Chapter 424
Chapter 424:
“Running at full capacity,” Isolde replied. “We will hit the federal deadline with days to spare p>
Belle let out a loud, strangled gasp. “She has the contract p>
Grayson turned his head slowly to look at Belle. His eyes were dead.
“We have fifty tons of highly toxic scrap metal and a massive class-action lawsuit,” Grayson corrected her. He looked back at Isolde. “The equity stake in our contract is triggered. You owe the Lancaster trust fifty million dollars, Belle p>
𝘈𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯
Belle’s knees literally buckled. Daron had to wrap his arms around her waist to keep her from collapsing onto the concrete.
“Gray… please,” Belle sobbed, her hands shaking violently. “I can’t pay that. I don’t have that kind of liquid capital p>
Grayson ignored her tears. He looked directly into Isolde’s eyes.
“We need those wings, Isolde,” Grayson said, his voice dropping to a low negotiation register.
“Carson Dynamics builds components for Carson Dynamics,” Isolde replied, her hand resting on the car door. “Not for InnoTech p>
“Name your price,” Grayson demanded.
Isolde pulled the heavy car door open.
“I don’t want your money, Grayson,” Isolde said, stepping into the vehicle.
She looked up at him from the driver’s seat.
“I want a concession,” Isolde stated. “And I want it publicly p>
She slammed the door shut, started the engine, and drove away — leaving them standing in the blinding flashes of the paparazzi.
The next morning. The Lancaster Holdings boardroom.
The room was a cavern of dark wood and absolute silence. Grayson sat at the head of the massive table, his hands folded neatly in front of him.
Belle sat halfway down the table, looking completely disheveled — her hair messy, her eyes red and swollen from a night of crying, her gaze fixed blankly on the polished wood. Daron sat beside her in complete silence. Along the back wall, a team of Lancaster corporate lawyers lined up like sharks scenting blood.
The lead lawyer stepped forward and adjusted his glasses.
“InnoTech is in severe breach of the federal contract,” he stated, his voice devoid of emotion. “The financial penalties for this failure are catastrophic p>
Belle looked up, her eyes pleading.
“Gray, you have to help me,” Belle begged, her voice hoarse. “The Lancaster trust can absorb this loss. It is a rounding error for you p>
Grayson’s expression did not change.
“The trust is not your personal piggy bank to fund your incompetence, Belle,” Grayson said coldly. He leaned back in his leather chair. “However, allowing InnoTech to default entirely will severely damage the overall Lancaster stock price p>
He glanced at his lead counsel. “The emergency stakeholder proxies I called in last night have been secured p>
The lawyer gave a curt nod. “Your voting power is absolute, sir p>
Grayson reached out and pressed the silver intercom button on his desk.
“Send her in,” Grayson ordered.
The heavy oak doors at the end of the boardroom swung open.