Chapter 28
Chapter 28:
“I have bank statements!” Arthur threw a stack of papers down. “Look! Transfers! To ‘Oracle Holdings p>
Skye’s heart skipped a beat. Oracle Holdings. He had found the name. But he didn’t know she was Oracle.
She picked up the papers. They were indeed transfers. But not for tuition. They were the funds for the wasteland development.
“These are business transfers,” Skye said smoothly. “For the joint venture. Liam signed off on the initial allocation p>
She looked at Liam. It was a gamble. A massive lie.
“Did you tell them about the joint venture, darling?” Skye asked, widening her eyes at him.
Liam stared at her. He saw the trap. If he denied it, Beatrice would investigate the accounts and find the “consulting fees” to Seraphina. If he agreed, he was covering for Skye’s massive spending.
He hated Arthur more than he hated Skye right now.
“Yes,” Liam lied. He took a sip of coffee. “It’s legitimate business. A… strategic land acquisition p>
Beatrice exhaled and sat back down. “Business. Fine. Arthur, stop acting like a hysterical woman p>
Skye stood up. She walked over to Arthur.
“Creating fake news to devalue Sterling stock so you can buy it back cheap?” Skye whispered, leaning in close to her uncle. “That’s insider trading, Arthur p>
Arthur turned pale. “I… I didn’t p>
“I should call the SEC,” Skye mused aloud. “Or maybe just the fraud department p>
Arthur backed away. “It was… a misunderstanding. I’ll go p>
He fled the room.
The moment the door closed, Liam turned on Skye.
𝖳𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗒 𝖻𝖾𝗅𝗈𝗇𝗀𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝖻𝖾.𝖼𝗈𝗆
“I didn’t sign off on those transfers,” he hissed. “What game are you playing p>
Skye smiled. She leaned down, whispering in his ear so Beatrice would not hear.
“No, but you will sign the retroactive approval. Unless you want Beatrice to know you let Seraphina use the corporate jet for a shopping trip to Milan last month. Flight log 7743 p>
Liam’s eyes widened. “How do you p>
“I know everything, Liam,” Skye said. “So. Do we have a deal p>
Liam clenched his jaw. He was trapped. “Fine. But you’re moving back to the main bedroom. People are talking p>
“No,” Skye said, straightening up. “I need to be near campus. I’m moving to the apartment in the city p>
“The apartment?” Liam frowned. “We don’t have an apartment in the city p>
“I do,” Skye said. “I rented it. For my studies p>
“Weekends at the Manor,” Liam negotiated, desperate to keep some control. “You come home on weekends p>
Skye considered it. “Deal p>
She walked out of the dining room.
Ten minutes later, in the safety of her car, she called her private banker.