Chapter 402
Chapter 402:
“If we take Leland,” Daron said, grinning, “she has absolutely nothing. She defaults on the federal contract p>
Belle stood up, heart pounding with the thrill of the kill. This was it. This was how she finally crushed Isolde Carson.
“Leland is expensive,” Daron warned. “He knows how to gouge desperate buyers p>
“Use the emergency fund,” Belle said, waving her hand. “Grayson gave me full authorization to secure the supply chain.” She grabbed her designer purse from the desk. “I want that contract signed before Isolde even sits down at the table p>
𝖡𝘦 𝗉𝘢r𝘵 of 𝗈𝘶r с𝘰𝗺𝗆𝗎𝗇𝗂𝘵𝘺 о𝘯
The trap was set. And Belle was sprinting directly into the teeth of it.
Tuesday. High noon.
The midtown steakhouse was dark, smelling of charred meat and expensive cigars — the kind of place where old men made handshake deals that ruined lives.
Isolde sat in a semi-private leather booth in the back, Arland beside her. Across the table sat CEO Leland: a greasy, overweight man in a suit slightly too tight across the chest, sweating despite the heavy air conditioning.
“My alloys are top-tier, Ms. Carson,” Leland boasted, waving a thick, stubby finger in the air. “NASA grade. You won’t find better tensile strength on the market p>
Isolde knew he was lying through his teeth — she could see the micro-fractures in his data reports in her sleep. But she nodded eagerly, leaning forward, playing the desperate founder.
“We need fifty tons immediately, Mr. Leland,” she said, her voice tight with manufactured anxiety. “Name your price p>
Leland leaned back and laced his fingers over his stomach, staring at her, smelling the desperation. “Market rate plus ten percent,” he said smoothly. “Take it or leave it p>
Isolde flinched. She looked down at the table and bit her lower lip — a flawless performance of financial panic. “That is incredibly steep,” she whispered.
“I have other buyers,” Leland shrugged, reaching for his water glass. “You aren’t the only game in town p>
Arland checked his heavy silver watch and nudged Isolde’s knee under the table.
Belle should be here any second.
“Fine,” Isolde said, letting out a heavy, defeated sigh. “I’ll take it. Prepare the contract p>
Leland grinned, exposing yellowed teeth, and raised his hand to signal the waiter for champagne.
The heavy velvet curtain separating their booth from the main dining room was ripped open.
Belle Escobar stood in the gap, flanked by Daron McKnight, breathing heavily, her eyes wide with predatory triumph.
“Don’t be so quick to sign, Leland,” she announced.
Leland startled. He looked at her, then his eyes widened in recognition and the greed in them instantly doubled. “Ms. Escobar,” he purred, sitting up straighter.
Isolde shot up from her seat and slammed both hands down on the table, rattling the silverware. “We have a deal!” she shouted, her voice shaking with convincing fury. “We just closed p>
Belle laughed — a cruel, grating sound. She walked directly to the table. “Did you sign anything, Isolde?” She looked pointedly at the empty surface. “No. You didn’t p>