Sign the Papers Mr. Langford novel Chapter 249

Clara headed back to the Thorne Estate the next morning.

Breakfast with the Thornes was basically a boardroom meeting.

The long table was laden with traditional pastries, coffee, and the morning's financial papers. No one actually cared if the food was any good, and no one asked how anyone had slept. Everyone was just waiting for a slip of the tongue, a momentary glance, or any minor opportunity to inch ahead.

When Clara walked in, Franklin Thorne was already seated at the head of the table, scrolling through a tablet.

She handed her coat to a maid and smoothly pulled out a chair.

"You met with Harrison last night?" Franklin asked without looking up.

Clara picked up her spoon. "I did."

"How did it go?"

"We can take on the Stellaris project."

Franklin finally glanced at her. "I was asking about Harrison."

A brief silence fell over the table.

Clara took a bite of her oatmeal. It was the perfect temperature, but tasted like absolutely nothing to her.

The Thornes were always like this.

When discussing a project, they treated it like a dowry. When discussing a marriage, it was just another corporate acquisition.

She had grown up at this very table and knew exactly how many layers of meaning were packed into a single sentence.

Franklin set his tablet aside. "The Xanders are a far better match than the last few families. Harrison controls his foundation, and his family ties are clean. You aren't getting any younger; stop wasting all your energy on those philanthropy trusts."

Clara laughed softly. "Dad, that wasn't what you said in your interviews when the Thorne Philanthropy Trust was established."

Franklin's expression darkened. "Interviews are PR."

"I know." She put down her spoon. "PR preaches corporate responsibility; behind closed doors, we only talk profit. You don't need to remind me."

Sebastian Thorne, sitting nearby, cleared his throat. "Clara, is that how you speak to your father?"

Clara turned to him.

"Sebastian, if I didn't know how to speak, I wouldn't be sitting at this table today."

Sebastian's face stiffened.

Its complexity made it even better.

Franklin stared at her for a long time. "You want to use this project to force the board into granting your Trust more authority."

Clara didn't deny it.

"Sebastian's luxury rehab real estate has been making waves, but he's been audited multiple times in the last two years. The Thornes need a medical philanthropy project with enough weight to suppress the bad press. The fact that Stellaris is controversial proves its potential to set an industry standard. We stay completely clear of Wren's personal drama; we only touch the patient data ethics."

Sebastian looked furious. "Are you using me as your stepping stone?"

Clara finally looked at him, her tone deadpan. "If your books were clean, Sebastian, you wouldn't be worried about me using you."

Franklin slammed his mug down.

"Enough."

The maids stood by, holding their breath.

Clara looked down, meticulously folding her napkin and placing it by her plate.

"Dad, I can negotiate a marriage with Harrison, and I can secure the Stellaris project for the Thornes. But I demand sole executive authority over the Trust. For at least a year."