Chapter 147
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“So, she’s not budging, eh?” Frederik smirked when he heard his assistant’s updates. He had seen Izzy earlier during breakfast, but the woman ignored him–again. Had she not realized that someone in Macau was trying to suppress her? A foreigner?
Or was she expecting someone else to help her out?
“Sir, if you don’t mind me asking.” his assistant said in a lowered voice. “What are our next steps? We have already intervened, but—but we cannot do anything beyond this, or it would become too obvious that someone else is trying to sabotage Miss Rossi’s project.”
Frederik leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping idly against the edge of the table as he absorbed his assistant’s words. Izzy still wasn’t budging.
He wasn’t surprised.
From the brief interactions they’d had, Isabella Rossi didn’t seem like the type to ask for help–not unless she absolutely had
- to.
And yet, someone in Macau was actively trying to suppress her. A foreigner interfering in her project should have raised alarm bells by now.
So why wasn’t she doing anything?
Frederik exhaled sharply, stretching his legs out. “What about Horvath?”
His assistant hesitated before answering. “Still in London, sir.”
Frederik’s fingers drummed against the table.
That confirmed his suspicion.
If Liam Horvath and Isabella were together–really together–Liam wouldn’t have let her handle this mess alone. He would have already pulled strings, made calls, and maybe even flown to Macau himself.
But he hadn’t.
Which meant there was distance between them.
Interesting.
Frederik leaned forward, lacing his fingers together. “Push a little more.”
His assistant’s posture straightened. “How much more, sir?”
“Not enough to break the project completely,” Frederik mused, tilting his head. “Just enough to make it unbearable for her. Increase material delays, and escalate permit issues–subtly. We don’t want them tracing anything back to us.”
His assistant nodded. “We can tighten the pressure on logistics. The backup supplier she sourced from Malaysia? We can slow down their customs approval. And the subcontractors–some of them are already second–guessing their contracts. If they receive another offer‘ from a competitor, they might reconsider.”
Frederik smirked. “Perfect.”
He picked up his glass of whiskey, swirling the amber liquid slowly. “If she won’t ask for help, we’ll make her desperate enough to need it.”
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Chapter 147
His assistant bowed slightly before exiting the room.
Frederik took a slow sip of his drink, savoring the burn as it slid down his throat.
“Whatever I want…” he muttered to himself, a smirk playing on his lips. “I get.”
Meanwhile, the situation in San Francisco wasn’t much different from the one Izzy was currently facing.
Renard Weiss sat behind his massive mahogany desk, fingers pressed against his temples as the weight of the situation bore down on him. His office, usually a place of calculated decisions and quiet power, felt suffocating.
Across from him, Calen sat stiffly, his hands clasped together as their attorney, Anthony Langford flipped through a thick folder of documents.
“The situation has escalated,” Anthony said, adjusting his glasses as he set a few stapled sheets in front of them. “The FBI has officially launched an investigation into the Weiss Foundation. The evidence presented is extensive–money laundering, tax fraud, misappropriation of funds–every single claim is backed with documents, transactions, and testimonies.”
Renard’s fingers drummed against the desk. “And how credible is this so–called evidence?”
Anthony exhaled sharply. “It’s airtight.” He flipped a page. “The transactions were traced through shell companies linked to the foundation. Internal emails were leaked, showing direct approval of fund mismanagement. Then there are the offshore accounts-”
Renard cut him off. “I never touched any offshore accounts.”
Anthony lifted his gaze. “But your wife did.”
Silence.
Calen leaned forward, his expression darkening. “What exactly are they accusing us of?”
Anthony glanced at the next set of documents. “On the surface, the charges are directed at Cecil Weiss. She’s the one named in the primary reports. However, given that she acted as a representative of the foundation and that Weiss Inc. had ties to some of these transactions, there is a chance they will expand the investigation to you as well, Mr. Weiss.”
Renard exhaled slowly. “And the source?”
“That’s where it gets interesting,” Anthony said. He tapped a finger against one of the documents. “This wasn’t an impulsive whistleblower. Whoever did this has been watching the Weiss family for years. They didn’t just leak one or two transactions -they presented a timeline of financial irregularities spanning over a decade.”
Renard’s expression hardened.
“This wasn’t someone who stumbled upon information,” Anthony continued. “They had access to records and financial dealings no outsider should have. Either someone from within turned against you, or this was planned by someone with deep resources and patience.”
Calen frowned, his fingers gripping the edge of his chair. “An enemy of the family.”
Anthony nodded. “Precisely.”
A tense silence settled in the office.
Renard’s gaze drifted to the window, his mind racing. There weren’t many who could pull something like this off. It wasn’t just about having evidence–it was about knowing when to use it. Whoever did this had been waiting for the right moment
to strike.
Before he could say anything, the head of Weiss Inc.’s legal department entered the room, a stack of documents in hand.
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Chapter 147
“Sir,” the man started, placing the papers on the desk, “we have another problem.”
Renard didn’t look at him. “I assume this is about the shareholders.”
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The lawyer nodded. “They’re demanding answers. Stock prices have dropped another 12% since the FBI’s involvement was made public. Some of our major investors are already considering pulling out. The board is putting pressure on you to
make a formal statement.”
Renard clenched his jaw. “And what exactly do they expect me to say? That my wife is a criminal but the company remains unaffected?”
The lawyer hesitated. “They want reassurances that Weiss Inc. won’t collapse under this scandal. If confidence isn’t restored soon, we may be looking at a hostile takeover.”
Calen’s grip tightened. “That fast?”
“Yes,” the lawyer confirmed. “With the way things are going, we are at risk of losing control of the company within the next quarter.”
Renard finally looked at the lawyer, his gaze cold. “Who are the biggest threats?”
“The Blackwell Group has been increasing its stake in Weiss Inc. over the last few weeks. They’ve been quiet, but it’s clear they’re positioning themselves for an opportunity.”
Renard’s expression darkened further.
Anthony sighed, placing another document in front of them. “Sir, we need to prepare a defense strategy–not just for the company,
but for
you as well.”
Renard sat back, his fingers laced together. “We’re not just fighting the law. We’re fighting whoever orchestrated this.”
Calen exhaled sharply. “And they aren’t done yet.”
Anthony nodded grimly. “No, they’re not.”
“First, find
nd out who owns the Blackwell Group!” Renard said. “I want to know everything about them!”
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