Chapter 93

Compared with what Richard himself had endured, Victoria's punishment suddenly didn't seem so severe.

Maybe there was a reason her father had come down on her this hard, even humiliating her in front of senior executives.

Maybe it was because he expected more from her.

If she were nothing more than a spoiled rich kid with no future, the family probably wouldn't have bothered correcting her at all.

But Victoria?

She had made one serious mistake in judgment, and Richard had responded with a five-year ban from the Consortium's core businesses.

Perhaps this was his way of telling her exactly what he expected from a future successor.

Someone who hoped to inherit Sterling Consortium couldn't afford blind spots like this. She certainly couldn't fail at something as basic as understanding the people she chose to associate with.

And besides...

Victoria clenched her jaw.

As far as Victoria was concerned, she was Richard's only child.

He was already thirty-eight. He had never married, and she had never heard of him having another child.

Who else was there?

Her uncle had suffered from poor health throughout his life, had never married, and had died without children.

Sterling Consortium was an enormous business empire.

In Victoria's mind, the conclusion was obvious.

If Richard didn't eventually leave it to her, who else could possibly inherit it?

This had to be a test.

If she could endure these five years—if she could step outside Sterling Consortium's protection and build something on her own—

if she could produce investment results so significant that even the board couldn't ignore them—

then Richard would have to look at her differently.

Hadn't he once done the same?

Everyone in the family knew that Richard had begun expanding into overseas energy markets while he was still at university and had eventually produced extraordinary results.

Victoria had also heard darker stories.

Richard's father had supposedly sent him into unstable mining regions with almost no family support. There had been violence, political unrest, and genuine danger.

There were even rumors that members of the extended family had once drugged Richard and arranged attacks against him—and that his father had refused to intervene, leaving Richard to deal with the aftermath himself.

Compared with that, five years outside Sterling Consortium hardly seemed unbearable.

Victoria had no desire to prove herself by surviving armed unrest or assassination attempts.

She would much rather do it this way.

Her breathing finally steadied.

She straightened her back, gathered the documents and photographs, and carefully returned them to the brown envelope.

"...I understand, Father."

The words came with difficulty.

"I was arrogant. I failed to do proper due diligence and risk assessment, and I accept the consequences."

Victoria met his eyes.

"I'll prove myself to you over the next five years."

Then she turned and walked out of the chairman's office.

Richard stared after her.

"..."

He said nothing.

A moment later, he returned to work as if the conversation had never happened.

"The due-diligence report on the Southeast Asia renewable-energy project. Legal and Risk are giving me conflicting recommendations."

Richard looked toward Jonathan.

"Coordinate them. I want one final risk assessment and a unified recommendation on my desk by ten tomorrow morning."

"Yes, sir."

"And revise the briefing notes for next Wednesday's closed-door policy forum. Put more emphasis on the new regulatory framework for cross-border capital flows. Have the research institute send the updated version to my email before midnight."

Jonathan recorded each instruction rapidly without asking a single unnecessary question.

Richard's fingers tapped lightly against the desk.

"One more thing. What's the current status of those private estates I asked you to hold back?"

Jonathan paused.

He had worked beside Richard long enough to recognize the change in subject for what it was.

Alongside Sterling Consortium's commercial developments, the Sterling family maintained a private real-estate portfolio containing several estates in exceptional locations. They were family assets, never intended for the open market.

If Richard was suddenly asking about them again, this probably wasn't business.

Jonathan switched screens on his tablet and opened the private portfolio.

"The two primary estates are both nearing completion. Structural work is finished, and they're currently undergoing final interior and landscape work."

He turned the tablet toward Richard.

"The design team sent updated renderings and site photographs this morning."

Richard took the tablet and leaned back.

Several private estates appeared on the screen.

The first sat deep within a secluded mountain property surrounded by acres of mature woodland. The architecture blended contemporary lines with understated East Asian influences, built around a series of connected courtyards overlooking a stream. The entire estate had been designed for privacy.

The second occupied a private peninsula overlooking a vast lake. Floor-to-ceiling glass opened the house toward panoramic water views, while broad landscaped lawns surrounded the property. Compared with the mountain estate, it felt brighter, more open, and filled with natural light.

There were several other properties in the portfolio, though their views and layouts varied.

Richard enlarged one of the floor plans.

"This room facing east. How large is it?"

Jonathan answered immediately.

"It was originally designed as a private event space and gallery. About thirty-four hundred square feet, column-free, with glass on three sides and excellent natural light."

He paused.

"It could easily be converted into a private dance studio."

Richard's eyebrow lifted slightly.

He gave Jonathan a long look.

Approval flickered in his eyes.

The remaining executives in the office continued pretending they couldn't hear a thing.

Richard moved to the next image.

"The mountain property. Wasn't there supposed to be a natural hot spring on the grounds?"

"Yes, sir. There's a natural mineral spring on the property, with a secluded outdoor soaking pool in the rear courtyard."

Jonathan paused again.

"It would be good for muscle recovery."

Richard's finger stopped against the screen.

"All right. That's enough for now."

He handed the tablet back.

"Lock down access to these properties. Don't finalize the furnishings or any remaining customization until I give further instructions."

He paused.

"If anyone asks, tell them the properties are being held for private use."

"Understood, sir. I'll handle it."

Jonathan collected the tablet.