Chapter 239
“In Wall Street, reputation is currency,” Nathaniel Cross’s voice crackled through the speaker, dry and absolute. “Grayson Lancaster’s attitude last night told me everything I needed to know. If her own ex-husband won’t vouch for her character, why should I risk my capital?”
The line went dead. The dial tone echoed in the silent room like a mocking laugh.
Arland grabbed a dry-erase marker and hurled it against the whiteboard. It shattered, leaving a black smear across the pristine surface. “That stubborn old fool!” he snapped, running a hand through his hair. “What the hell did Grayson say to him behind closed doors?”
Isolde didn’t flinch. She slowly stood up from her chair.
“He didn’t have to say anything,” Isolde said. Her voice was terrifyingly calm. “His silence was the loudest accusation he could make.”
She walked to the whiteboard, picked up an eraser, and methodically wiped away the financial projections tied to Nathaniel’s firm.
𝗡𝖾w w𝖾𝗲𝗄𝘭𝗒 𝖼𝗁ар𝘵e𝗋𝗌 𝘰𝗻 gа𝗅𝗇𝗼𝘷𝖾𝗹𝘴.𝖼𝗈𝗆
“It doesn’t matter,” she said, tossing the eraser onto the tray. “We don’t need his charity. We are initiating Plan B.”
Arland stopped pacing. He stared at her. “Plan B? You mean the Department of Defense contract? Isolde, that bidding war is a bloodbath. We are up against giants.”
Isolde turned to face him, her eyes sharp and burning with a cold, blue fire.
“Then we will slaughter the giants,” she said. “If we secure a government contract, every venture capitalist in this city will be begging on their knees to fund us.”
Across the city, the InnoTech offices were buzzing with energy.
Belle sat behind her massive glass desk, carefully painting her nails a pale pink. Daron McKnight stood in front of her, grinning from ear to ear.
“It’s confirmed. Nathaniel Cross officially pulled out of the Orbital deal. Brilliant move at the gala, Belle.”
Belle blew on her nails, a smug smile stretching across her face. “Of course. Nathaniel values stability above all else, and Isolde’s public profile right now is anything but. He’s simply making a pragmatic business decision. And as long as I can subtly guide Grayson’s perceptions, Isolde won’t survive a single month in this industry.”
The office door swung open.
Grayson walked in. He looked exhausted, dark circles bruising the skin beneath his eyes. He stopped when he heard Belle’s laughter.
“I heard about Nathaniel,” he said, his voice flat. “Did you really have to push it that far?”
Belle’s smile vanished instantly. She widened her eyes, adopting a look of pure innocence.
“Gray, you can’t blame me for that,” she said softly. “Nathaniel cares about his reputation. Besides, Isolde was never cut out for this kind of stress. Sending her back home is actually a favor to her.”
Grayson stared at her.
He remembered the way Isolde had knelt on the floor the night before, picking up the dirty, trampled divorce papers. He remembered the hollow, dead look in her eyes. A sharp pang of guilt twisted in his gut.
But he quickly pushed it down. If Isolde hit a brick wall — if she ran out of options — she would have to come back to him. She would have to ask for his help.
.