The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 173

When Lavinia walked into the office, a group of her colleagues was huddled around a magazine.

"What are you guys looking at?" she asked, walking over.

"The latest issue of Fortune Prestige. There's an exclusive interview with Ms. Sloan."

Lavinia's eyes landed on the pages.

It was a glossy editorial spread. Sigrid was seated against a black velvet backdrop, wearing a custom white Armani gown. Around her neck was the pearl necklace, matched with the earrings and the pearl bracelet on her left wrist.

The bold headline read: Heirlooms: Passing Down More Than Wealth—Passing Down Spirit.

Lavinia wanted to gag.

What spirit? The spirit of stealing someone else's nest? The spirit of parading stolen property?

Disgusted, she handed the magazine back to her coworker and returned to her desk to focus on her work.

At noon, when everyone else went out for lunch, Lavinia took advantage of the empty office to call Saul.

"Saul, congratulations! The investment committee approved it!"

"Ah, it's nothing major. Celestial Capital is just co-investing. I actually signed the main investment agreement yesterday with another VC firm called DIG."

"Your hard work is finally paying off. I'm so happy for you," she said, smiling.

He let out a deep, warm chuckle over the line.

"By the way, Lavinia, are you free tonight? Could you come with me to an award ceremony?"

"What kind of award ceremony?"

"Some wealth evaluation organization named me to their U30 Award list. I barely made the cut, but I have to go accept it."

Saul paused. "I don't know a single soul at these kinds of events. It's going to be incredibly awkward. Please come with me."

U30 was short for "30 Under 30," a prestigious award recognizing the brightest young entrepreneurs. Lavinia had no idea Saul had even been nominated.

Zoey Wallace knocked on the office door and walked in, holding a magazine.

"Mr. Sheffield, look at this. Sigrid Sloan actually had the nerve to wear the jewelry you bought for Ma'am for a magazine spread, claiming it's her family heirloom. Unbelievable!" Zoey fumed.

Charley glanced at the cover and replied coolly, "Have the family wealth office send a legal notice to this publication. Demand they recall all copies and issue a public apology on their social media channels."

"Understood." Zoey took the magazine and left.

Charley picked up his personal phone and saw the message Lavinia had just sent:

[Charley, Saul made the U30 list and has an award ceremony tonight. Can he and I come over this afternoon to borrow a suit?]

He suddenly remembered the text Saul had sent him a couple of days ago:

[Lavinia isn't divorced yet. For her own good, keep a respectful distance.]

Pulling himself from his thoughts, Charley replied in a petty mood: [I don't want to lend him anything.]