Chapter 461
Chapter 461:
That was the push. The external pressure broke Dominic’s resolve. He didn’t have time to negotiate. He didn’t have time to think. He was drowning, and Morgan Stone was the only life raft in the ocean.
“Fine,” Dominic snarled into the phone. “I’m signing p>
He scribbled his signature on the digital pad.
Signature Accepted.
In Skye’s office, a green notification popped up on the screen.
Contract Executed.
Skye let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She took off the headset and set it on the desk.
“He signed,” she whispered.
Alistair reached over and closed the laptop. “He just handed us the keys to his kingdom p>
“He thinks he bought a lifeline,” Skye said, staring at the blank screen. “He doesn’t realize he just tied the noose around his own neck p>
She initiated the wire transfer. The money moved through the labyrinth of shell companies she had set up. From the Caymans to Zurich, from Zurich to a holding company in Delaware, and finally into Dominic’s account.
“The compliance checks?” Alistair asked, watching the progress bar.
“Wayne handled them three days ago,” Skye explained, a cold smile touching her lips. “He forged the Know Your Customer documents and pre-cleared Stone Capital as a trusted investor in Thorne Corp’s internal system. The banks’ automated flags won’t even blink. To them, this looks like a pre-approved liquidity injection we’ve been planning for weeks p>
Alistair nodded appreciatively. “Thorough p>
Dominic’s phone chimed.
Funds Received.
In his office, Dominic stared at the number. Ten billion. It was more money than he had ever seen in one place. He threw his head back and laughed. It was a manic, jagged sound.
“I got it!” he shouted at Wayne. “I got the money! Call the broker. Buy back the shares. Pump the price. We are going to crush them, Wayne. We are going to crush them all p>
He didn’t notice the look on Wayne’s face. It wasn’t relief. It was pity.
Back at Oracle, Skye stood up. Her legs felt a little shaky, the adrenaline fading into a cold, hard resolve.
𝘚hа𝗿e yоu𝘳 fa𝘷𝘰𝘳𝗶𝘁е𝗌 f𝘳𝗼𝘮 𝖻е.𝖼𝗼𝘮
Alistair handed her a glass of red wine. The liquid was dark, almost black in the dim light.
“To Morgan Stone,” Alistair toasted, clinking his glass against hers.
“To the endgame,” Skye replied.
She took a sip. The wine was rich, complex, and tasted like victory.
She walked over to the window. Somewhere out there, Dominic was celebrating. He was probably ordering champagne. He was probably planning his speech for the engagement party, thinking he was invincible.
He had no idea that the man who just saved him was the woman he had tried to destroy.
“We need to be ready for the party,” Skye said, turning back to Alistair. “The dress fitting is in an hour p>
Alistair’s eyes darkened. He set his glass down and walked toward her.
“The dress,” he murmured, his voice dropping an octave. “I intend to be very involved in that process p>
Skye raised an eyebrow. “It’s a bridal shop, Alistair. You can’t come in the changing room p>
“Watch me,” he said.
L’Éclat was not a store. It was a temple.
Located on the most expensive stretch of Fifth Avenue in Seaview City, the bridal atelier had no price tags, no sales racks, and certainly no walk-ins. You needed an appointment six months in advance just to breathe the air inside.