Chapter 284: A Trap Within a Trap

Chapter 284: Chapter 284: A Trap Within a Trap

Early the next morning.

Sophie Shaw received a call from Yuri’s assistant. She sleepily exchanged a few words and hung up. Afterward, they sent her a bank account number. The account holder was Yuri; it was his personal account.

She sat up against the headboard, clearing her head a little. With her eyes lowered, she initiated a transfer to Yuri through her mobile banking app.

Alaric Blackwood noticed she was awake, and so early at that. He turned on his side and snuggled closer, resting his head on her lap.

"Done sleeping?"

Sophie Shaw wanted to sleep a bit longer. It was just after six.

After completing the transfer, she casually placed her phone on the nightstand. She then lifted Alaric Blackwood’s head with both hands, moved it onto the adjacent pillow, and slid back down under the covers.

Alaric Blackwood wrapped an arm gently around her waist, pulling her into his embrace.

"I might be pretty busy for the next few days. If I can’t make it back in time for dinner or to sleep with you, don’t wait up for me, honey."

Sophie Shaw murmured in agreement, snuggling against his chest and drifting back to sleep.

...

When she arrived at Heart of the Ocean that morning, she had barely been in her office for a moment before her assistant, Hannah Sutton, walked in with an exquisite box.

"President Shaw, this was sent over by Mr. Yates."

"Understood."

Sophie Shaw took the box. After Hannah Sutton left, she opened it and saw her mother’s necklace.

’I finally have it back.’

She closed the box, put it in her purse, and sent Alaric Blackwood a WhatsApp message: "The necklace has arrived."

At that moment, Alaric Blackwood had just arrived at his company. He saw Sophie Shaw’s message and replied with a simple "Okay" before sending a voice message asking her to lunch.

Over the next few days, Alaric Blackwood maintained close contact with the director of the Blackwood Group’s finance department.

The fact that the two were frequently meeting in secret during their breaks was soon reported to Lydia Wynn. She had specifically assigned two people to tail Alaric Blackwood.

’I can’t believe he’s already reached his hand into the Blackwood Group’s finance department.’

’What is he planning?’

’Is he trying to dismantle the Blackwood Group from the inside?’

’After all, he was the former CEO. He likely still has loyalists within the company.’

Lydia Wynn felt a growing unease, unsure whether to tell Quentin Blackwood about this.

He had just been discharged from the hospital and hadn’t even come to the office, resting in bed at home instead.

After much deliberation, Lydia Wynn decided not to disturb Quentin Blackwood. She had thought of a much more brilliant plan, one that could take down Alaric Blackwood in one fell swoop.

Just before the end of the workday, she had Nathan Jensen, the director of the finance department, summoned to her office.

Everyone else had already left for the day. Only Nathan Jensen remained, kept behind in her office.

"President Wynn, did you need me for something?"

Nathan Jensen asked, feigning composure as he sat on the sofa.

Lydia Wynn leaned back in her leather swivel chair, a smirk playing on her red lips as she watched him. "Why don’t you be honest and confess what you’ve been up to."

"What... what do you want me to confess?"

"You’ve been meeting with Alaric Blackwood in secret."

Nathan Jensen laughed. "That’s not true."

Knowing he wouldn’t admit it, Lydia Wynn opened the drawer beside her and took out several photos. She then rose, walked over to Nathan Jensen, and tossed the pictures onto the coffee table.

Nathan Jensen’s expression turned ugly when he saw the candid photos of him meeting privately with Alaric Blackwood.

"So, tell me. Why did Alaric Blackwood want to see you?"

"It was nothing. Just a friendly meal, a cup of coffee."

"A meal and a cup of coffee?"

"That’s right."

"Director Jensen, if you don’t tell the truth, then these photos will be in Director Blackwood’s hands by tomorrow. Alaric Blackwood is now the CEO of Ethan Reid’s company, which makes him our competitor. You can take your time explaining yourself to Director Blackwood then."

Nathan Jensen recognized the threat in her tone, his brow furrowing deeply. "Director Blackwood was just discharged from the hospital. We shouldn’t disturb him."

"Then tell me the truth."

Nathan Jensen fell silent at first, the standoff in the office stretching on for a long time. But he couldn’t withstand Lydia Wynn’s combination of threats and persuasion and finally confessed the truth.

"Mr. Blackwood wants to poach me for Ethan Reid’s company. He also wants the detailed financial statements for the Blackwood Group from the past several years."

Lydia Wynn immediately realized Alaric Blackwood wanted to audit the books. He was probably hoping to find some evidence in the past years’ accounts that could be used to bring down Quentin Blackwood.

’Too bad for him,’ she thought. ’The Blackwood Group is squeaky clean. The books are immaculate, and we’ve never been a penny short on our taxes.’

"Are you planning to switch jobs?"

She stared at Nathan Jensen, her gaze sharp.

Beads of sweat formed on the man’s forehead. "No, I haven’t agreed to Mr. Blackwood’s offer. He was the one who asked to meet me. I have no intention of leaving the Blackwood Group. Director Blackwood has treated me well; I could never betray him."

"Oh?"

An idea began to form in Lydia Wynn’s mind.

"Are you really that loyal to my father?"

Nathan Jensen said, "I’ve worked for the Blackwood Group for many years. First, Director Blackwood trusted me enough to transfer me to the finance department. Second, I have immense respect for him. Even if the one extending the olive branch is Alaric Blackwood, I can’t bring myself to betray Director Blackwood."

A smile touched Lydia Wynn’s lips. She sat down next to Nathan Jensen and casually draped her arm over his shoulder. "Seeing as you’re so loyal, I’ll hold off on giving these photos to my father for now. However, I need you to do something for me."

"What is it?"

"You’ve been meeting with Alaric Blackwood privately quite a bit lately. I need you to help me lure him to a hotel suite, get a few drinks into him, and knock him out. If you’re the one inviting him, he probably won’t suspect a thing."

Nathan Jensen’s eyes widened. "President Wynn, what are you planning to do?"

"Don’t ask questions that don’t concern you. All you have to do is get him there."

"But from what I know, Mr. Blackwood can hold his liquor really well. A few drinks won’t be enough to take him down."

"I know. Come to my office tomorrow morning. I’ll have something for you. Once you have it, arrange to meet him tomorrow night."

Nathan Jensen looked reluctant, but he had no choice but to obey.

Early the next morning.

He arrived at Lydia Wynn’s office again. The woman placed a tiny, transparent box containing a few pills in his hand. "This drug is potent, but Alaric Blackwood is a big guy. To be safe, use all of these pills."

Nathan Jensen took the small pillbox and stared at the tablets inside, his brow furrowed. "President Wynn, this... isn’t this a bad idea?"

"This is illegal, isn’t it?"

"And what kind of drug is this? Don’t tell me you’re planning to... with Mr. Blackwood..."

A complex expression crossed Nathan Jensen’s face. "But President Wynn, you and Mr. Blackwood... aren’t you siblings?"

"Just do as you’re told and stop asking so many questions."

Lydia Wynn warned in a low voice, "If you dare try to pull any tricks, all I have to do is say a few choice words to my father about you, and your life will be hell. Even if you jump ship to Ethan Reid’s company, Alaric Blackwood would never put his trust in an employee who betrayed his former boss. With a ruined reputation, re-establishing yourself in the business world would be next to impossible."

Lydia Wynn’s threat sent a chill down Nathan Jensen’s spine.

After a long moment of consideration, he struck a deal with Lydia Wynn: he would help her only if she transferred half of her shares to him. Otherwise, he would take them both down with him.

Left with no other choice, Lydia Wynn had to agree.

After receiving the signed share transfer agreement, Nathan Jensen smiled in satisfaction. That very evening, he booked a presidential suite at a five-star hotel and called Alaric Blackwood to invite him out.