Chapter 262
262
262
Third Person’s POV
49 %
+5 Free Coing
Adelaide smiled and said, “It’s just a few pink diamonds. I could gift them all to you. What’s there to be angry about? But these diamonds are quite valuable. If they fall into someone else’s hands, wouldn’t that give her a bargain? We can’t let her have that advantage.”
Priscilla clapped her hands and said excitedly, “Great! I’ve won! I’ll go with you to Madison’s house right now to get back the pink diamonds and make her lose three hundred thousand dollars! I spent a lot of money on that jewelry store investment before and haven’t made a penny. Now, getting three hundred thousand US dollars back from them is just making up for what I gave them last time.”
“Jewelry store?” Adelaide inquired meaningfully. “The jewelry store you opened with Madison?”
“Of course! A gold jewelry store that’s been open for several years. It’s never made a profit, and I have to keep subsidizing the inventory costs…”
Priscilla suddenly stopped, realizing that her words exposed her poor investment sense and were damaging to her pride.
She quickly changed her tune, “But in business, there are losses and profits. It’s normal. You wouldn’t understand. Starting a business is hard, and maintaining it is even harder. It will make a profit eventually.”
Adelaide smiled, her jaw clenching with frustration, yet she still responded mildly, “You’re right. In business, there are always gains and losses. Oh, by the way, is the jewelry store a fifty–fifty partnership between you and them? Have you signed a contract? Have you ever seen the books since it opened?”
Priscilla said proudly, “Of course we signed a contract. Do you take me for a fool? Actually, it’s not a 50-50 split. I hold a 70% stake. The ledgers are sent over quarterly, and I’ve checked them. We’ve indeed been in the red.”
“Oh? You have the majority stake? Then if there’s a loss, you have to subsidize more, don’t you? How much have you invested over the years? Have you kept track?” Priscilla asked.
“Of course I’ve kept track. Every expense is recorded,” Priscilla replied.
Adelaide thought to herself, “That’s good,” and said, “Have you remembered the total amount invested?”
Priscilla responded impatiently, “Who would memorize all the numbers? I can only chec roughly tens of millions of dollars.”
ledger. It’s
Adelaide glanced at Lance, whose expression was darkening, and continued, “I suppose you’ve never been to the jewelry store?”
Priscilla said coldly, “How could I go there? I was busy preparing for your mating ceremony with the Blackthorn Pack. Besides, does my presence matter? The store is managed by Madison’s people. Madison and I are of high status. We can’t be seen in public. Anyway, I review the quarterly accounts, so I’m not worried about being cheated.”
Adelaide knew that many businesses of influential families were managed by professional managers, usually with trusted inspectors sent out.
<
1/2
262
262
Third Person’s POV
+5 Free Coina
Adelaide smiled and said, “It’s just a few pink diamonds. I could gift them all to you. What’s there to be angry about? But these diamonds are quite valuable. If they fall into someone else’s hands, wouldn’t that give her a bargain? We can’t let her have that advantage.”
Priscilla clapped her hands and said excitedly, “Great! I’ve won! I’ll go with you to Madison’s house right now to get back the pink diamonds and make her lose three hundred thousand dollars! I spent a lot of money on that jewelry store investment before and haven’t made a penny. Now, getting three hundred thousand US dollars back from them is just making up for what I gave them last time.”
“Jewelry store?” Adelaide inquired meaningfully. “The jewelry store you opened with Madison?”
“Of course! A gold jewelry store that’s been open for several years. It’s never made a profit, and I have to keep subsidizing the inventory costs…”
Priscilla suddenly stopped, realizing that her words exposed her poor investment sense and were damaging to her pride.
She quickly changed her tune, “But in business, there are losses and profits. It’s normal. You wouldn’t understand. Starting a business is hard, and maintaining it is even harder. It will make a profit eventually.”
Adelaide smiled, her jaw clenching with frustration, yet she still responded mildly, “You’re right. In business, there are always gains and losses. Oh, by the way, is the jewelry store a fifty–fifty partnership between you and them? Have you signed a contract? Have you ever seen the books since it opened?”
Priscilla said proudly, “Of course we signed a contract. Do you take me for a fool? Actually, it’s not a 50-50 split. I hold a 70% stake. The ledgers are sent over quarterly, and I’ve checked them. We’ve indeed been in the red.”
“Oh? You have the majority stake? Then if there’s a loss, you have to subsidize more, don’t you? How much have you invested over the years? Have you kept track?” Priscilla asked.
“Of course I’ve kept track. Every expense is recorded,” Priscilla replied.
Adelaide thought to herself, “That’s good,” and said, “Have you remembered the total amount investe…
Priscilla responded impatiently, “Who would memorize all the numbers? I can only check the ledger. It’s: roughly tens of millions of dollars.”
Adelaide glanced at Lance, whose expression was darkening, and continued, “I suppose you’ve never been to the jewelry store?”
Priscilla said coldly, “How could I go there? I was busy preparing for your mating ceremony with the Blackthorn Pack. Besides, does my presence matter? The store is managed by Madison’s people . Madison and I are of high status. We can’t be seen in public. Anyway, I review the quarterly accounts, so I’m not worried about being cheated.”
Adelaide knew that many businesses of influential families were managed by professional managers , usually with trusted inspectors sent out.
262
Priscilla was right, but the word “we” was inappropriate.
5 Free Coins
Lance was already furious—tens of millions of dollars invested with no return. When preparing for the mating ceremony, he and Caldwell had visited all the gold shops in the capital with Ralph. The most successful was the “Royal Gold Shop.” Madison’s jewelry store always copied its designs and had a poor reputation.
But due to the similar styles and lower prices, business was actually good. It was impossible to be losing money to the point of needing subsidies.
Adelaide was also aware of this but didn’t want to expose it now. The priority was to retrieve the pink diamonds.
Lance ordered the carriage prepared. To prevent his mother from bragging at Madison’s house first, he took her back to the palace with him.
The convoy consisted of three carri one for Lance and Adelaide, one for Priscilla and Susan, and
one for Ivy, Beata, and Jasmine.
Back at the palace, Lycan Luna Clarissa was delighted to see Adelaide. She held Adelaide’s hand, asking numerous questions and earnestly warning Lance to treat her well.
Lance promised repeatedly in front of h
Priscilla, however, was displeased. Why didn’t Clarissa admonish Adelaide to take good care of her mate? Did Luna think herself more high and mighty than Alpha?
Clarissa, of course, saw right through her sister’s irritation.
When Lance and Adelaide went to pay respects to Lycan Erasmus, she detained Priscilla and Susan.
She first addressed Susan, “Now that you’re in the Blackthorn Pack, life differs from the palace. In social interactions, it’s essential to mind your manners. Any missteps or offensive remarks could harm the Blackthorn Pack. Your conduct must be impeccable. Priscilla, whom you’ve helped raise, adores you. But going forward, if you notice her doing something wrong, you must remind her immediately. If she intends to act inappropriately, you must dissuade her. Understood?”
Susan responded respectfully, “Yes, I understand.”
– Priscilla sneered, “Clarissa, what have I done wrong? Moreover, I’ll be managing the pack’s internal affairs
and overseeing all matters. With Susan and Ralph’s assistance, and Caldwell’s guidance, what could possibly go wrong?”
“You managing the pack?”
Clarissa waved her hand dismissively, “No, you must simply enjoy life within the pack. Stay out of pack affairs. If you wish to manage something, focus on your own household, You have plenty of people in your household and numerous attendants under you–more than enough to keep you busy.”
Priscilla retorted, “As Lance’s mother, if I don’t help him manage the pack, who will? Surely you don’t expect Adelaide,to? What does she know?”