Vernon Gates laughed.
This was exactly what he wanted.
He leaned back on the sofa, satisfied as he looked at Isla Lawson.
He lit a cigarette, and Isla frowned in disgust, but Vernon ignored her.
"Initially, we planned to invest sixty million in Aether, but out of caution, we chose thirty million."
Vernon said, "If it weren’t for the information you provided, we could have invested that amount."
"So, I’m not asking for sixty million from you. You just need to give Aether shares worth thirty million at that ti. If you can’t, then give twice the current valuation."
Isla slamd the table and stood up: "Why don’t you just rob !"
The thirty million back then, with technical breakthroughs, cooperation and orders with TT, and Brandon Huxley’s subsequent announcents of significant orders, Aether’s valuation has skyrocketed by an unknown amount.
And yet, Vernon still wanted twice the price after this surge!
But Vernon only sneered.
He blew out a smoke ring and said, "You see, you also know how much I lost."
"Isla Lawson, twice is being rciful," he said, "Aether is still in the early stages of rapid developnt. Who knows how high it will go later."
"Go and ask, if Jasper Ford or Serena Sterling plans to sell their Aether shares, is anyone willing to buy at twice the current price?"
There are.
Although few, there would be so.
For example, The Lawson Corporation would buy.
Many tis, a premium is needed to capture market share.
Moreover, Aether is indeed in the early stages of rapid developnt.
"I can’t give it." In the end, Isla Lawson said.
"Can’t give it?" Vernon Gates acted as if he’d heard a big joke, "You, Miss Lawson of the Lawsons, can’t give it?"
Isla Lawson’s fists clenched tightly.
She had already sold so overseas assets at a low price. If she continued to sell, once the amount got too large, it wouldn’t be easy to cover up.
If people found out about her maneuvers... where would she put her face?
Wouldn’t everyone say she lost to a pretty face like Serena!
She couldn’t afford to lose face!
Seeing Isla in this state, Vernon added fuel to the fire.
"Isla, you must think carefully. Right now, I’m the only one who knows. If others find out, won’t they also co asking for compensation?"
Isla felt a chill on her scalp.
One person was like this; what if others ca too?
She could hardly even imagine.
With gritted teeth, Isla said, "Believing rumors is your own issue. Determining the truth of the information is sothing you should do!"
Vernon sneered.
"We do need to verify information, but misleading others also cos with a price. Not to ntion..."
Vernon sat up straight and looked directly at Isla: "During the break with Aether, you didn’t just provide information but also issued a warning as Miss Lawson of the Lawson Family."
"Virgil Ford was also involved, why don’t you go after him!" Isla was on the brink.
"He also got the information from you, on the sa day," Vernon said, "If I asked him for compensation, he would still point the finger at you, Isla Lawson, the sa, no difference."
"In fact, you’d have one more person chasing you for debt."
Isla couldn’t refute.
At this point, besides compensation, there seed to be no other way out.
But was she really willing?
She hadn’t gained anything and was already mired in trouble; now she had to compensate!
And a hefty amount...
She would not!
She knew she could completely evade this, and even if Vernon leaked information, she could rely on her status as a Lawson to ignore it.
But then Isla would beco the laughingstock of all Aeston.
How would others view her?
How would The Lawsons view her?
How would Xander Linton view her?
And Serena... Serena would surely be overjoyed!
The thought of Serena mocking her face-to-face drove Isla to the brink of a breakdown.
Sensing Isla’s long silence, Vernon started to feel sothing was amiss.
Vernon dared to blackmail Isla because he knew she could afford it.
Though it would cost her dearly, she could manage it discreetly.
But now, it seed otherwise?
However... who cares!
He would recover his losses at any cost!
"Have you decided?" Vernon asked, waving his phone before Isla, "What I do depends entirely on you."
Feeling cornered, Isla suddenly thought of a solution.
"I’ll negotiate with Aether," Isla said, "And get shares from them. Then I’ll give you shares equivalent to the thirty million you ntioned."
Vernon didn’t expect this answer from Isla.
But realizing that Isla probably didn’t want to pay double, he nodded.
"Alright."
Vernon said, putting down his cigarette and extending his hand, "So that’s settled."
Vernon wanted to shake hands, but Isla refused.
She stood up with a cold face, grabbed her bag, and left.
Watching Isla’s departing figure, Vernon thought for a mont and made a call.
Soon, the call connected.
"Vernon, what’s the matter?" a voice ca through.
"Help investigate sothing." Vernon withdrew his gaze, speaking softly, "Check on Isla’s overseas assets, see what’s going on."
"Why do you want to check this?" The other person asked, puzzled.
"Just do it for ," Vernon replied.
"Alright, but you owe dinner," the person imdiately replied.
"Got it, my friend!" Vernon laughed.
After hanging up, Vernon glanced curiously in the direction Isla left. She was long gone.
anwhile, Isla entered the garage.
Compensation?
Aether shares?
Fine.
She would ruin Aether, and then both Vernon and Serena would go down together!
Only then could she put an end to all this!
In the future, whenever anyone asked for Aether shares, she would react the sa way!
Isla clenched the steering wheel.
"Serena, don’t bla ; you’re the one who turned into this!"
"You forced !"
...
On the other side.
Serena seed to sense sothing.
She looked up at the sky outside the window. At so unknown point, the clear sky had beco densely clouded.
It looked forebodingly dark.
It seed as if sothing was about to happen.
Serena averted her gaze.
No matter what happens, she’ll deal with it as it cos.
She thought for a mont and rembered the inexplicable ssage Clara Huxley had sent her earlier.
Then she called Clara back.
Clara recounted what happened at the Chinese-style clubhouse.
"I’ve also bet on your victory, Serena, go for it, I’m rooting for you!" Clara said.
After hanging up, Serena didn’t speak.
She walked step by step to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the traffic below.
Is there a trace now?
Those people.
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