Chapter 60
Lucies let her tease and provoke him, curious to see just how far Valerie would
- go.
“So, do you like pretty jewelry?”
Valerie nodded with mock solemnity. “I don’t just like it–I adore it.”
“Do you want it?”
“Of course I do.”
Lucius pretended to ponder it. “But what can I do? I’ve already given that companion’s spot to
Sonia.
“I seem to recall someone saying last night that kind of trash wasn’t even worthy of your attention. But now, are you letting garbage compete with you?”
He expected her to explode, but instead, she slipped into exaggerated thoughtfulness. “You know, darling, you’re right. Integrity is everything. Going back on your word is a cardinal sin.”
She tapped his cheek lightly with her fingertips. “So, if you bring Sonia on that ship tomorrow, I’ll look down on you for the rest of my life.”
Lucius raised a brow. “Is that an empty threat?”
“The plain truth as it is,” she said.
“I thought you’d fight harder for this chance.”
“I did fight for it.”
“Not with enough sincerity.”
Valerie plucked Lucifer from her arm, tossed the serpent straight into his arms, and flashed a devil’s smile. “Exactly. I never intended sincerity when I spoke to you.”
Lucius caught Lucifer automatically, just as the phone on the table began to buzz. Seeing the number, he had no choice but to swallow his irritation with Valerie and deal with the caller
first.
Five minutes later, as he hung up, he realized that Valerie–who had been toying with him just moments before–was already gone without a trace.
Skyler hadn’t expected Valerie to hire Everett, the so–called undefeated god of the legal world, as her representative attorney.
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Everett’s reputation preceded him. Every case he had ever taken ended in victory.
A few years ago, Woodward Group’s flagship restaurant had gone head–to–head with a rival, and the dispute had nearly spiraled out of control.
To put an end to it, Skyler had been willing to spend a fortune hiring Everett to represent the company in court. To his fury, Everett refused.
The reason, delivered coolly by Everett’s staff, had been nothing short of absurd–Everett only took cases that felt right to himself. If it didn’t strike his fancy, he simply wouldn’t accept.
The rejection had left Skyler fuming, muttering under his breath that Everett didn’t know how to recognize an opportunity when it stared him in the face.
And yet here he was, years later—the very same legendary figure of the legal world—now acting as counsel for Valerie, the ungrateful daughter who had turned against him.
They met at a cafe.
Everett got straight to the point. “I represent Ms. Collins in negotiating the transfer of property with Mr. Woodward. These are the relevant terms and conditions. If you find them acceptable, you may sign here.”
He slid the prepared contract across the table and placed a pen neatly beside it.
Skyler skimmed the document. After years of handling contracts, he could tell at a glance that nothing was amiss.
Yet, instead of signing, he looked over at Valerie, who sat twirling a pen between her fingers, as if none of it concerned her.
“Val,” he said, his tone heavy with reproach, “this isn’t right. We’re father and daughter. Couldn’t we have spoken privately, behind closed doors? Bringing a lawyer here makes this feel too formal. It’s just a property, isn’t it? Do you really think I’d ever shortchange you?”
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