

“Are you alright, Mom?” Danny asked softly.

Whitney’s gaze softened as she looked down at her son. “I’m fine, baby. Just another day in this mess.”

With one final glance around the room, Whitney felt a surge of satisfaction. She had come out on top, but she knew it wasn’t over. The battle with Ludwik and Elaine was only just beginning.

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