Chapter 731
Chapter 731:
“This is blackmail,” Skye said, loud enough for the room to hear.
“It’s business,” Celeste corrected, straightening. “I’m offering a lifeline. Give me the division, and I’ll extend the credit lines. The company survives. The employees keep their jobs. Refuse, and Kensington Global files for Chapter 11 tomorrow p>
The board members looked at each other. They were cowards. They saw a way out.
“Skye,” Arthur said, his voice oily with false concern, “we have to consider the shareholders. The Medical Division is a small part of our portfolio. If sacrificing it saves the company p>
“We are not selling to her,” Skye said firmly. “We will find another lender p>
“In six hours?” Celeste laughed. “Good luck p>
Suddenly, the door to the boardroom burst open again.
Felix stood there, his face pale, his chest heaving.
“Skye!” he shouted, ignoring protocol. “It’s Harper! She collapsed p>
Skye’s heart stopped. She didn’t look at Celeste. She ran.
She sprinted down the hallway to the breakroom. A crowd had gathered. Harper was lying on the floor, convulsing. Her lips were turning blue.
“Call 911!” someone screamed.
Skye dropped to her knees beside Harper. “Harper! Can you hear me p>
Harper’s eyes were rolled back. Foam gathered at the corners of her mouth.
Skye looked around. On the table was Harper’s favorite mug, spilled on its side. A puddle of coffee spread across the linoleum.
Skye leaned down and sniffed the liquid.
Bitter almonds.
Cyanide. Or something synthesized to mimic it.
“She’s been poisoned,” Skye said, horror gripping her throat.
“Oh dear,” a voice drawled from the doorway.
𝖩𝗼іn th𝖾 сo𝗺m𝘶n𝗶𝘵𝗒 𝖺𝘁 b𝘦.с𝘰𝗺
Celeste stood there, watching the scene with the detached interest of a scientist observing a lab rat. “Stress takes such a toll on the lower-level employees. Perhaps she had an underlying condition p>
Skye stood slowly. Rage, hot and blinding, flooded her veins.
She walked over to Celeste until they were nose to nose.
“You did this,” Skye hissed.
“Me?” Celeste placed a hand on her chest in mock surprise. “I’ve been in a board meeting. I have witnesses p>
“You poisoned her to send a message,” Skye said, her hands clenching into fists. “Because she found the ledger. Because she knew about your payments to Arthur p>
Celeste’s smile vanished. Her eyes hardened into shards of ice.
“If you know what’s good for you, Skye,” Celeste whispered, her voice barely audible over the commotion of the arriving paramedics, “you’ll sign that transfer agreement. Before someone else has an… accident. Maybe Julian? I hear his health is so fragile these days p>
Skye felt a shiver of pure terror. Celeste knew about Julian. She knew everything.