Free Web NovelChapter 185: Corporate leverage
"I said, silence," Mr. Windsor growled, his voice cutting through her hysterics like a knife. "Considering this entire disaster is your fault to begin with, Victoria, I suggest you start acting reasonably. We are not here to debate domestic grievances. We are here to settle a legal liability."
"Don’t you dare talk to me like that!" Victoria shot back, her face flushing with rage as she turned her full fury on him. "Why do you always blame me for everything our daughter does?"
"Because you are the reason she is like this! Look at what she did! She crossed a line into actual criminal conspiracy, and why? Because every single time she threw a tantrum or broke the law, you covered it up."
Victoria let out a bitter laugh. "I see what you are doing. The lawyers, everything. You are cutting her off, aren’t you. When I heard you dissolved her stock, I didn’t believe it."
Mr. Windsor didn’t deny it. He simply adjusted his cuffs, entirely indifferent to his wife’s despair, before turning his attention back to the other side of the table. Already calculating the potential damage to his empire, he leaned forward, resting his clasped hands on the mahogany table.
"Now, Miss Lyvana. My daughter’s actions have admittedly created an... inconvenient situation. But the Windsor family is prepared to offer you a generous financial settlement to put this matter to rest. Name your price, and our legal team will draft the non-disclosure agreements today."
Lyvana looked at the powerful billionaire, completely unfazed by his attempt to buy her silence. She didn’t want his money, she wanted absolute security. fгeewebnovёl.com
A cold, calm smile played on her lips.
"I don’t want your money," she stated calmly. "What I want is a lifetime, ironclad restraining order against your daughter. She will plead guilty to the conspiracy charges, and the moment she is released on probation, you will send her out of the country. If she ever steps foot in this city, or comes within a mile of me or my brand, she goes straight back to prison."
Emily who had been seated quietly on the sofa, nodded approvingly. She was brilliant, unrelenting.
But Lyvana was not finished. "And that’s not all."
She was looking directly at Mr. Windsor, ignoring the subtle jabs coming from Victoria.
"I also want a signed corporate agreement from Windsor Corporation. Any future retaliation from Catalina against me, Aurora, my employees, my partners, or anyone connected to me, whether through bad press, sabotage, harassment, or physical threats, will be treated as a direct violation of that agreement."
A breach of a corporate agreement usually triggers massive, predetermined financial penalties called liquidated damages. Lyvana could sue the corporation for billions of dollars, not just Catalina.
Victoria stared at her in disbelief, turning to her husband.
"Richard, tell me you aren’t listening to this little... this nobody. A corporate agreement? She wants to bind our entire board of directors to her whims? It’s a joke!"
Mr. Windsor, however, remained silent. His corporate mind was running the numbers. A restraining order and sending Catalina abroad was manageable, but a legally binding corporate agreement left Windsor Corporation vulnerable to massive lawsuits, if Catalina ever slipped her leash.
"The restraining order is negotiable, Ms. Lyvana," Mr. Windsor said, leaning back in his chair. "But tying my corporation to my daughter’s personal conduct is out of the question. You have no leverage to demand such terms from Windsor Corporation. If you take this to court, our legal team will tie you up in appeals for the next decade. You’ll be bankrupt before Catalina ever sees the inside of a cell."
Victoria let out a smug, triumphant laugh, adjusting her jacket.
"He’s right. You think a few conspiracy charges give you the right to dictate terms to us? You have nothing, Lyvana. Absolutely nothing."
Lyvana watched Victoria’s arrogant smirk, entirely unmoved. In fact, her eyes darkened with a cold amusement.
"Nothing?" Lyvana asked sliding into the seat, her gaze locking onto the older woman like a predator. "I wouldn’t be so sure about that, Mrs. Windsor. You see, before I came to this meeting, I had a conversation with a very interesting man. They call him the Master."
The color drained from Victoria’s face so fast it looked as though she had been struck. The smugness evaporated, leaving her completely frozen.
"And honestly," Lyvana continued, "I’m just wondering how the rest of the world will react when I share everything he told me."
"You pathetic little liar. You know nothing." Victoria’s voice was trembling, though she fought desperately to force a sharp, condescending edge back into it. "Why would I even mince words with you? You are beneath me."
"Am I? Then let’s test your theory, Mrs. Windsor. I have all sorts of photos and videos. Very juicy ones. Let’s see how much your high-society reputation is worth when they go public."
Victoria choked on her breath, her arrogance instantly dimming.
"I insist on that agreement," she continued. "If not I will send out all the videos I have of your daughter, for everyone to see." freёwebnovel.com
"Are you blackmailing us you little..."
"No," Lyvana replied softly. "I’m giving your family one final chance to control your daughter."
Victoria’s thoughts raced back to the anonymous, damning text she had received on her private phone just a few hours ago. A video of her having sex in an open garden with three men, with a warning that it would be delivered to her husband at exactly this time.
That video could completely ruin her standing with her husband.
"It was you," Victoria gasped, pointing a finger at Lyvana. "You sent me that message."
In reality, Marco had dug up that specific leverage for Julian months ago. The discovery is what had led to them tracing the Master and Catalina’s secret life.
Marco had shared that information with Lyvana during the ride home last night. And it gave her the idea to blackmail her family to keep their daughter on a leash.
