Chapter 285

Isabella knew exactly what Zack was up to.

Zack figured John would bounce back eventually, and then John could buy his shares for triple the price. Those shares were just sitting there, not doing much. He could wait it out.

Honestly, the other small shareholders felt the same way.

When Isabella showed up, she knew there was no way she could strong-arm these small shareholders into selling their shares by taking advantage of John's money problems. So, she pulled out her ace.

"Hey, Mr. Farley, hold up. I've got something you might want to see," Isabella said, pulling out a photo and laying it on the table.

Zack frowned, picked up the photo, and his eyes went wide. He was instantly furious.

"Are you trying to blackmail me with this?" Zack slammed the table, glaring at Isabella.

Isabella just smiled a little. "Mr. Farley, you don't want everyone to know your son got busted for drugs overseas, right? Don't you want him back home with you soon?"

Zack started breathing heavily. He loved money, sure, but he loved his son more. But his son had gotten into drugs.

Zack had sent his son to a strict school abroad, but his son ran away, got mixed up with some bad kids, did drugs, stole stuff, and ended up in jail.

Isabella looked at Zack and smiled. "I have some connections over there. If you trust me, I can make a call and get your son out."

"Can you really do that?" Zack was skeptical.

Given Isabella's family situation, just getting out of the city was a huge challenge, let alone having any pull abroad. Plus, that country was outside the reach of the big four families, so even Mason might not be able to help.

But Isabella just smiled, made a quick call, and hung up.

A little later, Zack's phone rang.

Isabella motioned for Zack to answer it.

With a frown, Zack took the call, and his face turned to shock. It was his son on the other end.

"They let you go? Community service? That's fine, as long as you're out. When can you come back? Next month if you behave? That's great. Stay out of trouble, and I'll do my best to get you home soon," Zack said excitedly.

After hanging up, Zack turned to Isabella, who was smiling calmly, like she had all the power in the world.

"How did you pull that off?" Zack asked, a mix of curiosity and awe.

Isabella shook her head and pulled out the share transfer agreement from her bag. "That's not the question you should be asking. Now, what's your answer?"

Zack sighed, picked up a pen, and signed the contract.

Isabella got up from her chair, satisfied, and extended her hand to Zack. "Well, here's to a smooth partnership, Mr. Farley. The money will be in your account soon."

Zack shook her hand with both of his. "We were so wrong about you!"

Isabella shrugged with a smile. "I didn't expect much from any of you."

With that, Isabella left Zack's office, her bag in tow.

Zack's son had really screwed up overseas, and that country wasn't under the control of the four major families, but it was still within the reach of Michael's dad, Kenna.

Once Isabella found out about Zack's weak spot, she asked Michael if he could help. Michael said his dad had connections in the prison system and could make a call.

Isabella called Kenna and got a positive response, so the problem was easily taken care of.

"In human society, connections are always the best resource," Isabella thought, a faint smile on her lips as she drove to her next meeting.

The second shareholder was a slightly chubby middle-aged man. When he saw Isabella, his eyes couldn't stop wandering over her.

Isabella's beauty was undeniable, and James Finley, the creep, didn't miss it.

James had been trying to get Isabella drunk, getting way too close under the guise of cooperation, and being all flirty.

Isabella's response? She splashed red wine in his face.

"You crazy woman! Don't you want those shares anymore? Don't think I don't know Mason is under public pressure and won't lend you money. If you want my shares, you'd better see what you're willing to pay," James sneered, wiping his face harshly.

Isabella looked at James and smiled faintly. "You've got some nerves to threaten me like that. Aren't you afraid your wife will find out?"

James's face twisted in confusion. "What are you talking about? I don't get it. What's my wife got to do with this? That old lady can't stop me. I'm the one who runs things in our family."

Isabella raised an eyebrow and clapped her hands. "Mrs. Finley, did you hear that?"

A wave of dread hit James as the door to the private room burst open, and a middle-aged woman in a yellow dress, Lally Potts, stormed in.

"James, you bastard!" Lally screamed, charging at him.

James jumped, trying to get away, but two bodyguards behind Lally shoved him back into the chair. Lally, clutching her purse and a bottle, went wild, smashing them against James's body.

After more than ten minutes, Lally's rage finally cooled. She turned to Isabella and said, "Thank you, Isabella. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have known that James was cheating on me."

Isabella stepped forward and gently hugged Lally. "Mrs. Finley, I get it. We've both been hurt by love. These damn men aren't worth our tears."

Lally sobbed in Isabella's arms.

James's Achilles' heel was his constant cheating and betrayal of his marriage, and the one dealing with him was his wife, Lally.