Chapter 730
Chapter 730:
Skye stood by the boardroom window, watching as car doors opened in unison.
A woman stepped out of the lead vehicle.
She was tall and statuesque, wearing a blood-red power suit that looked like it cost more than the building’s lobby. Her hair was platinum blonde, cut in a sharp, asymmetrical bob that framed a face of terrifying beauty. She moved with predatory fluidity, ignoring the doorman who rushed to open the door for her.
Celeste Cain.
Behind her, a phalanx of lawyers and bodyguards fell into formation. They marched toward the entrance like soldiers.
“She’s here,” Skye said, turning to the boardroom table where the remaining directors sat nervously.
Ten minutes later, the double doors swung open.
Arthur Sterling entered first, beaming like a man who had just won the lottery. “Ladies and gentlemen of the board, allow me to introduce our savior p>
Celeste walked in. She didn’t look at the board members. She looked straight at Skye. Her eyes were a pale, icy blue, the color of a frozen lake where things went to die.
“Skye Sterling,” Celeste said. Her voice was husky, rich, and utterly devoid of warmth. “I’ve heard so much about you. The widow who isn’t a widow p>
“Ms. Cain,” Skye replied, keeping her face neutral. “We weren’t expecting visitors. And we certainly aren’t looking for new partners p>
“I’m not a partner, darling,” Celeste said, dropping a heavy leather portfolio onto the table. “I’m the executioner p>
A murmur of shock rippled through the room.
“What is the meaning of this?” one of the directors demanded.
“It means,” Celeste said, slowly peeling off her leather gloves, “that while you were all panicking about Liam’s little tantrum and the stock dip, I was busy buying up your debt. Specifically, the short-term commercial paper that Kensington Global uses to fund its daily operations p>
She signaled to one of her lawyers, who began distributing documents.
N𝗼 𝗉𝗶𝗿𝘢сy 𝗋ea𝗱 𝗈𝗇 𝘣𝘦𝗹ոovеl𝘴.𝗰𝗼𝘮
“I own the bank loans,” Celeste continued, walking around the table. “I own the credit lines. I own the mortgage on this building. And as of this morning, I am calling in the debt p>
“You can’t do that,” Skye said, scanning the document. “We have thirty days to restructure p>
“Read clause 14B,” Celeste said, leaning over Skye’s shoulder. She smelled of expensive perfume and antiseptic. “‘In the event of a change in leadership or significant reputational damage to the CEO, the lender reserves the right to demand immediate repayment in full p>
Skye stared at the clause. It was a standard provision, rarely enforced. But Liam’s public meltdown was the perfect trigger.
“You owe me four hundred million dollars,” Celeste whispered in Skye’s ear. “Payable by close of business today. Or you hand over control of the Medical Devices Division to me p>
Skye stiffened.
The Medical Devices Division. That was where the clinic was hidden. That was where the organ-trafficking logistics were buried. Celeste wasn’t here for the money. She was here to scrub the crime scene.