Chapter 81
He then glanced at Cora with a raised brow. “The only reason I even found out about her involvement in that company James’ company, was because I saw it… in James’ possession p>
Immediately Malisa narrowed her eyes while Cora slowly turned to look at him. Her expression shifted not because she was any less angry, but because his words struck something. A truth she wasn’t ready to confront.
Lovi went on smoothly, “I saw the documents myself. James had them locked away. And yes, before you ask, they were original copies. It showed exactly when and how the investment came through, and every last string of it points back to you, Cora p>
He turned toward her now, dropping the amused tone just slightly.
“James knew it was you. He may not have known immediately, but from the way the paperwork was marked, from the name of the silent investor that kept showing up, it didn’t take him long to piece it together. He’s not stupid p>
Cora’s jaw tightened even more. Her mouth parted slightly, but no words came out.
Lovi leaned forward, elbows on the table, and lowered his voice as if he was telling a secret.
“In fact, I think he’s known for a while now. He just wasn’t expecting the move to happen so soon. He thought he had time. But he didn’t. You surprised him. You went for the jugular, and you didn’t miss p>
Cora blinked. Her lips were still sealed, but her mind was racing.
“How could he know?” she whispered to herself. “I covered everything… I covered it so well p>
Lovi at that moment would then pause, his eyes slightly narrowing, his tone dropping into something more serious. The smile on his face faded slowly, not because he was no longer enjoying the drama unfolding but because the next part of what he was about to say was not something even he found amusing.
“I don’t know when exactly James found out,” he began, tapping his fingers on the edge of the table slowly. “Maybe it was recently. Maybe it was just after everything went sour between both of you. Maybe something happened that made him sit down and start connecting the dots. Either way, from what I’ve seen… he started having strong suspicions that the silent investor the mysterious force behind his big break was you, Cora p>
He looked at her directly, voice calm but heavy.
“And when a man like James starts suspecting something like that, he doesn’t just let it go. He plans p>
Cora was completely still. Even Malisa, who moments ago had been filled with so much fire, leaned in slightly, her brows furrowed.
Lovi continued, “Now, inside the documents, the 30% share that wasn’t sold that’s where things get interesting. From what I gathered, that 30% belonged solely to James. But instead of keeping it as one block, he broke it down into small pieces and distributed it among a group of smaller investors fronts, mostly. People he controlled. People nobody would question p>
He leaned back and crossed his arms.
“But here’s the twist… the agreements attached to those shares all contain a clause, silent, hidden deep in legal terms that the shares can be recalled at any time. And guess what? From the movement of those assets, the changes in legal paperwork… from all indications p>
He leaned forward again, locking eyes with Cora.
“He’s already started the process p>
Cora’s jaw tightened even more.
Malisa gasped slightly and turned toward her. “Wait, what p>
Lovi nodded slowly. “Yes. He’s started the process of recalling the remaining 30% shares p>
Cora’s lips parted, but no sound came out, and then, Lovi let the bombshell drop.
“Here’s where it gets dangerous,” he said slowly. “If James successfully pulls this off—and he’s already halfway through it—he would hold 30%. You own 70%. That gives him the legal right to propose a merger p>
Malisa looked completely confused now. “Wait—so what p>
Cora, however, already knew what that meant. Her mind was racing.
Lovi went on, his voice low. “A merger means dissolving your 70% into a new entity that includes his 30%. It gives him the power to renegotiate. To disrupt. And worst of all… to drag you into court if you refuse p>
At that moment, Cora sharply turned to Malisa, her eyes dark with disbelief and fire. Her voice came out tight, not loud, but cold, too cold.
“Malisa… is what he just said true p>
The room suddenly became heavier. Even Lovie, who moments ago had been comfortable in his seat, found himself subtly sitting up straighter. There was something about Cora’s tone something dangerous.
However Malisa didn’t speak immediately. Her lips parted, but no words came out. She looked at Lovie, then back at Cora. Her shoulders dropped slightly, and finally, with a quiet breath, she gave a small nod.
“Yes, it’s true,” she murmured.
Cora froze. Her jaw clenched as her fingers slowly curled into a fist at her side. Her breathing deepened not out of fear, but out of contained rage. The kind of rage that came from betrayal and disappointment.
She didn’t shout. She didn’t scream. Instead, her voice came out low, controlled, but filled with venom.
“I calculated everything,” she said. “Before I even took the first step into buying that company, I made sure the structure would protect me. I trusted the data. I trusted you, Malisa.” She paused, the weight of her disappointment hitting harder than any slap. “So tell me… why is everything suddenly shifting beneath my feet p>
At that moment Malisa lowered her head. “We didn’t expect James to act this fast. We thought we had time to file restrictions… create barriers. But it’s like he was some steps ahead p>
Cora laughed bitterly and shook her head. “Of course he was. Because James doesn’t sleep. James doesn’t forgive. He plays dirty. And we know that. I know that. And still this p>
She took a slow step back, as if trying to contain the fury boiling in her.
“And now you’re telling me I might be forced into a merger with a man I’ve spent days trying to bury p>
She snapped her gaze at Lovie now. “No. Absolutely not. I’m not merging anything with that bastard p>
Lovi raised both hands slightly, trying to calm the storm. “That’s exactly why I called this meeting, Cora. I knew you would never agree to a merger. But there’s one possible way out—something that can satisfy the legal structure and keep you in power p>