Never Again Yours (Isadora and Magnus)

Ableson strode quickly over to Isadora's table, hunching forward with exaggerated humility.

"Ms. Vaughan, the chairman would like you to come upstairs and sign the contract on behalf of The Vaughan Group and The Fitzgerald Group."

Isadora didn't even glance up. She took a small sip from her champagne flute, lips curling into a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"My father didn't even want me at this dinner in the first place. Funny how he suddenly remembers me now."

"That was just a misunderstanding, Ms. Vaughan. Right now, bigger things are at stake."

Isadora's eyelids fluttered lazily. Her voice was soft, yet there was no room for negotiation.

"A misunderstanding, was it? Do you believe that, Ableson?"

Ableson was at a loss. He turned helplessly to Eleanor, shooting her a pleading look-hoping she could help.

Eleanor cleared her throat awkwardly, recalling how she'd just misjudged Isadora herself. She knew Isadora's temper lately; trying to persuade her now would be like walking straight into a trap. But what choice did she have? Eight billion dollars in investment was at stake.

Money talks.

Eleanor forced a smile. "Isadora, the Vaughan family needs you right now. Please, sweetheart, don't be stubborn. Go sign the contract, will you?"

Isadora glanced at Eleanor's uncharacteristically conciliatory expression.

That was rare.

She let her face fall, feigning a touch of wounded sorrow. "Mom, that's not what you said earlier. You called me a disappointment, said I'd never measure up to Pearl, accused me of picking fights with her on purpose. You told me not to be rude to Pearl-hearing you say those things, it really hurt."

She sighed for effect. "But then again, that's nothing new. Pearl's always been your favorite. Me? I'm the outsider-no one's darling, just the unlucky one. Every time Pearl and I argue, you always take her side."

Eleanor's headache flared. She cut Isadora off before she could go on.

"I'm sorry, honey. I promise I'll be fair from now on. I won't take things out on you anymore, okay? Please, just forgive me this once."

Isadora felt a cool, quiet satisfaction settle in her chest.

Eleanor, usually such a proud socialite—often with a sharp tongue-rarely apologized to anyone.noveldrama

Ableson sensed the tension was easing and quickly interjected, "Ms. Vaughan, shall we head to the stage to sign the contract?"

Isadora's gaze drifted to the dais, where Richard paced in anxious embarrassment. She replied, calm and unhurried, "Not going."

Eleanor's blood pressure shot up, but she gritted her teeth and held her temper.

"Isadora, what do you want your father and me to do? Just tell us we'll promise you anything if you'll sign that contract."

Isadora turned to Ableson. "Ableson, tell my father I'll sign-if he gives me thirty percent of The Vaughan Group's shares. Ten percent was already promised to me if I secured the investment. The other twenty percent is for the headache this night has caused me."

Eleanor sucked in a sharp breath.

Thirty percent-few outsiders could grasp what that meant, but she understood perfectly.

It would make Isadora the second-largest shareholder after Richard, with real power to influence the company's direction.

This was no small thing.

But there was no other option. The Fitzgerald Group had been clear: only Isadora's signature would unlock the eight billion.

Eleanor's eyes swept over Isadora, searching for any clue. When did her daughter change? She seemed sharper now-calculating, even. Had she learned to play them both?

Up on stage, Richard saw Ableson return alone, Isadora still seated at her table.

He barked, "Where is she? Why isn't she coming up?"

Ableson felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead. For the first time in his career, he truly felt stuck.

He took a deep breath and blurted out, "Mr. Vaughan, Ms. Vaughan says... she'll only sign if she gets thirty percent of The Vaughan Group's shares."