It was Yvonne, bringing her a te of fruit. Luckily, Bianca had locked the door.


    She quickly muted her phone and called out, "Mom, I''m already in bed."


    "Oh, alright. Rest well, then."


    After Yvonne''s footsteps faded, Bianca unmuted her phone. A flicker of disgust crossed her face as she looked at the repulsive image on the screen, but her voice was dripping with seduction when she spoke. "Why are you in such a hurry?"


    William''s face wasn''t visible, but Bianca could imagine his contorted, predatory expression. "Quickly, quickly, baby. I need you. I need you desperately."


    "I''m right here," she cooed. "Right under you. Look at me..."


    Sometimeter, a fragile peace returned to Bianca''s room. They were both breathing heavily on opposite ends of the line. William was now in a state of post- coital satisfaction, the perfect time to make a request. Bianca hadn''t forgotten the purpose of tonight''s... sacrifice.


    "Professor, my entrance exam is just around the corner. Could you give me some advice...?"


    The next morning, Jude showed up at Noreen''s office just as she arrived. He got straight to the point. "I want an advance on this quarter''s dividend."


    Noreen paused, her hand hovering over a document. "An advance on your dividend?"


    "That''s right! I believe I have the right to ask for it, don''t I?"


    Noreen finally looked up at him, her gaze cool. "You can receive an advance, provided you get approval from a shareholder vote. If all the shareholders agree, it''s possible."


    She closed the file in front of her, tapping her fingers lightly on the cover. "But you seem to have forgotten that the Seymour Group has been operating at a loss for the past two years. Since took over, we''ve been focused on debt restructuring. There are virtually no after-tax profits on the books. Where do you expect me to find the funds for your dividend?"


    "Don''t give me all that corporate jargon. Just give me a straight answer. Can I get my dividend or not?"


    "You cannot," Noreen told him inly.


    Jude stormed out, mming the door behind him.


    Sophia came in with a stack of documents, nearly colliding with the furious Jude on his way out. She frowned. "All the entitlement of a rich kid with none of the ss is he going to pay for the door the breaks it?


    Noreen signed the papers Sophia brought and handed them back, adding an instruction. "Keep an eye on Jude''s activities. If he tries to sell his shares, buy them back immediately at the lowest market price."


    "You got it!" Sophia said.


    The very next day, Sophia reported back. "That blockhead is actually selling his shares! I bet his father has no idea. If he knew, he''d probably have a heart attack on the spot!"


    When Seymour Wilder had handed thepany to Noreen, he had been cautious, leaving thirty percent of the shares in Jude''s name while ensuring Noreen held a check on him. He knew exactly what his son was like.


    If Noreen wasn''t mistaken, Jude


    was nning to use that money to invest in PerseTech. That was his choice, and she wouldn''t interfere


    But for the future of mour


    Group, she had to buy back those shares.


    "Did you acquire all of them?" Noreen asked, cutting to the chase.


    "Of course! And at the lowest market price, just like you said!"


    "Good. Keep at it. Whatever he sells, we buy."


    As it turned out, Sophia''s nickname for Jude was spot on. Anyone with a shred of sense knows not to put all their eggs in one basket. But Jude, in his infinite wisdom, sold off his entire stake.