Queen of Wild Cards novel Chapter 403

By the time Stella and Julius returned home from Port City, it was already past seven in the evening.

The bodyguards had picked them up from the airport.

They grabbed a nice dinner out before heading back to the Imperial Gardens.

After unpacking and washing up, it was almost ten o'clock.

...

The next day.

Inside the CEO's office at Blackwood Group.

Sean Cahill was giving Julius a rundown of everything that had happened during his absence.

Wrapping up his report, he added, "Mr. Blackwood, the Lowell family and the Jeter family both want in on the tourist resort development project. They're looking to invest and get a piece of the action. I've already rejected them as you instructed, but they likely won't give up. They might come looking for you."

It was a massive venture. Blackwood Group could easily have financed the entire thing themselves.

However, to maintain balance in the business world, they couldn't monopolize every lucrative opportunity. Hoarding all the wealth would only make them a massive target and create unnecessary enemies.

After discussing it with the board, Julius decided to open it up, allowing a few capable and wealthy partners to profit alongside them.

Naturally, once the elite circles caught wind of this, anyone with enough capital came scrambling to book a meeting with him.

Julius signed a stack of documents and handed them back to Sean. "I'm not seeing them. If they come around again, tell them I don't do business with people who lack basic situational awareness."

He couldn't believe Byron Jeter had the nerve to show up asking for favors after everything that had happened.

Gathering his courage, Sean asked, "Understood, Mr. Blackwood. If I may ask, did they offend you somehow?"

Julius scoffed. "If they offended me, I wouldn't care. But their daughters bullied my wife. Do you really think I'm going to partner with them after that?"

Especially Yvonne Jeter. She had crossed Stella so many times that the only reason he hadn't completely annihilated the Jeter family was out of respect for their past ties.

The receptionist glanced at the log and offered a polite smile. "I'm sorry, gentlemen. You don't have an appointment, and Mr. Blackwood's schedule is completely full."

The two men exchanged a look. Byron Jeter sort of understood why Julius was shutting him out. He had just wanted to roll the dice—if he got the deal, great, and if not, he'd cut his losses.

But why was Julius refusing to see Marcus Lowell?

Confused, he asked, "Mr. Lowell, did you offend him too?"

"No," Marcus replied, baffled. "My company still has active contracts with Blackwood. Why would I risk pissing him off? Honestly, nobody in The Capital wants to get on his bad side!"

He was totally lost. Their business relationship had always been rock solid. Why the sudden cold shoulder? Especially since his son was on decently friendly terms with Julius.

Just then, Sean stepped out of the elevators, escorting Edmund Eames toward the exit.

Seeing the Eames patriarch beaming with pride, the two men walked over to greet him.

"Mr. Eames," Byron started, "Looks like your meeting went well. Did you get the deal?"