Chapter 8: The Desperate Alliance
Chapter 8: The Desperate Alliance
With their backs against the wall, the Whitlock family resorted to their last option. They reached out to Julian Vance, the ruthless head of the Vance Corporation and a long-time rival of the Mason-Vane Group.
Julian Vance was a man in his early thirties, sharp, calculating, and cold. He had been trying to break into the luxury estate market for years, but Clara’s family had always blocked him.
Andrew and Arthur met Julian in a dimly lit private club.
"We will give you forty percent of our shipping fleet," Arthur said, his voice shaking. "In exchange, we need fifty million dollars to pay off the Mason-Vane margin call, and we need your legal team to get my wife out of the felony charges."
Julian Vance leaned back in his leather chair, swirling his whiskey. He looked at Andrew, then at Arthur.
"You people managed to offend the most powerful heiress in the country because you couldn't identify handmade Lyon silk?" Julian chuckled, a sound devoid of warmth. "You’re fools. But... I do hate the Mason-Vane group. They’ve been an obstacle for too long."
Julian set his glass down. "I will buy your entire shipping fleet for thirty million. Not forty percent. The whole thing. Take it or leave it. With that money, you can pay off part of your debt, and I will use my influence to delay the court hearing for your wife."
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Andrew wanted to protest—the shipping fleet was worth at least eighty million—but Arthur pulled his arm down. "We’ll take it."
Julian smiled. "Good. Let's see how the little queen handles a real opponent."
