Taming My Sugar Mommy
Chapter 87: Isabella Plan

Chapter 87: Isabella Plan

Six weeks had passed since that evening at the Sapphire Lounge. Six weeks of careful planning, of late nights poring over spreadsheets and corporate bylaws, of strategic meetings behind closed doors. Isabella had allowed Edwin to believe his scheme was progressing undetected, watching from the shadows as he continued to gather support.

She sat now in her penthouse office, the city sprawled beneath her like a circuit board of lights and darkness. The massive desk—imported Italian marble that had once belonged to her father—was covered with documents, her tablet displaying a complex network of financial projections for Ashworth Luxury Events’ next quarter.

A soft knock at the door broke her concentration.

"Come in," she called, not looking up.

Liam entered, carrying two cups of coffee. He set one beside her, black with a single ice cube—exactly how she preferred it in the evening.

"The Magellan documents are ready," he said, gesturing to the folder under his arm. "Completely convincing. Finance won’t spot the inconsistencies unless they dig three layers deep."

Isabella allowed herself a small smile. "And Edwin won’t dig. He’s too eager, too desperate to find something he can use against me."

The Magellan Strategy was elegant in its simplicity. A fabricated investment opportunity in an emerging South American luxury resort chain, promising astronomical returns and exclusive market access. The documents suggested that Isabella was planning to divert company resources to secure personal stake before bringing the opportunity to the board.

It was exactly the kind of ammunition Edwin would leap at—evidence of the "autocratic leadership" he had complained about to Seraphina.

"Are you sure about this?" Liam asked, settling into the chair opposite her desk. "Once you pull this trigger..."

"Edwin crossed the line," Isabella replied, her voice cool and certain. "He didn’t just question my leadership—he tried to turn my closest ally against me." She took a sip of coffee. "People have lost much more for much less."

Liam nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Speaking of allies... have you told Seraphina about the plan?"

Isabella’s fingers stilled momentarily on her tablet. "No. Not yet."

"You still don’t trust her completely," Liam observed. It wasn’t a question.

Isabella sighed, setting down her tablet and leaning back in her chair. "I trust Seraphina with my life. But..."

"But you’re hedging your bets," Liam finished for her. "Smart."

"Cautious," Isabella corrected. "Whatever Edwin is planning, he approached her for a reason. Until I understand why, I’m keeping the details close."

Liam nodded, accepting her reasoning. "The files will be in the shared executive drive by morning. Accessible only to board-level clearance, but flagged in a way that will trigger Edwin’s regular searches."

"Perfect." Isabella stood, moving to the floor-to-ceiling windows. The city looked peaceful from this height, all its complications reduced to distant pinpricks of light. "The board meeting is in three days. How long will it take Edwin to find the bait?"

"Based on his patterns? Less than twenty-four hours," Liam responded confidently. "He’s been checking the executive drives every morning at 6 AM, before most of the executive team arrives."

Isabella nodded, a predator’s satisfaction in her eyes. "Then we watch, and we wait."

Two days later, Isabella sat at her desk reviewing the upcoming event projections when her secure line rang. The display showed Seraphina’s name.

"Bella," Seraphina’s voice was low, urgent. "We need to talk. Not over the phone."

Isabella’s pulse quickened, but her voice remained calm. "I’m heading into a meeting with Marketing. Can you meet me at Carbone’s at eight?"

"Not public," Seraphina insisted. "Your place. Nine o’clock."

The line disconnected before Isabella could respond. She stared at the phone for a moment, then pressed the intercom.

"Move my evening appointments," she instructed her assistant. "And have Liam come up immediately."

When Liam arrived ten minutes later, Isabella was standing by the window again, her posture rigid.

"Seraphina called," she said without preamble. "She wants to meet tonight. At my apartment."

Liam’s expression darkened. "That’s not like her."

"No, it’s not." Isabella turned to face him. "Which means either she’s found something significant about Edwin’s plans..."

"Or the trap has been spotted," Liam finished. "Should I deploy additional security?"

Isabella considered for a moment. "No. That might spook her. But I want you there, out of sight."

"Always," Liam agreed. His loyalty had never been in question.

Isabella’s Upper East Side apartment was a study in understated luxury—cream-colored walls adorned with original artwork, furniture that prioritized comfort over showiness. It was her sanctuary, the one place where she allowed herself to relax.

Tonight, however, she felt the familiar tension of anticipation as she waited for Seraphina to arrive. Liam had positioned himself in the small security room adjacent to the kitchen, where he could monitor the apartment’s surveillance system.

At precisely nine o’clock, the elevator opened directly into her foyer. Seraphina stepped out, looking unusually disheveled for a woman who prided herself on perfect composure. Her hair was pulled back in a hasty ponytail, and she wore jeans and a simple blouse instead of her usual tailored attire.

"You won’t believe what I found," she said immediately, forgoing their usual greeting. She crossed to the living room, pulling a tablet from her bag. "I’ve been tracking Edwin’s movements, his communications."

Isabella raised an eyebrow, gesturing for Seraphina to continue.

"He’s been accessing the executive server at odd hours," Seraphina explained, pulling up a log of activity. "This morning, he downloaded a substantial number of files, including something called the Magellan Strategy."

Isabella felt a cold satisfaction. The bait had been taken.

"That’s... concerning," she said carefully. "What’s the Magellan Strategy?"

Seraphina’s eyes narrowed slightly. "You don’t know? It’s flagged under your credentials."

"I delegate many projects," Isabella replied smoothly. "What’s in it?"

For a brief moment, Seraphina hesitated, studying Isabella’s face. Then she turned the tablet, showing the fabricated investment documents.

"It looks like you’re planning to use Ashworth Luxury Events resources to secure a personal stake in a South American resort chain," she said, her voice neutral. "Before presenting the opportunity to the board."

Isabella allowed her expression to darken. "That’s absurd. Those documents must be fabricated."

"That’s what I thought too," Seraphina agreed, but something in her tone had shifted. "Except the digital signature is yours, Isabella. And the document creation metadata matches your personal system."

Isabella stood, moving to pour herself a glass of water from the crystal decanter on the sideboard. Her back to Seraphina, she allowed herself a small smile. Liam had done excellent work with the forgeries.

"Edwin must have planted them," she said, turning back to face her friend. "He’s more desperate than I thought."

Seraphina set the tablet down on the coffee table. "Maybe. But there’s something else." She reached into her bag and withdrew a small flash drive. "This arrived at my home this morning. Unmarked, hand-delivered."

Isabella’s eyes fixed on the drive. This hadn’t been part of the plan.

"What’s on it?" she asked, her voice carefully controlled.

"Financial records," Seraphina replied. "Going back three years. Showing systematic diversion of Ashworth funds through shell companies. All leading back to an offshore account in your name."

Isabella’s expression shifted from concern to genuine shock. "What?"

Seraphina’s eyes never left Isabella’s face. "I think someone is setting you up, Bella. Someone who knows enough about Ashworth’s financial structure to make the fraud look convincing."

Isabella sank onto the sofa, her mind racing. This wasn’t Edwin’s style. He wasn’t sophisticated enough to fabricate that kind of financial trail.

"May I?" she asked, gesturing to the flash drive.

Seraphina handed it over. "I haven’t shown this to anyone else. Not yet."

Isabella inserted the drive into her laptop, scanning the documents quickly. The forgery was masterful—transaction records, bank statements, even board authorizations with signatures that would pass casual inspection.

"This is elaborate," she said finally. "Far beyond Edwin’s capabilities."

Seraphina’s expression softened. "That’s exactly what I thought. Which means..."

"He has help," Isabella finished. "Someone with intimate knowledge of our financial systems."

"Someone on the inside," Seraphina suggested. "What about Harrington? He’s been on the board almost as long as Edwin."

Isabella looked up sharply. "Harrington? You think he’s involved?"

"It makes sense," Seraphina nodded. "He joined the board shortly after Edwin, and has always aligned with his voting patterns. Plus, he has connections to several banks we work with."

Isabella’s mind worked rapidly, reassessing the situation. If Harrington was involved, the threat was more serious than she’d anticipated. She would need to adjust her strategy.

"The board meeting is tomorrow," she said finally. "Edwin will make his move then, using these forged documents."

"What are you going to do?" Seraphina asked, concern evident in her voice.

Isabella’s smile was cold. "Spring my own trap."