“Come in,” came his deep, authoritative voice.
She pushed open the door.
Jasper sat behind his large marble desk, his presence as imposing as ever.
Without looking up, he tossed a file onto the desk. “Stewart Group’s global expansion project got a bank loan of only 250 million dollars. We still need 500 million. Go talk to Trevor. Get him to help.”
Summer picked up the file and skimmed it.
The project was Jasper’s passion, something he had poured years of effort into. Even Harvey had been sent to Ardonia for a year just to work on it.
Summer herself had done plenty of research on it. Everything was set – except the funding.
She set the file down. “Mr. Stewart, I’ve broken up with Trevor. I won’t ask him for anything. And even if I did, he wouldn’t necessarily help.”
Jasper’s expression darkened. He stood, exuding a strong sense of authority.
“That’s just what you’re saying. The Larson family hasn’t announced any engagement withdrawal.” He continued, his tone coaxing, “Summer, I know you’re upset about Peyton. But if you get Trevor to invest, I’ll give you 10% of Stewart Group’s shares. Even your brother Harvey only has 5%. Margaret has none.”
Summer laughed coldly.
Jasper really was willing to go all in.
It was a tempting offer. But she wasn’t about to grovel to Trevor just for it.
She met Jasper’s gaze, her voice steady. “Mr. Stewart, breaking off an engagement doesn’t require both parties to agree. I – “
The office door suddenly burst open.
Margaret stormed in, her heels clicking against the floor. She tossed her Hermès bag onto the couch. “Dad, did I just hear something about 10% of Stewart Group’s shares? Does that mean whoever gets the investment gets the shares?”
Jasper frowned. “You should knock before entering.”
Margaret had overheard the conversation from outside.
She wasn’t about to let Summer take those shares.
“Sorry, Dad, I was just excited!” she said, quickly changing her tone. “If Summer won’t go ask Trevor, then she obviously won’t get the investment. But I have a way to secure the funding.”
Jasper narrowed his eyes. “Margaret, don’t mess around. This isn’t a small family matter – it’s the company’s future.”
But Margaret wasn’t backing down.
10% of Stewart Group’s shares. That meant annual dividends. That meant financial security. Even if the Stewart family ever abandoned her, she’d have an independent source of wealth.
Her eyes darted cunningly.
And if Summer and Trevor were on bad terms, this was the perfect opportunity for her to step in.
She rushed over and clung to Jasper’s arm.
“Dad, I’m about to graduate! I studied fine arts, sure, but I’ve decided – I don’t want to be an artist. I want to work for Stewart Group. Getting the investment will just be my first contribution to the family! And once I’m officially in, you can give me a managerial or director position.”
Jasper frowned. “You studied fine arts. That has nothing to do with Stewart Group.”
Margaret had chosen to study art because she thought she was the real daughter of the Stewart family. She never had to worry about her future.
But now, things were different.
She wasn’t Jasper and Julia’s biological daughter. Every month, she burned through hundreds of thousands in allowance from Julia, never able to save a dime. If she had to rely on her paintings to make a living, she’d starve to death.
If she wanted to secure more of the Stewart family’s assets, she had to get into Stewart Group.
“Dad, I’m smart. I don’t need to do art anymore. Look, you need investment, and Summer is acting all high and mighty, refusing to ask Trevor for help. What’s going to happen to your big global project then?”
Margaret paused for a second before flashing a sly smile. “I know someone from Graham Group – Mr. Graham. I can help you!”
Jasper’s eyes widened in shock. “You know Mr. Graham? The Mr. Graham – Havenbrook’s Bossman? The richest man in the city?”
Summer also turned to look at Margaret.
Fraser and Margaret knew each other?
Margaret felt a little guilty. She had only seen Fraser from a distance at a high-society event once. He had been surrounded by people, and when she tried to approach, his security stopped her.
But she was friends with Xylia Jackson, one of Fraser’s assistants.
If she asked Xylia to set up a meeting, it should be easy enough.
And once she got the chance, she would use her beauty to win Fraser over. Then securing the investment would be simple.
She stiffly forced a smile. “Of course. We’ve even had dinner together.”
Jasper’s expression turned excited. “Margaret, if you really know Mr. Graham, why didn’t you say so earlier? A man of his status – you should’ve introduced me to him!”
Margaret flipped her hair casually. “Dad, do you think Fraser is someone you can just meet whenever you want? His time is precious. I was lucky to have a chance to dine with him.”
Graham Group had over a hundred years of foundation, even more powerful than the Larson family. Their assets exceeded tens of billions.
And Fraser was their sole heir. That was why he held the title of Havenbrook’s Bossman.
Jasper glanced at Summer.
She kept talking about breaking up with Trevor. Would she actually end things? He wasn’t sure.
But if Margaret could really get close to Fraser…
Then, even without the Larson family’s help, Stewart Group would be just fine.
Forget just his global expansion project. If he played his cards right, he could push the Stewart family even higher.
Jasper’s face finally relaxed. “Alright then. Summer and Margaret – you two will compete. Whoever brings in the investment gets 10% of Stewart Group’s shares.”
Summer glanced at Margaret, who was standing beside her, dressed to impress. “You really know Fraser?”
Margaret crossed her arms, her Hermès Birkin bag swinging from her elbow as she let out a haughty snort.
“What, you don’t believe me? You have Trevor, but I can’t have Fraser?”
She smirked. “Listen up, Summer. I’m going to be Fraser’s woman. Twenty years ago, you were beneath me. And twenty years later, you’ll still be my loser.”
Suddenly, as if remembering something, Margaret burst into laughter.
“How was last night? Getting dumped again? Watching Peyton win? You’re once again the laughingstock of the entire city. If I were you, I’d be too ashamed to even step outside.”
Summer’s eyes turned cold. Her gaze sharpened. “You invited Peyton to the banquet last night.”
Margaret smirked. “That’s right. Aren’t I so kind? I helped you see the truth – your beloved Trevor only has eyes for Peyton.”
Summer’s lips curled in a mocking sneer. She clenched her hands into fists at her sides. “Then tell me – was the kidnapping your doing too?”
“Kidnapping?” Margaret scoffed. “Summer, have you lost your mind? Are you seriously trying to use a fake kidnapping to gain sympathy from Dad and Mom? Don’t waste your time. Even if you really were kidnapped, they wouldn’t care.”
Summer studied Margaret’s arrogant expression.
It didn’t look like she was lying.
Margaret cared too much about being the Stewart family’s daughter. She was obsessed with monopolizing Jasper and Julia’s love. If she had set up the kidnapping, it would mean she was risking her status.
That didn’t seem like something she would do.
Suddenly, with a chime, the elevator doors slid open.
A few employees walked out.
Seeing Summer and Margaret standing at the entrance – one calm, the other radiating hostility – they quickly averted their gazes and hurried past.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.