Chapter 274
Chapter 274:
“What is this?” Liam asked, picking it up. It was a map of Universal Studios.
“It’s her birthday tomorrow, sir,” Lee said. “You forgot the last three years. The first year, you were in Tokyo. The second, you were with… Miss Miller. The third, you bought her a vacuum cleaner p>
Liam froze. The memory hit him like a physical blow. He remembered Skye’s face when she opened the vacuum cleaner. She hadn’t cried. She’d just smiled that small, sad smile and thanked him. Guilt twisted in his gut, sharp and nauseating.
“I… I didn’t know,” Liam whispered. “I thought she liked cleaning. She was always cleaning p>
“She cleaned because she was lonely, sir,” Lee said, his voice bordering on insubordination.
Liam stood abruptly. The chair flew back and hit the wall. “Cancel my meetings,” he ordered. “All of them. The board, the investors—everything p>
“And do what, sir p>
Liam looked at the brochure. He looked at the roller coaster on the cover. “I need to make a gesture. A grand one p>
“Sir,” Lee hesitated. “With the current liquidity crisis… we cannot afford a full park buyout. The cost would be astronomical, and the board would view it as a misuse of funds p>
Liam’s face hardened. He opened the safe behind his desk. He pulled out a velvet box containing his mother’s sapphire collection, and the deed to his private vineyard in Tuscany—assets that were solely his, untouched by the corporate freeze.
“I’m not using company money,” Liam said, his voice shaking slightly. “Sell the sapphires. Put the vineyard on the market for a quick cash sale. And call the park. I don’t need the whole day. Buy out the VIP sector for the evening. Clear the queue for the biggest coaster. I want one hour where the world doesn’t exist for her p>
“Selling your mother’s jewels?” Lee looked horrified. “And the vineyard? That was your retreat p>
“Do it,” Liam said, his eyes burning with manic determination.
“She wants effort? I’ll give her the biggest effort she’s ever seen—even if it costs me everything I have left p>
A fleet of black SUVs pulled up to the curb outside Vance Media, creating an instant traffic jam. Horns blared, but the drivers ignored them.
Liam Kensington stepped out of the lead vehicle. He wasn’t wearing his usual three-piece suit. He had on dark jeans and a cashmere sweater that probably cost more than the building he was standing in front of. It was his attempt at casual, but he still looked like a billionaire trying to blend in with humans.
He bypassed the security desk, ignoring the guards who shouted at him. He headed straight for the elevators, his personal security detail forming a wedge around him.
𝘖rig𝗶𝘯а𝘭 𝖼𝗈ո𝗍𝘦ո𝘵 𝗳𝗋о𝘮 𝖻е.𝘤о𝗺
Up in the CEO’s office, Julian Vance didn’t even look up from his paperwork when the door burst open.
“To what do I owe the pleasure, Kensington?” Julian asked, signing a document with a flourish. “Did you come to threaten me again p>
Liam walked up to the desk. He didn’t slam a folder down this time. He placed a single, heavy envelope on the glass surface.
“The deed to my private estate in Como,” Liam said, his voice tight. “And the full transfer of ownership for my personal art collection currently stored in the Geneva Freeport. It includes three Picassos and a Monet p>
Julian paused. He raised an eyebrow, finally looking at Liam. He picked up the envelope and whistled low.
“This is… substantial. These are personal assets. You’re gutting your own safety net, Kensington. The board can’t touch these, but neither can you once you sign the move p>
“I need her,” Liam said, ignoring the jab. “For twenty-four hours. Today p>
Julian leaned back, a slow smile spreading across his face. “You want to rent my artist p>
“I want to take my wife out for her birthday,” Liam corrected. “But she won’t answer my calls. If it’s a ‘business obligation,’ she’ll come p>
Julian tapped his pen against his chin. He knew exactly what this cost Liam. It was financial suicide on a personal level. And Julian was never one to turn down a profit, especially when it came with a lesson attached.