Chapter 124: Crutches And Tools

It wouldn’t be quite wrong to say that the tides of the battle have shifted.

Before, we had the advantage, launching the division and the ESG, fighting hard and taking names. Now, we were the ones on the defensive with our investment target stolen and an audit launched on the whole division.

The tables have turned and the momentum was in the hands of our opponent.

Jenny had insisted on fighting this war herself to show her mother just how capable she was but my experience told me just how stupid it was. Which was why I was now taking this step.

I dailed Jenny’s number and waited for a few seconds before she picked. "Hello?" Her voice came from the speakers.

"You were right." I said.

"What?"

"When you said you needed to do this on your own, you were right." I repeated. "Which is why I would be going back to Antarctica. There’s no need for me to be here and I’ve left the seat at Imperium Holdings empty for too long."

"Oh." Jenny said. There was no way to mask the surprise in her tone. "That’s… good."

"Yes, it is." I nodded, even though she couldn’t see it. "But even if I think you’re right to do this on your own, I still think you’re going about this the wrong way."

There was a pause on the other end of the line before she spoke. "What do you mean?"

"Let’s take your mother as an example. When she wants something done, does she do it herself or order others to do it?"

"She orders."

"Exactly." I said pointedly. "Just as your mother doesn’t use crutches but tools, you too must learn to take advantage of every tool at your disposal. Amelia and I are crutches but WireFrame Solutions and Ward Impact Ventures are tools. You have a partnership with one and there’s nothing stopping you from hiring the other as a consultant."

"Oh." Jenny said with the tone of a woman who had just realized something important. She’d gotten the message I was giving her. She could still rely on Amelia and I and still be independent.

"To celebrate my departure, I have two gifts for you." I was sure she could hear the smile in my voice.

"Gifts?"

"Yes." I walked to the balcony of my suite, enjoying the view. "First, I’ve had WireFrame double check your books and the auditors should find nothing. If they find something, it’s planted."

"Oh." Jenny said again in surprise.

"And for my second gift, it should be sitting in your email by now." I grinned.

"What is it?" I could hear the sound of her mouse clicking on the other end.

"Check it yourself." I laughed.

I waited patiently as she checked and chuckled at her gasp.

"Nico?" She said, her voice high. "Is this…"

"Yes. It’s evidence that Jasmine gave Apex’s information to Harrington & Co, helping them seal the deal. It’s a card powerful enough to sway a lot of members of the board on our side. But you have to be careful when and how you use it, okay?"

"Fuck." Jenny cursed. "This is huge." She said.

"That’s my gift, Jenny. Use it well."@@novelbin@@

"I don’t know if I’ve said this enough but I’ll say it again." Jenny said, her tone serious. "Thank you, Nico. Thank you."

"You’re welcome." I said and ended the call.

I put the phone back into my pocket and walked back into the suite.

"This is for the best, Nicholas." Clarisse said from her place on the chair, taking a sip of wine. "Both for you and Jenny, don’t you think?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"Good." She said. "You keep your end and I’ll keep being the neutral party that I am."

Yes. I was just as surprised as you are when Clarisse Newton, the most recent stamp holder, showed up at my door. And no, it wasn’t for anything sexual. I think I’d have died of shock if it were.

Dressed in a cream colored gown with a black belt cinching it around her stomach, she looked every bit the MILF that she was.

I’d invited her in, poured the both of us some wine and that was when she’d popped the question. "Why?"

I’d blinked, raising my brows in confusion.

"Why are you interfering in the battle between sisters and backing Jenny and not Jasmine?"

I sat there in silence, staring at her. From the look in her eye, I could tell that she wasn’t going to take no for an answer. Which was when I had an idea of my own.

"I could tell you why I’m here in New York." I leaned back in my chair, a smile on my face. "But what are you willing to pay to hear the answer?"

"How about not getting Jenny disqualified from the race?" She countered with a smile of her own and I was instantly reminded of who was sitting right in front of me. "Give me a straight answer Nico Voss," she leaned forward, "or I might just be tempted to make Jasmine chairman just to deny you whatever it is that you’re seeking."

Fuck.

I sat up straight as I went through my options. Would she really do that? Install Jasmine as heir just to spite me? I didn’t know her enough to call her bluff.

I smiled in resignation and her smile grew.

"Ambition." I said.

She tilted her head curiously.

"I’m backing Jenny because she’s ambitious for the right thing." I said. "Apex."

"Ah." Clarisse nodded. "I see."

I had no doubt that she really did see.

"Your target isn’t Apex. It’s the $150 billion fortune your father is sitting on." She took a sip of the wine I’d provided her. "By installing Jenny, who is not that ambitious, as chairman, you cut out Jasmine’s hope of being a competitor."

I sat there quietly, watching her as she ruminated on it.

"Okay." She finally said. "I’ll allow it."

I stopped myself from sighing in relief but maybe I shouldn’t have celebrated too early.

"But you’ll have to give me something in return."

I stared at her apprehensively. "What do you want?"

"Two things." She smiled. "First, I want you to leave."

"What?"

"Leave New York." She said. "Go somewhere that Jenny won’t be able to get you readily for anything and for the duration of this war between my daughters, don’t come back."

"I want Jenny to be able to stand on her own two feet without the need for crutches but at the same time, I want her to not forget her tools."

"And this brings me to the second thing I want. Show Jenny the tools around her. Your company and that Amelia woman’s company. I want her to use the institutions and not the leaders. I want her to use tools and not crutches."

That… was actually a good thing. But there was one question on my mind. "Why not tell her about tools yourself?"

She leaned back on her chair and smiled at me. "I’m the impartial judge, Nicholas. I can’t be seen helping one side or the other."

I sighed. "Very well. I accept."

And with that, I made the call to Jenny.