Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 706

"Daddy, why don't you invite this gentleman in for a bit? Don't be such a Scrooge!"

Four-year-old Piper was quite the character-quirky and precociously sensible. She reached out, wanting to pull Ludwik inside.

Seeing her gesture, Ludwik softened a bit, "No need, little one. Your dad doesn't seem to welcome me."

"Why not?"

"Maybe because I'm down on my luck right now."

Shane felt like he was about to explode. What was Ludwik's problem?

"Daddy, you can't be so superficial!"

Sure enough, Piper was fuming at him.

"Sir, we Nelsons aren't superficial. Please, come in." The little girl shyly invited Ludwik, shooting Shane a glare.

Shane was nearly at his wit's end with Ludwik. Just by being his unpleasant self, he had completely turned Piper, the little charmer, against him.

Ludwik cracked a smile, "You're more polite than your dad, kiddo. I like you."

"Really?" Piper blushed, shyly looking up at him.

Shane felt a surge of frustration, "Piper, behave yourself. Go inside!"

"Oh, Daddy, please let him come in."

...

After Piper had gone inside, Ludwik casually asked, "Where's her mom? I didn't know you were married."

Shane stalled, his past a deeply guarded secret.

Ludwik sensed the delicacy of the situation. His brows furrowed slightly, probing, "She doesn't have a mom?" "What's it to you?" Shane shot back, his tone sharp.

"Seeing if you're after something-or someone you can't have. Everyone has their weakness, or something they desire."

Shane paused, then fixed his gaze on Ludwik.

After a moment's thought, he spoke gravely, "You know Sandy Turner, right? Whitney's confidante. She's cousins with Florence. Four years ago, Sandy studied abroad and somehow forgot an entire year's worth of memories. I suspect Florence knows why. She's always been cruel, especially to Sandy, ganging up on her with another cousin. I need you to use your connection with Florence to force the truth out of her."

Ludwik raised an eyebrow, almost forgetting about Florence's troublesome nature.

Sandy, he recalled, was quite loyal to Whitney. It seemed Florence's malice ran deep, targeting even Sandy.

But what was Shane's interest in Sandy?

He pondered silently, then agreed with a half-smile, "Alright, I'll handle it for you."

"If you pull this off, consider it the foundation of our friendship."

With that, Shane had said all that needed to be said.

Ludwik understood; it was his ticket in.

"I'll be off then."

Ludwik turned, heading to his car where his secretary awaited, "Mr. Lippert, you're off to the Garcia Group next, to settle their debt to the Lippert family." Previously, such matters were outsourced, but the Lippert family's reduced circumstances meant they could no longer afford such luxuries.

He massaged his temples, remembering his reliable assistant Felix was elsewhere, leaving him short-staffed.

"Let's go."

Upon arriving at the Garcia Group, Ludwik, absorbed in their file, bumped into someone unexpectedly-Whitney.

Both were caught off guard, their documents scattering. The brief silence that followed was filled with an unspoken tension.

Sandy, witnessing the scene, quickly gathered Whitney's papers, breaking the silence, "Whitney..."

"...Sandy, you could've warned me," Whitney muttered, annoyed yet embarrassed.

Ludwik couldn't help but smile at her flustered state, "It's not your assistant's fault. But what brings you here?"

"That's none of your business," Whitney snapped back, reclaiming her documents and striding past him.

Ludwik's eyes followed her, a mix of emotions hidden within.

As both parties entered the Garcia Group's lobby, Whitney was warmly greeted, "Whitney, here for the contract signing? Mr. Garcia's waiting upstairs."

"Thank you," she responded, moving towards the elevator.

"I'm also here to see Mr. Garcia," Ludwik announced, his presence commanding yet cold.

The receptionist, awestruck by Ludwik, managed a less enthusiastic, "Mr. Lippert, do you have an appointment?"

"I wasn't aware collecting a debt required one," Ludwik replied, his tone flat.

"What debt?" the receptionist feigned ignorance.

Ludwik turned away, his patience wearing thin.

The secretary slammed a folder of debt documents on the desk with a tone that was anything but friendly. "Quit beating around the bush. You, being just a receptionist, probably can't make head or tail of this anyway. Get Mr. Garcia down here! Your company owes the Lippert family a whopping $600 million and it seems like you have no plans of paying it back.

Half a month ago, the Lippert family already gave Mr. Garcia a ring, but he's been dodging their calls left and right.

It's come to the point where Mr. Lippert had to come down here himself."

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but Mr. Lippert showing up personally isn't going to make any difference.

The Garcia Group is strapped for cash at the moment, paying off that $600 million isn't something we can do right now.

Mr. Garcia is swamped this afternoon, and without an appointment, Mr. Lippert, you'll have to wait in line. Once he's done with his other meetings, he might have time for you.

If waiting isn't your cup of tea, then maybe it's best you head back home today.

We're a small fish like the Garcia Group, and you standing there is blocking the light, not to mention it's a bit beneath you.

Though, standing there, you're not exactly the picture of dignity anyway," the receptionist said with a mixture of arrogance and sarcasm.

"You! I can't stand this fair-weather attitude of yours. The Lippert family wouldn't have stepped foot in the Garcia Group before, if it weren't for the fact you owe us money, we wouldn't be here."

The receptionist couldn't help but laugh, "Back in the day, the Lippert family wouldn't even blink at a sum of $600 million.

If Mr. Lippert was as flush as he pretends, he wouldn't be chasing us for such a trifle.

We're all in business here. Mr. Garcia is genuinely in a tight spot right now. Can't Mr. Lippert show a little magnanimity?" She challenged.