From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress (Riley and Lucas) novel Chapter 166

Chapter 166 An Ultimatum Delivered

Chapter 166 An Ultimatum Delivered

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He was ready to smooth things over, but Sophia jumped in first, her tone strained. “Mr. Quinn, Riley… she’s over at Harper Group today, so she isn’t in the office right now.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Aiden noticed Sebastian’s already tight lips press into an even thinner line.

Aiden understood exactly what was going on, and a knowing gleam flickered in his eyes.

“Oh, I see. Well, my apologies, Mr. Ashford…” he said slowly, his voice steady and clear. “There’s one condition I should have mentioned up front. If I–and Quinn Group I represent–decide to move forward with Ashford Group, there’s one non–negotiable requirement.

“And that is–Riley must be the lead on this project. She needs to be involved at every stage.”

That direct, uncompromising statement landed like a public slap to Sophia’s face.

She paled and spoke up quickly. “Mr. Quinn, as the marketing director here, it’s completely within my role to oversee the project. Riley is only helping out temporarily–she has other responsibilities-”

But Aiden didn’t let her finish. His tone cooled as he cut in. “That’s not my concern. As your potential partner, all I care about is what I need from your team.

“Whether you can deliver on that comes down to your commitment and capability…”

Right then, Aiden made his position crystal clear: he wasn’t interested in internal politics. He wanted results. Either Riley ran the project, or there would be no deal.

Lucas was caught off guard.

He instinctively glanced toward Sebastian, who hadn’t spoken a word throughout the exchange.

He was desperate to pick up any hint of reaction from the real decision–maker in the room.

But Sebastian’s expression hadn’t shifted at all.

He wore the same detached, unreadable calm.

He even picked up his water glass and took a slow sip, his deep gaze fixed on some distant point in the air. No one could tell what he was thinking.

Lucas understood immediately–Aiden’s words were meant for Sebastian, and might even reflect Sebastian’s own unspoken preference.

But Riley wasn’t even in the building right now!

Lucas had no choice but to grit his teeth and try to salvage the situation. “Mr. Quinn, please—Riley really was assigned to another important task today. But you have my word: Sophia is my sister, yes, but her skills are every bit as strong as Riley’s. With her leading, Ashford Group will ensure both you and Mr. Torres are fully satisfied with the outcome. So there’s truly no need for concern, Mr. Quinn…”

“Mr. Ashford.”

This time, Aiden rose straight up from his chair.

“Whether I’m concerned or not is my business. Whether you can ease those concerns is yours.

“To put it plainly, if you can’t guarantee the point person I want on this, then we’re all wasting our time here. After all, your firm isn’t the only one in Havenbrook interested in this project.”

He made a move to turn and leave.

It was an outright ultimatum.

Sophia snapped to attention.

She stood up almost instantly.

“Mr. Quinn, please–wait!” Her voice had slipped back into its usual polished sweetness. “This is on us for poor communication.”

She drew a steadying breath, met Aiden’s eyes squarely, and stated her promise loud and clear. “But since you’ve made your position clear, Ashford Group will absolutely honor your request.

“Even though Riley isn’t here today, I can assure you: once the project officially begins, she will be our designated lead—managing everything from start to finish.”

In that moment, she showed the quick adaptability she’d honed over years in the public eye–knowing when to swallow her pride.

Aiden paused, turned back, and studied Sophia, whose tone had shifted in an instant. A shrewd, almost amused understanding passed through his eyes.

He settled back into his seat and offered her a faint, meaningful smile.

“Ms. Myers, you pivot fast,” he remarked evenly. “I have to say—while your professional competence may be… inconsistent, your interpersonal reflexes are sharp. Then again, I suppose that’s to be expected from someone with your background in the spotlight”

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