They Called Me a Gold Digger, So I Dethroned Them All Chapter 08

Hollis went pale and stumbled half a step back, visibly stunned.

Beside him, Maisie stamped her foot in frustration and cried out in a shrill voice.

“Blythe Wetherell, stop looking down on us! Hollis’s company is about to partner with Arkwright Group. Once that happens, he’ll be a hundred times more successful than you!”

I gave her a look reserved for someone who didn’t have a clue, then turned toward the private

fitting suite.

“Then I guess we’ll just have to wait and see which of us goes bankrupt first.”

The atmosphere in the top–floor conference room at Arkwright Group headquarters was icy.

Hollis and his senior executives occupied the left side of the long conference table, looking thoroughly confident of success.

“Mr. Arkwright, this is the Phase Two valuation report for Redgrave Industries‘ renewable energy project. We’re projecting a return on investment of over 300%.”

Hollis slid a thick proposal across the table toward Stellan, his voice confident and assured.

“Right now, the Redgrave family is the only player in the northern market with the necessary land–use approvals already in place. Partnering with us is Arkwright Group’s best option.”

Stellan sat at the head of the table, showing no interest in even opening the proposal.

“Our Strategic Investments Department has already reviewed it.”

A confident smile spread across Hollis’s face.

“Then I take it you’re saying…”

The concealed door to the conference room opened.

I stepped inside in a tailored dark gray suit, tablet in hand, and walked straight to the seat beside

Stellan.

Hollis’s smile froze. He shot to his feet.

“Blythe? What are you doing here? This is a confidential business meeting! Who authorized you to

come in?”

robin slammed his hand against the table.

“Mr. Arkwright, even if you have a personal interest in her, you can’t just bring a woman who knows nothing about business into a strategic investment meeting!”

Stellan’s expression darkened. He rapped his fingers sharply against the table.

“Watch your tone.”

His voice was cold, carrying an authority that silenced the room.

“Ms. Wetherell is Arkwright Group’s Chief Strategy and Investment Officer. She also has sole decision–making authority over this northern acquisition.”

“If you want a deal, you’ll have to get her approval.”

Hollis stared at me, his eyes burning with shock, disbelief, and barely contained fury.

I calmly unlocked my tablet and projected the figures onto the large screen.

“Mr. Redgrave, the three industrial sites listed in your proposal had their development approvals suspended indefinitely last month after failing environmental review. Isn’t that right?”

Hollis’s expression changed instantly, cold sweat soaking through his back.

“Blythe Wetherell, what the hell are you talking about?”

I brought up the next slide and smiled at him.

“Your company also diverted $4 million from the Phase Two development budget to fund road improvements in Ms. Orlin’s hometown.”

“You disguised the payments as materials procurement expenses. A rather sloppy attempt at

covering your tracks, Mr. Redgrave.”

Tobin sucked in a sharp breath and turned toward Hollis, his face filled with alarm.

“Hollis… how does she know about any of this?”

Hollis clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. He glared at me, his jaw so tight it looked as though he might grind his teeth to pieces.

“Blythe Wetherell, you’ve been investigating me?”

I switched off the screen, picked up my coffee, and took a sip before looking down at him.

“Remember when you were so eager to show me what a generous, charitable man you were that you personally handed me the transaction records for your charity accounts?”

“You thought you were doing a good deed. What you were really doing was using your investors money to build yourself a reputation as some kind of saint.”