Chapter 79 Beauty, Edge, and a Queen's Presence
The glance that Julian cast at Raymond was flawlessly intercepted by the latter. Sometimes, the magic of eye contact was just that; you look at them, and they're looking right back at you. Raymond, with his sharp wit, was quick to discern Julian's contempt. But what was the reason behind that overtly scornful look? Raymond pondered to himself, questioning Julian's audacity.At their initial exchange, a deep-seated animosity was evident between the two men, unnoticed by the rest, as they weren't engaged in a perpetual staring match. Julian, sipping his tea nonchalantly, offhandedly remarked, "Everyone's here? You heard what I said earlier, right? Go in if you must, but don't expect to leave."Bradley shot a glance at Raymond, his silence a plea for an explanation. After all, from Bradley's perspective, Paige's background was unremarkable. If her people were surrounding the Sacklers, they had to be Raymond's men. His gaze immediately sought Raymond.Raymond responded with a furrowed brow. Did he somehow resemble a butler to this doorman? Wasn't the tension between them palpable enough?By then, Francesca had managed to suppress her icy rage. Turning toward Bradley, she donned a mask of gentleness. "Hey, Dad, you're here too?" Francesca asked. Bradley nodded, "The bond between the Sacklers and us... it's something else."Francesca offered a wry smile. "Seems we can't get in. Maybe Raymond should call his sister-in-law?" She had observed that the doorman had blatantly ignored Raymond. Francesca wondered about the influence Raymond had bestowed upon Paige after their marriage, allowing her such audacity. Moreover, her people weren't even obeying Raymond's orders. That sister-in-law of hers seemed a bit naive!Francesca already had her hands full dealing with a prickly character like Raymond, and now there was Paige. The situation was far from pleasant for her. Raymond did want to make the call, but in front of everyone… If his wife Paige kept hanging up, where would that leave his pride?Thus, Raymond turned, with a stern face, to Bradley. Bradley, having just spoken with Charles, instantly understood Raymond's hint. With a wave of his hand, Sean at his back handed him a cell phone. Grinning, Bradley said, "I'll give her a call. Let's get Paige over here. After all, the Carnegie-Sackler union is cause for celebration."It was indeed a joyous occasion, yet the grievances between Paige and the Sacklers weren't so easily forgotten. With that, Bradley stepped aside and dialed Paige's number.As Bradley dialed, Francesca found herself picturing Paige. At first glance, she might not stir much feeling, but upon closer inspection, her beauty was striking. Considering Paige was about her child's age and her son was smitten, Francesca's feelings were understandably complex. However, Bradley's obvious fondness and protectiveness toward Paige only intensified Francesca's resolve not to let things slide so easily.After all the years she had poured into her endeavors, was she supposed to hand everything over to Raymond and his wife? And with a woman like Paige in the picture, Francesca feared that even if she were to relinquish her empire to her son Louis, he wouldn't bat an eyelid. Francesca knew her son all too well.Despite the whirlwind of thoughts in her head, not a trace of them showed on her face.
Shortly after Bradley's call to Paige, Julian's phone began to chime. A frown creased his brow, his intuition alerting him to the ripple effect of Bradley's call even before he answered. As he picked up the phone, Paige's voice confirmed his suspicion, promising to be there shortly. Once the call ended, Julian made a subtle gesture to his men, a silent command that allowed the Carnegies to enter. In the study, Paige sat hunched over her computer, her expression as ominous as an approaching storm. Pearl Southern, ever the attentive assistant, gently placed an iced Americano before her. Paige barely acknowledged the gesture, her mind preoccupied with the Sacklers' latest antics. "Save it!" she snapped, her frustration evident. "The Sacklers keep pulling new tricks; it seems I've made their lives too comfortable." Pearl understood immediately, her keen intuition picking up on Paige's mood. "If there's anything you need me to do, Xanthe, just say the word," she offered."Before I return tonight, have all the details of the Sackler Corporation's most profitable projects on my desk," Paige instructed, her tone brooking no argument. Pearl nodded in agreement. "Yes, I'll get right on it."With that, Paige grabbed her car keys and her pack of cigarettes, heading downstairs. But she didn't leave immediately. Instead, she paid a visit to the hospital room. Despite her uncertainty about whether her mother could hear her, Paige spoke softly to the still figure in the bed. "Mom, I'm stepping out for a bit. I'll be back later," she promised, pressing a gentle kiss to her mother's cheek. Leaving the hospital room, Paige climbed into her Viper, a car she cherished not for its price tag, but for the simple fact that she liked it. Meanwhile, Julian, following Paige's instructions, had allowed the Carnegies to visit the elderly Mrs. Sackler. Upon learning that Paige was on her way, Raymond chose to wait outside, preferring to enter alongside her. Given Raymond's decision, Bradley naturally held back, unwilling to precede her. Francesca and Louis, aware of the potential implications of their actions, hesitated. Their relationship with the Sacklers was a delicate matter, one they couldn't afford to flaunt. Upon hearing of Paige's impending arrival, Louis quickly fabricated an excuse to leave. Despite Francesca's silent pleas, he remained firm in his decision. The thought of addressing Paige as 'aunt' in her presence was simply too much for him to bear. Louis was well aware of his mother's intentions, but he refused to comply, leaving Francesca with no room to intervene. Not long after Louis's departure, Paige arrived, her Viper drawing attention like a venomous snake. Raymond's heart clenched at the sight of the iconic car. They were no longer hiding; there was no need for her to masquerade in a taxi. Instead, she now drove a Viper GT, a vehicle worth nearly fifty million dollars. This was the first time such a car had been seen in Northwind. Only a select few of the city's wealthy elite could afford such a luxury, and even fewer could actually acquire one. But Paige driving this Viper wasn't just a display of wealth—it was a testament to her extraordinary status. Charles, too, recognized the car, his eyes nearly bulging from their sockets in shock. Bradley, on the other hand, quietly leaned towards Raymond and whispered, "Did you gift her the car?" Raymond remained silent, his lack of response prompting Francesca to draw her own conclusions. She assumed that Raymond must have been the one to present Paige with the extravagant vehicle. As each member of the Carnegie clan watched, their minds filled with their own thoughts and speculations. Paige, however, emerged from the car with an air of confidence. She casually tossed her hair over her shoulder and approached Julian. "Julian, are you going to let us in or not?" she asked, her tone even. In that moment, Paige shed the pretense of her humble beginnings, stepping into the powerful, queenly aura she had cultivated over the past five years.
