Chapter 138
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Frederik Vasili leaned back in his leather chair, fingers tapping idly against the surface of his desk. A set of detailed blueprints lay open before him, the crisp lines mapping out the structure of Isabella Rossi’s Macau Project. Beside them were financial projections, supplier contracts, and government approvals–all neatly stacked, analyzed, and marked with his
own notes.
His gaze drifted across the page. It was a good project. A damn impressive one, even. He had to give Isabella credit–most people in her position would have struggled to put together something of this scale, especially under Weiss Inc. Yet, she had done it effortlessly.
But even the best projects had weaknesses.
Across the desk, Adrian Wolfe adjusted his tie before setting down his glass of scotch. “You’ve been staring at those papers for an hour,” he said, flipping through a contract Frederik had casually tossed his way earlier. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were actually interested in business development now.”
Frederik smirked, rolling his pen between his fingers. “Oh, I am. Just not in the way you’re thinking.”
Adrian sighed and leaned forward, elbows resting on the desk. “I already know where this is going,” he said, pointing at Frederik with the rim of his glass. “Whatever you’re planning–it’s illegal.”
Frederik chuckled, closing the blueprints with a flick of his wrist. “You say that like it matters.”
“It does matter,” Adrian shot back. “If you’re thinking of messing with her project, let me remind you–Macau’s business regulations aren’t as loose as you think. Weiss Inc. has government ties and Isabella? She’s not some nobody you can just push aside.”
Frederik rested his chin on his palm. “You make it sound like I’m trying to destroy her.”
“Aren’t you?”
Frederik tilted his head, his smirk widening. “No. I’m just making sure she needs me.”
Adrian narrowed his eyes. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”
Frederik leaned forward, clasping his hands together. “If I don’t create an enemy for her, how else am I supposed to be the hero who saves her?”
Adrian exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. “That’s insane.” But that is nothing new. When it comes to Frederik, everything is just… a game. And like a game, the man is planning to create an enemy just to save a damsel in distress. What a lunatic, he thought inwardly.
Frederik shrugged. “It’s effective.”
Adrian stared at him for a moment before shaking his head. “You know, normal men just ask a woman out if they’re interested. They don’t launch full–scale industrial sabotage to get her attention.”
Frederik grinned. “Where’s the fun in that?” And he did tried asking. Isabella declined. So, he was left with no choice.
Adrian tossed the contract back onto the desk. “Fine. Since I know you’re going to do whatever you want anyway–what’s the plan?”
Frederik leaned back, propping his feet up on the desk. “Haven’t decided yet. But there are plenty of options. The project is solid, but there are… vulnerabilities.”
He picked up one of the documents and skimmed through the supplier list. “The construction relies on multiple international suppliers. A few well–placed delays could disrupt everything.”
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He grabbed another file, flipping it open. “Then there’s the workforce. Macau is strict with labor policies–what if someone were to file a few well–timed complaints?”
Adrian shook his head. “You’re talking about supply chain interference and labor law violations.”
Frederik smiled. “I’m talking about making things inconvenient for her.”
Adrian sighed. “And if it escalates? If she finds out it’s you?”
Frederik’s fingers drummed against the desk. “She won’t. At least not before she realizes she has no choice but to rely on
me.”
Frederik tapped his fingers against the desk, his gaze shifting away from the documents. “What about Calen and his mother? Did you find anything?”
Adrian exhaled, setting his glass down. “Nothing concrete.” He adjusted his cufflinks before leaning back in his chair. “I had my people look into the Weiss Foundation scandal, but there’s nothing to link it directly to Isabella or her family. If she wanted to take revenge, there would’ve been some breadcrumbs–an anonymous tip that could be traced, a financial trail leading back to her, anything. But this?” He gestured vaguely. “It was too clean.”
Frederik narrowed his eyes slightly. “So, whoever did it planned this for a long time.”
Adrian nodded. “That’s the only logical conclusion. This wasn’t something that was thrown together overnight. The leaks, the financial records, the corruption reports–it was all too precise, too well–timed.” He tapped a finger against his knee. “Whoever exposed Cecil and the Weiss Foundation had been sitting on this information for years, waiting for the perfect moment to release it.”
Frederik leaned back in his chair, considering that. “If that’s the case, then this wasn’t just about Isabella. Cecil and Weiss Inc. had an enemy long before she ever got involved.” So, it wasn’t about the drugging incident a few days ago.
“Exactly,” Adrian said. “Which means that while Isabella might have benefited from this fallout, she didn’t orchestrate it.” He paused. “And honestly? Even if she had the resources, she wouldn’t have done it this way. This was surgical, almost clinical. Not the work of someone settling a personal grudge. This was about destroying Cecil systematically.”
Frederik’s smirk faded slightly as he mulled over the implications.
Cecil Weiss was a lot of things–cunning, ruthless, manipulative. But she had never been sloppy. If someone had been digging into her past for years, waiting for the right moment to strike, that meant she had underestimated her enemies.
Frederik found that amusing.
Adrian picked up his scotch again. “And if you’re thinking of stepping into this mess, I’d reconsider. Whoever went after the Weiss Foundation had resources, patience, and enough power to keep their hands clean. Do you really want to start poking at that?”
Frederik chuckled. “I don’t need to poke at anything. I just need to see where the pieces land.”
The timing seemed perfect, so he suspected that Izzy or someone around her might have done it. However, Izzy should be too innocent for any of that. Moreover, she wasn’t as precise as her grandfather. So, he had to think of the people around her. A name always popped into his head–Liam Horvath.
He wanted to know if Liam was somehow involved in this matter. He wanted to know who his possible enemy would be if he touched Izzy. Now that he was certain it was one of Cecil’s enemies and had nothing to do with Izzy, he could proceed with his plans.
“You really should reconsider, you know.“Adrian sighed. “Making Isabella Rossi Miserable is just… something else.”
Frederik’s smirk returned. “Miserable? No. Just… complicated.”
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Chapter 138
Why did his friend make it sound as if he was going to harm Izzy? He wouldn’t do that. Well… at least not until he took over her shares of Rossi Group.
Adrian
shook his head. “Remind me never
to let you
near any woman I care about.”
Frederik picked up his pen again, idly twirling it between his fingers. “I’d say that’s a wise decision.”
