Chapter 32 Negotiation
Robert knew Diana had a big negotiation today, so he kept his phone close, ready to jump in if she needed him.
Diana: [Robert, here's the contract I need to sign. Can you check if there are any issues?]
Robert: [Sure thing.]
While waiting, Diana suggested, "How about checking out the gems first?"
Charles gave her a look that could kill, his voice flat. "Aren't you worried I'll just take them now?"
Diana waved it off. "If you were gonna take them, Nolan would've made a move the second I walked in. Plus, I don't think you are the type to burn bridges."
Charles suddenly laughed, folding his hands on the table like he had it all figured out. "You give me too much credit. I am exactly the type to burn bridges."
Diana kept her cool, even though she was cursing him in her head. She knew she had to stay calm. So, she pulled the gems out of her bag and handed them to Nolan.
Nolan felt like his hands had turned to lead. The gem, missing for so many years, was now in his grasp. He almost stopped breathing, handling them delicately, as if they were priceless treasures.
Charles took the gem, opened the box, and saw it was the real deal, flaws and all.
He remembered when he first got the gems at seven years old. Juniper had just brought him home and set him up in a private room. But he couldn't sleep alone, terrified of the dark. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw his mom's lifeless face.
He had nightmares so bad he got sick for nights on end.
When he woke up in the hospital, there was a gem around his neck.
Juniper sat by his bed, holding his hand tight, and said, "Charles, this gem is a Percy Family treasure. With it, you'll have good luck and won't need to be scared anymore."
Somehow, young Charles felt the gem's smooth touch and found courage, never having nightmares again.
But the folks at the Percy Family weren't happy Juniper gave the gem to Charles.
When he lost the gem after being kidnapped, they made him kneel for a whole day and night. And now, the gem was back in his hands, thanks to the woman he hated most, Diana.
Charles's fingers traced the gem, and he put it around his neck in front of everyone.
He turned to Diana and said, "Sign the contract. The Percy Group will fund you. But if you can't run the Spencer Group, I'll take everything back."
Diana wanted to wait a bit longer, but just then, Robert texted.
Robert: [No issues, you can sign.]
Robert: [What did you do to make Charles agree? Impressive.]
Diana didn't reply. She picked up the pen to sign the contract but was interrupted by Clara's scream. "No, you can't!"
For a moment, everyone looked at her, confused. Especially Charles, whose joy of getting the gem back was suddenly cut short.
Clara was in shock. 'The Spencer Group is on the brink of bankruptcy, and Diana's about to be in a world of trouble. But why is Charles offering such a sweet deal just because she handed over a gem? No way, if the Spencer Group doesn't go under, Nathan might come back to run it,' she thought.
So Clara quickly chimed in, "Mr. Percy, Diana's still young and doesn't have the experience to manage a company. Why not let my father handle it? We're family, after all."
Diana almost laughed at Clara's audacity. "And how do you know I can't manage the company?"
Clara pouted, glanced around, and then looked down like she was embarrassed. "You didn't do well in school, and after marrying Mr. Percy, you were mostly playing homemaker. What do you know about business? I majored in management at Skyline University. If you don't mind, I can help you run the Spencer Group."
Diana shot back, "Oh, so I'm too young to manage the company, but you're not? You say I didn't do well in school, but I remember you got into Skyline University by begging me to give up my spot."
Diana had always been good at academics, much like her mother, Bianca, who was an all-around excellent student. But after Bianca passed away, Diana tried to get along with Mia and didn't compete with Clara.
She could easily be the top student, so missing out once or twice didn't matter.
Back in high school, there was an exam for top students where the first place would get a spot at Skyline University. Mia and Clara came to Diana, hoping she'd give up the exam and let Clara have the spot. Diana agreed without thinking, and the Williams Family bribed the other candidates.
They made Clara won first place and sent her to Skyline University. But later, Diana got into the more prestigious Dreamscape University on her own merits, which made Clara furious. If Diana hadn't planned to marry Charles after graduating, she would've gone for a master's degree.
Seeing Diana call her out, Clara's face turned red, and she weakly retorted, "I got in through my own efforts. You didn't want to take the exam, so don't blame me."
Diana nodded dismissively and replied, "Yes, yes, all your own efforts. The family definitely didn't spend $30,000 to bribe the other candidates and examiners."
Clara didn't expect Diana to say it out loud and stomped her foot in anger. "You!"
Diana didn't want to argue anymore. She handed a signed copy of the contract to Nolan and got up to leave. "Mr. Percy, since the contract is signed, I won't take up any more of your time. Looking forward to working together, goodbye."
But as she turned to leave, Charles called out, "Stop there."
"Is there anything else, Mr. Percy?" Diana was really irritated.
When Charles called her, she had a sweet smile on her face, looking very cute. The old Diana always wore heavy and exaggerated makeup, rarely looking so pure as now.
Charles was momentarily dazzled by her smile but quickly suppressed the strange feeling in his heart and said, "Since Clara said so, let her help manage the Spencer Group. After all, I'm the investor. If there's a loss, I'll be the one to suffer."
Diana couldn't believe that Clara's poor acting could fool Charles, and she was so angry she almost wanted to snatch the gem from his neck. Diana's smile immediately disappeared, and she looked at Charles with disgust.
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