Love beyond the mask (Whitney) novel Chapter 431

"I mean no harm, just schooling the lady on how to be a good person instead of a puppet!" Whitney said with a smirk.

Sienna looked at Florence in denial, her face turning sour as she realized she was being blamed.

Once Sienna fell silent, the elite ladies around got the hint.

"This Ms. Sheldon, always praised for her innocence and frailty, I thought she lacked ambition."

"Oh, in the world of high society, which sister doesn't yearn for a bit of spotlight? If the rumors about Whitney involve Ms. Sheldon, they can hardly be credible."

The crowd dispersed, discussing among themselves, suddenly less inclined to believe the scandals about Whitney.

Florence lowered her head, coughing to hide the gloom in her eyes. She had hoped to tarnish Whitney's reputation through Sienna but found herself nearly jeopardizing her own carefully crafted image!

She glanced towards Ludwik, her eyes narrowing with determination.

-

In a tearoom adjacent to the banquet hall, the gentlemen of the Lippert family gathered.

Jarvis looked at Ludwik with an amused expression. From the moment Ludwik announced his relationship with Florence earlier that evening, and especially after Jarvis spotted Whitney at the banquet, he found the situation increasingly interesting.

Jason, seated at the head of the table with a stern Riley by his side, faced Ludwik.

Jason raised his eyebrows, "Ludwik, what's going on? Your Uncle Riley has brought his complaints all the way to me. Your first day at the corporation and you spend the evening in Banyan City. I haven’t had the chance to ask you about it, but I heard you fired someone?"

His tone was inquisitive but calm.

Riley burst out, "Big brother, he fired three of my executives, and even Erin got the boot! Ludwik is getting out of line. He's messing with uncles and aunts now? Are you really going to let him off the hook? If you don’t make him reinstate Erin today, the Lippert family will fall apart!"

Jason frowned, "Ludwik, give your Uncle Riley and Aunt Erin an explanation."

Ludwik replied coolly, "Uncle Riley's executives bought a plot in the city for a private golf course, presumably as a favor to someone. That little venture cost the corporation two billion! As for Aunt Erin, she was the project manager for the golf course, approving a budget of four hundred million, yet not a single shovel has hit the ground."

Riley and Erin's faces went pale, stunned that Ludwik had uncovered their little scheme.

Ludwik continued, "Executives who don’t work but bleed the company dry? If I don’t fire them, who will? Right, Aunt Erin?"

The room grew tense.

Jason turned his sharp gaze to Riley, "Brother, do you think those executives should stay?"

Riley, seething with resentment towards Ludwik, couldn't find the words to reply.

Jason slammed his hand on the table, "So Ludwik did nothing wrong, did he? Everyone, think twice before you decide not to cooperate with him from now on."

He then softened his tone, "Riley, hand over that plot to Ludwik to handle. And two billion is still money."

"Ludwik, how’s it going with your own team in the company?"

"They’ve adapted quickly. Also, I noticed," Ludwik glanced at Jarvis, "Jarvis’s subsidiaries have been awarding major contracts to the Patrick Group. Given their ranking in the city, I’m curious what kind of merit won them Jarvis’s favor?"

Jarvis pressed his lips together, visibly annoyed.

Thea, about to enter, stopped dead in her tracks, standing beside her brother, Wade Patrick.