Chapter 61
Sixty-One
S ybil
“Hi, Lance.” I sigh. “Are you going up there to talk to them about Top of the World?”
He nods sharply, and together we stride toward the bank of elevators. My pulse is already pounding in my ears, a warning drumbeat.
We step into the modern elevator. It reminds me of this man beside me, cold and clinical. His suit cuts a sharp line against the minimalist backdrop, a complete opposite of my casual evening clothing of jeans, sweater, and puffer jacket.
“Do you know what’s going on?” I ask. “Top of the World is a viral sensation.”
“Yes, it is.”
As much as we’ve come to hate each other, I think Vale actually cares about this.
“King can’t do this to Laurence. We all stand to make a great deal of money on our investment in Top of the World.
We have contracts in place that explicitly state the Laurence shares will be returned if the show makes it to a season two.
Canceling it is an expensive and unnecessary legal battle waiting to happen. ”
He hums in agreement. “And meanwhile, Top of the World will lose momentum.”
“Yeah, exactly. We don’t want that.”
Lance releases a slow methodical breath and turns on me, peering through his spectacles as if I’m the most vapid and stupid person he’s ever done business with. “Did you really think Conrad King would let a Laurence win?”
My mouth pops open.
“I’m on Laurence International’s side,” he says smoothly. “You’ll see.”
I fold my arms over my chest and try not to panic, but I feel like everything is falling down around me. What am I supposed to do here? Who am I supposed to trust?
The elevator doors open, and my heels click against the floor as I lead the way. Cooper’s office is next door to his brother’s and father’s, and my stomach knots tighter and tighter with each step, but I want to stop by Cooper’s first.
Except, he’s not here.
His office is empty.
I pull out my phone to see a dozen missed calls from him.
Lance strides right past me to Conrad’s office, pushing open the heavy door and striding inside as if he’s taken meetings here before.
My heart shatters to the floor when I catch the conspiratorial look Lance and Conrad share.
They planned this… and I’m the idiot who fell for it.
“Sybil,” Conrad says, spreading his arms in a mock gesture of welcome. “What a pleasant surprise to see you here.”
“Where’s Cooper?” I demand, voice coming out louder than I intended.
“Cooper is tied up with some important business matters at the moment, but I’m sure Lance can bring you up to speed.”
Lance is already sitting down, appearing relaxed and smug. He pats the seat next to him like he’s calling a child to come get a talking-to, and I want to scream.
“You did this?” I glare, stepping fully into the room but not sitting down. Fuck that. “You agreed to the cancelation? Why would you do that? Top of the World is successful. There are contracts in place. Just wait until the board hears about this.”
Lance sighs. “Calm down.”
“Don’t tell me to be calm.”
He raises an eyebrow and turns to Conrad. “This is why I don’t think she has what it takes to run the foundation. She’s too emotional.”
He wants to sit here and berate me about emotions when he fucking screwed me over?
Conrad holds up his hand. “The show isn’t canceled,” he announces, giving me a sympathetic look.
I blink, taking his words to heart. A seed of hope plants in my chest, and I feel like I can breathe again.
“What do you mean?” I whisper. “Is this a misunderstanding? Because if so, you need to alert the media. The news is everywhere.”
Conrad shakes his head. “The show’s been sold to another network.” He nods toward Vale. “Lance and I already signed the necessary paperwork. Perry gets to stay on as creator, though I can’t say what the new network will do with it. That’s their prerogative.”
My skin crawls at their smug grins.
It doesn’t make sense that they’d sell something so special before it reaches its value. There’s so much money to be made here, especially for King Media. The advertising offers coming in are insane. The show was expensive to produce, but we’re blowing our projections out of the water.
This is only the beginning. We could do Top of the World shows in different cities with different casts. Then there’s merch. Reunion shows. Maybe even meet and greet tours.
“Why…?” I ask, but before they can answer my question, the truth slaps me across the face. “This was all about the shares?”
“Now she’s got it,” Lance says with a laugh, his tone smooth as silk.
“The terms of the deal stipulated we couldn’t outright cancel the show if it was successful, but it also stipulated it must air on King’s network for a second season in order for you to get your shares back.
There was nothing that said the show couldn’t be sold to another network if both Laurence and King agreed to it, which we did. ”
Conrad gives me a little wink. “The deal was lucrative, and all investors will be happy. Well, except maybe your family.”
I blink rapidly, turning on Lance. “The investors won’t be happy we lost five percent of our ownership to King. This will make you look worse than ever. You’re never going to be voted in as CEO now.”
Lance points to Conrad, who doesn’t even flinch. “Oh, the shares are returning to Laurence, just not where you think. Lance Vale will be taking them off King’s hands.”
“That’s right,” Lance says. “My extra shares will certainly help me get my rightful spot as CEO. I’m not worried.”
My knees weaken, and acid builds on the back of my tongue. “This is sabotage.”
Vale shrugs. “It’s called strategy.”
I shake my head. “Cooper would never agree with this.”
Conrad chuckles, low and condescending. “Oh darling, you always were so na?ve, weren’t you? I thought maybe you’d grown out of that, but I guess not.”
“What are you saying?”
“Cooper already agreed to this,” he says with finality. “Signed on the dotted line and everything.”
Shock is a cruel bitch. “He wouldn’t do that.”
“He did. Unlike your family, my son knows the importance of loyalty.”
My world tilts, everything falling into sick and twisted place.
Lance stands from his seat and approaches me.
“Your family’s grip has been slipping on the company for years.
Your father was a good leader, I won’t deny that, but even he couldn’t get Laurence to where it needed to be, and your childish little brother will certainly run it into the ground.
With me in charge and nepotism out of the way, Laurence will become one of the most profitable conglomerates in the world. ”
Betrayal sears, hot and painful. My mind races, trying to make sense of it all, but there’s one thing I can’t understand.
Cooper.
The man I love and trust did this. I’ve brought him into my life and my body and my heart.
I stumble away. “This isn’t over,” I say, voice trembling with rage and cracking with betrayal.
“Oh, but it is,” Lance confirms. “Let me give you one last piece of business advice, Sybil. Learn when to give up.”
I turn and flee, the door slamming shut behind me. I gasp in short and shallow breaths. My chest tightens as if it’s collapsing in on itself. The tears finally break through, proof I’ve been played, that I’m as weak as those men think I am.
I’ve let my family down. The man I love isn’t who I thought he was. I can’t even go to Arden because she’s married to a King.
I open my phone to see more missed calls from Cooper as well as a slew of unread texts, but I’m not ready to talk to him.
The only thing I can do is pull off an incredible gala in two weeks and pray the hiring board sees the value I bring to Laurence.
I’m not very optimistic.