Chapter 607
Chapter 607:
“That is wonderful news,” she said softly. “Tell her Mommy is coming, and I am bringing her favorite storybook. We are only moving forward p>
The atmosphere inside the CEO’s office at SkyLine Technologies was volatile enough to ignite.
Grayson had no memory of how he had left the hospital. He had navigated the city like a hollow ghost, his chest caved in by the absolute, crushing finality of Isolde’s restraining order. He stood at the floor-to-ceiling window now, staring blindly at the Manhattan skyline, his reflection in the cold glass looking like a dead man. But the moment Silas had placed the morning paper on his desk, the sickening headline had acted like a defibrillator to his numb nervous system, igniting a desperate, violent rage. His knuckles were white around the crumpled copy of the Wall Street Journal.
The heavy mahogany doors of his office were suddenly shoved open.
Victoria Lancaster walked in, wearing a tailored Chanel suit with her chin held at the habitual angle of old money arrogance. Her heels clicked sharply against the hardwood floor. Silas hovered anxiously in the doorway behind her.
“I tried to stop her, sir,” he apologized quickly.
“Get out, Silas,” Victoria ordered, waving her hand. “And close the door p>
а𝖽dic𝘵𝗂𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘵𝘰𝗿і𝖾s 𝗈n
The door clicked shut.
Grayson turned around. The muscles in his jaw were ticking so hard his teeth ached. He crossed to his desk and slammed the crumpled newspaper down onto the polished wood. The sound cracked like a gunshot.
“What is this?” he demanded, his voice a low, dangerous growl. “Explain this to me right now p>
Victoria did not flinch. She walked to the leather sofa, sat down, and crossed her legs with deliberate elegance. “I am doing your job for you, Grayson,” she said smoothly. “The photographs of Isolde in the subway caused a three-percent dip in our stock yesterday. The board was beginning to question your stability. This article paints a picture of a strong, unified future. It stabilizes the narrative p>
Grayson planted both hands flat on the desk and leaned forward. The veins in his neck pulsed visibly. “You do not control my narrative,” he snarled. “And you certainly do not drag my marriage into the public eye without my authorization p>
Victoria let out a condescending laugh. “Your marriage? Isolde signed the divorce papers. She is gone. She is no longer a Lancaster p>
“The non-disclosure agreement is active for another six months!” Grayson shouted, his iron grip on his temper finally breaking. “If she decides this article violates the terms of our settlement, she can blow this entire company wide open p>
Victoria waved her hand, unbothered. “Throw money at her. That is all women like her want anyway. Belle is the future—a brilliant CEO, a respectable mother figure for Kaiden, the perfect ally for this family p>
Grayson stared at his mother. A sickening wave of disbelief washed over him. “Brilliant?” he repeated, his voice dripping with venom. “Belle’s technology is a fraud. Her entire company is currently under a hostile forensic audit because she embezzled two hundred million dollars of our capital. She is a liability, Mother. A massive, radioactive liability p>