Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 284

The change was rapid, almost dizzying. Just this morning, the shareholders had cornered Whitney in the storeroom, a place that smelled strongly of dust and forgotten files. "Why would the shareholders dump their stocks like that? No company under Banyan City operates without my say. Who would dare to buy them out?" Whitney was baffled. Felix had dug into the matter, and the truth wasn't hidden from him.

"It's the Royal Jewelry Company that acquired them. The word on the street was that you were blacklisting shareholders. In a panic, they sold at rock-bottom prices, making Royal Jewelry the big winner," Felix explained. Ludwik's gaze shifted. "Royal Jewelry Company?"

"Yes."

Elaine's expression subtly changed. "The Royal Jewelry Company? Why would such a prestigious firm bother with a small fish like Skye Gem Ltd.? The shareholders must've been duped!"

Felix looked at Elaine intently. "You might not be aware, Elaine, but Royal Jewelry stepped in because Whitney once served as their Head of Design. Meaning the person behind this acquisition is none other than Ms. Valentine herself!" Ludwik's face darkened.

And Elaine, upon piecing everything together, her eyes shadowed with gloom.

"That's impossible. How could she ever become the Head of Design at Royal Jewelry?!"

Trying to contain her screaming jealousy, Elaine forced a smile. "Felix, she's still trapped by the shareholders. Are you sure you got your facts right?"

"People might be locked up, but those shareholders are about to regret their decisions," Felix reported truthfully. "As soon as Skye Gem's shares were secured, Ms. Valentine immediately transferred eight billion to Mr. Rufus. With Royal Jewelry's acquisition, Skye Gem Ltd.'s stocks hit the ceiling in thirty minutes, even before officially relaunching. It's expected to soar to eighty billion in market value."

Eighty billion was petty change for Ludwik.

But Skye Gem was only worth thirty billion three years ago-a company practically run to the ground.

Elaine intended to seize it to humiliate Whitney. She instigated the shareholders to corner Whitney, spreading rumors about Ludwik blacklisting them, but it backfired spectacularly.

Or perhaps, Whitney had anticipated this very outcome!

Despite Ludwik's brewing rage, Felix added, "Ms. Valentine spent eight billion to gain a new company worth eighty billion."

Hearing the low price, Elaine felt like choking. Those old shareholders held at least 40% of Skye Gem Ltd.!

They practically gifted it to Whitney.

This woman, Elaine wanted her downfall, but Whitney turned the tables.

Ludwik's cold gaze was hard to read, a mix of anger and an imperceptible admiration.

This woman was different. Her tactics might not be noble, but they were effective in the business world.

She mercilessly outplayed those old shareholders, securing Skye Gem Ltd. for herself.

No wonder she was so confident earlier, refusing to seek Ludwik's help. It was all a master plan.

He and Elaine were merely pawns in her game.

A mixture of fury and unacknowledged respect washed over Ludwik. Damn, he actually admired her cunning.

Lost in thought, he didn't notice Elaine's watchful gaze.

This woman was becoming increasingly hard to deal with, Elaine realized she needed to act fast. She had to seduce Ludwik before he got distracted again! Clutching her fists, Elaine's face was a storm of dark thoughts.

---

By evening, back in the storeroom.

Mr. Percy and Mr. Liam returned, their spirits high from a successful outing, only to replace themselves back in the gloomy storeroom.

"Who would've thought someone actually wanted those doomed shares?"

"The price was a steal, though."

"Mr. Liam, we're lucky to get anything for them at all," Mr. Percy remarked. "Otherwise, we'd be stuck with frozen assets and debts in the billions!"

"True. And to think it was the Royal Jewelry Company that bought us out..."

Mr. Liam's eyes sparkled with greed.

Whitney, holding her son close in the chilly air, couldn't help but speak, "Congrats on cashing out your stocks, but could you possibly spare a blanket, or maybe just let us go?"

"You've got some nerve! If it weren't for that kind soul buying the stocks, you would've killed us!"

Whitney just smirked, amusement twinkling in her eyes.

The old-timers continued their conversation. "If we could just get in with Royal Jewelry Company..."

"You won't," Whitney interjected.

"Shut it!" Mr. Percy snapped, scoffing. "As if you're Royal Jewelry. Your little schemes and the pennies you've scraped together can't compare with Elaine. Whitney, you're not as sharp as you were three years ago." Whitney just smiled. "Is that so?"

At that moment, the warehouse door flew open with a bang.

Nyx stormed in with a squad of bodyguards. "Ms. Valentine, are you alright?"

Mr. Percy and the others were taken aback, suddenly surrounded.

"Nyx, what's the meaning of this?"

"Mr. Percy, you've committed a crime by illegally detaining Ms. Valentine and threatening her," Nyx announced sternly.

"It's nonsense! We were just discussing company matters," Mr. Percy bluffed, relying on his local connections to save him.

He glanced at Nyx and suddenly leaned in. "Hey Nyx, Royal Jewelry Company snapped up our shares. You wouldn't happen to know someone over at their Eurovoria HQ, would you?"

Mr. Liam, eager to get in on the action, quickly joined in. "If you've got contacts there, you've gotta hook us up!"

Nyx let out a snort and quickly glanced at Whitney, who was calmly untying her own ropes.

"I won't keep it a secret-I actually do know Royal Jewelry Company's former head designer."

"Who is it?" the directors crowded closer, eager to replace out.

"As far away as the horizon yet as close as your nose. What, are you guys blind or something?" Nyx chuckled.

Mr. Percy was clueless.

Mr. Liam's gaze shifted to Whitney's composed face, and his expression turned to one of shock and disbelief, pointing at her. "Nyx, you mean Whitney, she is..."

"No way!"

The other shareholders stared at Whitney, their fingers trembling with rage. "So you mean to tell us, Whitney was the one buying our shares at a bargain!"

The revelation hit them like a ton of bricks, leaving them seething with anger.

Whitney dusted off her jeans, casually stood up with her son in her arms.

But Mr. Percy wasn't having any of it. "Oh, Whitney, setting traps for us now, huh?"

"Sneaky and underhanded, give us our shares back! I just checked, and Skye Gem Ltd.'s stock is through the roof, worth a fortune now, and I was supposed to have a piece of that!"

Whitney stepped into the light, turning around, her expression sly. "Gentlemen, a deal's a deal. Dream on about getting anything back, and maybe it's time you head home for dinner. I won't press charges for kidnapping."

"You think you can just walk away? Playing us for fools, well, we're the founding fathers of Skye Gem Ltd., we've dedicated our lives to this company, and this is how you repay us?"

"And how did you treat me? Groveling to Elaine, trying to kick me out. Then, when that failed, you immediately switched sides, resorting to kidnapping and beating me. Gentlemen, your loyalty hasn't been with the company for a long time. Since you're so keen on riding Ludwik's coattails to wealth, I've given you just what you wanted. As for me, I don't need shareholders who won't fall in line because I intend to run this company properly!"

This showdown wasn't supposed to happen so soon, but Elaine's jealousy had inadvertently sped things up for Whitney.

Whitney stepped forward, looking at the disgruntled shareholders. "I'll let that slap slide. You're all not getting any younger. Are you sure you want to spend your evening at the police station?"

Faced with Whitney's bodyguards and her own determination, the men could do nothing but swallow their pride.

"Whitney, you'll regret this!" Mr. Percy roared, his voice filled with resentment.