Chapter 241

"Nathan! You're exploiting the situation!" Leonard Blackwood's face twisted in shock as he slammed his palm on the mahogany desk and rose abruptly.

"Just settling scores, Father. Isn't that what you've preached since my childhood?" Nathan Blackwood remained composed, leisurely reclining in his leather chair.

"Your greed knows no bounds! You already claimed your pound of flesh. I even surrendered the presidency that rightfully belonged to your elder brother. Now you dare demand the vice-chairmanship? Why not ask for my resignation while you're at it?" Leonard's voice shook with barely contained fury.

Nathan's lips curled into a sardonic smile, his obsidian eyes revealing nothing. "Let's be honest - who's benefited whom more? Every scrap I've received since childhood came with your price tag attached. We both know exactly why I hold Monarch Group's presidency, so spare me the theatrics of portraying me as some villainous usurper. Just the two of us here - doesn't the pretense exhaust you?"

Leonard's complexion darkened to an alarming shade of crimson, rendered speechless.

"The vice-chairmanship in exchange for Blackwood Industries surviving this crisis unscathed. The choice seems rather straightforward." Nathan rose gracefully and moved toward the exit.

He paused at the threshold, adding with calculated nonchalance, "Unless you'd prefer to keep championing Penelope against all reason. Though I'd imagine even you must feel some semblance of shame by now."

Nathan's fist clenched as he stormed back to his office, the door crashing shut behind him with finality.

An unfamiliar lightness filled his chest. He inhaled deeply, long fingers loosening the constricting Windsor knot at his throat.

It had been years since Nathan experienced this particular flavor of satisfaction.

Watching Leonard exhaust every resource and scheme to salvage Penelope's crumbling position, only to meet with abject failure - the sight rejuvenated Nathan like nothing else.

Yet he couldn't deny Evelyn Carter's pivotal role in this victory.

Initially, Nathan merely aimed to block Penelope's vice-chairman aspirations. The nuclear option of public scandal seemed too risky, threatening Blackwood Industries' stock value and stakeholder confidence.

But Evelyn operated on an entirely different scale - her penchant for seismic disruptions yielded unexpected dividends. Not only had she neutralized Penelope's threat, but she'd also handed Nathan the perfect leverage to negotiate with Leonard, permanently eliminating any possibility of Penelope monitoring his activities.

Technically, Nathan owed Evelyn his gratitude.

Yet the memory of her scathing words that had lacerated his pride, her glacial indifference, caused his expression to darken.

Thank her? Unthinkable. That woman's original intent was stealing my project. Consider this repayment in kind.

His phone buzzed insistently.

Nathan retrieved the device, his brow furrowing slightly at the caller ID before answering with clipped impatience. "What do you want, Julian?"

"Nathan, you absolute bastard, come drink with me tonight." Julian Montgomery's voice carried the rasp of someone who'd been drinking since noon, tinged with the melodrama of a jilted lover. "I've acquired three limited-edition Bugattis, hired four supermodels to drown my sorrows with, and uncorked enough Dom Pérignon to flood a small country. Yet this... this ache in my chest persists. Is this heartbreak? It feels like someone's stabbing me with a rusty ice pick!"

"Sounds like angina. Might I suggest a cardiologist instead of a bartender? Stop wasting my time."

As Nathan moved to disconnect, Julian's panicked voice cut through. "Wait! At least celebrate your wicked stepmother's downfall with me!"

Nathan's lips thinned. "Fine. Time and place."

At precisely 6:00 p.m., a matte black Rolls-Royce Ghost idled discreetly behind Crestview Arts Institute. Despite its understated elegance, the vehicle still drew covetous glances from passing students.