After the Fall A Leap into a Stranger's Arms novel Chapter 202

Trying to fight him with this? That would never work. He didn’t stand a chance, not now, not ever.

Shirley felt a rush of excitement. Her video had done the trick. Waldo was making his move, showing off his power for everyone to see, determined to put Lawrence in his place and win Catherine back. The whole thing left a strange taste in her mouth, but honestly, she couldn’t wait to watch the drama unfold.

Waldo’s plan actually worked out well for her. She couldn’t help but wonder how Catherine would react when she found out Waldo was trying to take over The Blair Group. What would her face look like then? And how was Lawrence supposed to fight back this time?

“Waldo, aren’t you worried Catherine will be mad at you? Or who knows, maybe she’ll end up begging you instead,” Shirley said, raising her eyebrows with a curious smile.

Waldo’s eyes turned icy. “That’s exactly what I want. I want her to come to me.”

***

Nestor still had a few connections in The James Group, so when a phone call came through to his office, he was completely caught off guard.

“The James Group wants to buy my company?” He could barely believe it. Waldo, of all people? Was this really happening?

“Nestor, I heard Waldo already has the acquisition plan ready. He didn’t give you a heads-up?” the caller said.

Nestor felt a headache coming on. He wasn’t angry, just stunned. He’d always thought Waldo was a promising young man. Their families had nearly joined through marriage once. Why would Waldo suddenly try to take over his company?

He hung up and leaned back, a heaviness pressing against his chest. His business had just finished a big transformation, and their deal with Nexus Dynamics was about to launch. Everything looked steady on the surface, but he knew they still needed time to truly secure things.

With The James Group’s financial strength, if Waldo was set on this, it would be almost impossible to stop him.

But why would Waldo go this far? Was it really about business, or was it something else?

Nestor’s mind immediately went to Catherine. Was Waldo really still hung up on her? Was he trying to force Nestor to marry Catherine off to him by threatening his company?

And then, with a hint of complaint in her voice, she said, “But Lawrence can’t protect Catherine. He can’t even protect the Blair family.”

Nestor’s headache only got worse. Hearing that, all he could say was, “I’ll figure something out.”

He hung up and sat there, feeling the pressure weigh down on him. He hated Waldo’s heavy-handed tactics, but he also had to think about the thousands of employees who depended on his company.

And then there was Lawrence. Nestor used to look down on him, but lately he’d started to see the good in him. Lawrence was steady, reliable, and always kept his word. He worked hard and took responsibility. Meanwhile, the more Waldo used his money and influence to bully people, the less Nestor respected him.

The more Nestor thought about it, the angrier he got. The more Waldo tried to force his hand, the less he could give in. This wasn’t just about the company anymore. It was about his own pride, and about Catherine’s future happiness.

He pressed the intercom button and said, “Lawrence, come to my office.”