Chapter 91
The next day. Whitney strode into Skye Gem to preside over the shareholders‘ meeting.
Monica was a no–show. Meanwhile, the news of her being beaten to a pulp, with three broken ribs and
a fractured leg, was trending all over social media.
Whitney’s lips pursed lightly, recognizing this as L’s handiwork.
A slight sense of satisfaction curled in her heart; the man had exacted revenge for her. At the meeting,
she decisively cut Monica out of the picture, firing her cronies as well.
With thepany reeling from the scandal of purchasing counterfeit gemstones, Whitney called for an
urgent overhaul. She spent the morningying down new policies and procedures, effectively
conducting a corporate blood transfusion.
The shareholders witnessed Whitney’s decisive action and dared not object to her authority.
Her capability was, after all, evident to all.
“Moving forward, I’ll personally oversee the raw materials procurement department. The entire team is
being reced, and I’ll be taking charge. Any objections?” Whitney tapped her pen and lifted her chin,
her gaze sweeping the room.
It wasmon knowledge that the cornerstone of any jewelrypany was its raw materials.
Its reputation could be ruined if the raw gemstones were substandard, even with the finest design and
craftsmanship.
The shareholders unanimously agreed to entrust the procurement division to her.
Whitney smiled, “Meeting adjourned!”
Monica, incapacitated in the hospital, was fuming with rage when she received the news. Her face was
a mess, a tooth missing, and her body ached unbearably. She wailed to Yvonne, “Mom, she dared to
sideline me when I was down. Why isn’t that wretch behind bars? Should we go to our cousin for help?”
“Who do you think had you beaten up? Who else but Mr. Lippert?” Yvonne spat resentfully, “Your
cousin may have the connections, but we’re the ones who end up paying the price. We can’t even hint
at a threat towards her. We still need her for the uing jewelry contest…”
Only then did Monica realize they were at the mercy of a ruthless woman, and a chill ran down her
spine.
Yvonne’s heart ached; they were now firmly in someone else’s grip, and her days were no longer
peaceful.
Bitterly, she hissed, “Your grandma, Violet, bringing the love child back to the Valentine family, always
cross with me. I’ll destroy them.”
Whitney stepped out of the Skye Gem building, having received a call.
Across the street, at the coffee shop, Violet was waiting for her.
Whitney was a bit surprised; it was not every day this matriarch sought her out. Still, she made her way
over.
Violet’s expression was dour, but she managed a strained thank you. “Thanks for your suggestion. I’ve
brought my grandson back to the Valentine family. You were right that day. That snake Yvonne, riding
high because she’s got a protector, even tried to assassinate your brother! Instead of letting her push
you to the brink, I took the risk and brought the kid back to stir the pot.”
Whitney’s eyes narrowed; her suggestion that day had been self–serving. Monica had wanted her in
jail, so she instigated Violet to return home with the child, hoping to cause Yvonne some trouble.
Firstly, it might push Yvonne and Monica to desperation, possibly revealing their benefactor.
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Secondly, with Violet in the Valentine family, she might learn something about this mystery protector.
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“Grandma, has Yvonne’s benefactor shown up at home?”
“No, Yvonne’s cautious. But you helped me, so I’ll keep an eye out for you,” Violet answered, her steely
gaze fixing on Whitney.
Whitney had grown into a striking image of her mother, dangerously intelligent. Violet thought about the
deaths of Whitney’s grandfather and mother; Preston was just a small yer in the grand scheme, but
even he could not escape.
A flicker of fear crossed Violet’s eyes. Worried Whitney might uncover something, she probed,
“Whitney, has your uncle been in touch?”
Her uncle…
Why would Violet suddenly ask about him?
Last time, Simon mentioned that the contact book could lead to her uncle.
Did her uncle know something about her grandfather and mother’s deaths?
Whitney frowned. “Grandma, do you know where my uncle went when he left all those years ago?”
“I haven’t the faintest! Haven’t you reached him? Well, it’s just as well. There’s no love lost there.”
Violet’s demeanor rxed as she grabbed her purse and swiftly departed.
Violet’s attitude was telling. Her uncle might know the cause of her mother and grandfather’s deaths.
Whitney pondered as she walked back to the Skye Gem building.
Simon’s Lamborghini pulled up, and he emerged with a quick stride, holding a small cake, his gaze
softening as he looked at Whitney. “Heard you had a shareholders‘ meeting? I just got back from a
business trip. Whitney, try this; it’s your old favorite mousse.”
Whitney snapped back to reality, initially not nning to engage him.
But then something clicked, and she looked up, her eyes devoid of warmth. “Simon, you weren’t the
one who saved me that night. Why pretend, causing me such a misunderstanding?”
Simon stiffened, his handsome face contorting with difort, “I… I thought my father had spoken to
the Lutz family for you.”
Of course, he knew his father had not. Wyatt had refused him.
Whitney’s coldughter chilled the air. “You guessed it was L, yet you didn’t rify in the restroom. Your
tactics are despicable.”
“Whitney, it’s because I love you! I’m afraid of losing you,” Simon pleaded, grabbing her arm, “And what
can your man do? He’s powerless. Why would you believe him?”
“Yes, he’s much more powerful than you.” Whitney’s sarcasm stung as she shook him off, “No more
disgusting lies. We’re done. If you insist on clinging to Skye Gem, I’ll soon take back your shares. And
that contact book of my grandfather’s, I want it.”
She needed to find her uncle.
Simon frowned. “I’m not giving you the contact book now.”
If he did, he would lose his leverage.
“Then I’ll find a way to make you give it to me.” Whitney’s words were icy as she turned back to the
Têxt ? N?velDrama.Org.
Simon watched her go, a rueful smile in his eyes. He thought mentioning the contact book might bring
her closer to him, but Whitney was never one to be threatened.
In the CEO’s office of the Imperial Gem Corporation.
ine handed over the signed document, her gaze flitting from theputer screen on the expansive
desk to the strikingly handsome man seated behind it. With a teasing smile, she quipped, “Bro, are you
really checking out Skye Gem’s stocks? Ignoring the stock market of your ownpanies? Looks like
Whitney’s really your darling.”
Ludwik’s brows arched at her words, ‘darling? That reminded him of the littledy who had expressed a
desire to be his darling that evening at the hot springs resort.
A soft smile yed on his lips, unbidden.
ine lifted her eyelids slightly, steering the conversation forward, “Skye Gem has been quite
aggressivetely. The stocks are recovering. Whitney’s doing pretty well. I hear she’s in the market for
some raw gems, scouting for suppliers.”
Ludwik had been considering giving the littledy’s Skye Gem a boost.
“Is she nning a big sell–off?” He inquired.
ine nodded, analyzing, “Looks like it. After the counterfeit gemstone fiasco, Skye Gem is desperate
to restore its reputation by recing them. Whitney must be anxious to get her hands on raw
materials.”
“Do we have suppliers under Imperial Gem Corporation who can provide top–notch quality
gemstones?”
ine had been waiting for just that question. With a smile, she passed him a file, “I’ve already taken
the liberty of shouldering this concern for you. This is Banyan City’s finest raw gem supplier, currently
under contract with one of our subsidiaries. The quality is assured. And most importantly, the owners
are women. They often discuss partnerships with Whitney, so you can rest easy that no men are
involved.”
She winked, skillfully anticipating and ying to Ludwik’s jealous