Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 431

"I mean no harm, just schooling the lady on how to be a good person instead of a puppet!" Whitney said with a smirk.

Sienna looked at Florence in denial, her face turning sour as she realized she was being blamed.

Once Sienna fell silent, the elite ladies around got the hint.

"This Ms. Sheldon, always praised for her innocence and frailty, I thought she lacked ambition."

"Oh, in the world of high society, which sister doesn't yearn for a bit of spotlight? If the rumors about Whitney involve Ms. Sheldon, they can hardly be credible."

The crowd dispersed, discussing among themselves, suddenly less inclined to believe the scandals about Whitney.

Florence lowered her head, coughing to hide the gloom in her eyes. She had hoped to tarnish Whitney's reputation through Sienna but found herself nearly jeopardizing her own carefully crafted image!

She glanced towards Ludwik, her eyes narrowing with determination.

-

In a tearoom adjacent to the banquet hall, the gentlemen of the Lippert family gathered.

Jarvis looked at Ludwik with an amused expression. From the moment Ludwik announced his relationship with Florence earlier that evening, and especially after Jarvis spotted Whitney at the banquet, he found the situation increasingly interesting. Jason, seated at the head of the table with a stern Riley by his side, faced Ludwik.

Jason raised his eyebrows, "Ludwik, what's going on? Your Uncle Riley has brought his complaints all the way to me. Your first day at the corporation and you spend the evening in Banyan City. I haven't had the chance to ask you about it, but I heard you fired someone?" His tone was inquisitive but calm.

Riley burst out, "Big brother, he fired three of my executives, and even Erin got the boot! Ludwik is getting out of line. He's messing with uncles and aunts now? Are you really going to let him off the hook? If you don't make him reinstate Erin today, the Lippert family will fall apart!"

Jason frowned, "Ludwik, give your Uncle Riley and Aunt Erin an explanation."

Ludwik replied coolly, "Uncle Riley's executives bought a plot in the city for a private golf course, presumably as a favor to someone. That little venture cost the corporation two billion! As for Aunt Erin, she was the project manager for the golf course, approving a budget of four hundred million, yet not a single shovel has hit the ground."

Riley and Erin's faces went pale, stunned that Ludwik had uncovered their little scheme.

Ludwik continued, "Executives who don't work but bleed the company dry? If I don't fire them, who will? Right, Aunt Erin?"

The room grew tense.

Jason turned his sharp gaze to Riley, "Brother, do you think those executives should stay?"

Riley, seething with resentment towards Ludwik, couldn't find the words to reply.

Jason slammed his hand on the table, "So Ludwik did nothing wrong, did he? Everyone, think twice before you decide not to cooperate with him from now on."

He then softened his tone, "Riley, hand over that plot to Ludwik to handle. And two billion is still money."

"Ludwik, how's it going with your own team in the company?"

"They've adapted quickly. Also, I noticed," Ludwik glanced at Jarvis, "Jarvis's subsidiaries have been awarding major contracts to the Patrick Group. Given their ranking in the city, I'm curious what kind of merit won them Jarvis's favor?" Jarvis pressed his lips together, visibly annoyed.

Thea, about to enter, stopped dead in her tracks, standing beside her brother, Wade Patrick.

Wade glanced at Thea.

In a hushed tone, Thea grumbled, "This Ludwik, stirring up trouble from the moment he returns."

Inside, Jarvis forced a smile, "Stepfather, Ludwik is exaggerating. The deals with the Patrick Group were hardly profitable. Besides, they're related to my godmother. Some consideration for the in-laws is due, isn't it? Is Ludwik suggesting some dissatisfaction with my godmother by saying this?" He twisted Ludwik's words in front of the family. Hearing this, Jason couldn't openly defend Ludwik, "Well, we should indeed take care of the Patrick Group to a reasonable extent."

But his gaze lingered on Ludwik, a silent acknowledgment of the complexity of Jarvis and the Patrick Group's dealings.

Ludwik understood his father's hint. The deals were probably not that simple, and his father was likely aware but chose not to openly acknowledge it, encouraging Ludwik to keep digging. "Also, father, I've been denied access to the real estate and finance documents. Shareholders are using my team's outsider status as an excuse," Ludwik added, glancing at Jarvis. Jason pondered, understanding why Ludwik preferred his own team. His decisive approach was more effective than waiting for the company's uncooperative executives to align. Jarvis smirked, "Ludwik, you can't blame the shareholders. Your team is privy to the Lippert family's confidential operations. How can they trust you won't betray the family?" "Maybe you should start by delivering solid results on a few projects. Once the shareholders see your performance, they'll naturally let you take full control of the Lippert family business." "Stepfather, do you think I'm making sense?"

Using the shareholders as his argument left Jason without a comeback.

Upon hearing this, Ludwik knew there was a trap waiting for him. Could the projects Jarvis was handing over be anything but trouble?

He looked at Jarvis with a smirk, arms crossed casually, "Throw any project you want my way, Jarvis, just don't throw your problems at me as well."

Jarvis's eyes darkened, but he kept his cool tonight, leaving a meaningful remark, "Congrats on your alliance with the Sheldon family, Ludwik. A significant boost in strength."

Ludwik paused, his gaze sharp as he turned to say, "Father, I'll be stepping out. Uncle Riley, remember to surrender that land to the company."

Riley glared at Ludwik, furious. Messing with his cake right after getting back, Ludwik was someone he wouldn't easily forgive!

Riley stormed out of the lounge.

Outside was a vintage corridor, where Holly was trying to strike up a conversation with Riley's wife, Joanne Nelson.

Upon seeing her husband, Joanne interrupted Holly, "Mrs. Sheldon, I need a moment with my husband."

Noticing Riley's foul mood, she approached, "Darling, what's got you so upset?"

"It's that Ludwik!"

He had intended to discuss matters privately back in their room, but Riley couldn't contain his anger and vented to his wife, "He dug up the dirt on my golf course land. The kid's ruthless, making it known to all the branches that I embezzled $2 billion. Haven't all the branches done something similar? And now he singles me out! That bastard, just you wait. Damn it, now the land has to be confiscated... My investment in that golf course is going down the drain. By the way, the $500 million I put into your investment, I need it back urgently."

Joanne's face fell, hesitant to admit the money was gone, she vaguely mentioned, "The funds are tied up... I'll figure something out, darling."

"Make it quick. I've been outplayed by him this time, but Riley won't fall. You better keep an eye on your beloved son, Ludwik's secured a strong alliance marrying into the Sheldon family. Tell Justin to get serious, stop chasing skirts!" Riley glared at her before storming off. Joanne scanned the banquet hall, unable to spot Justin.

Her son was a notorious playboy, probably eyeing another lady of the house, getting into trouble while she fretted over the lost $500 million.

"Joanne seems troubled?"

Holly, having overheard from a distance, approached thoughtfully, greeting Joanne with a smile-