Chapter 36

Evelyn lifted her gaze. "But your father already transferred the shares to Vivian. It won't be easy to make her surrender them, especially with 'that person' backing her."

'That person' referred to Nathan Goldmann.

A smirk played on Evelyn's lips. "I've been analyzing their relationship since my return. Even if Nathan is protecting Vivian, how long can that possibly last?"

"What do you mean?" Gregory asked, leaning forward.

"Vivian and Nathan have been together for six years, yet he shows no intention of marrying her." Evelyn's fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk. "Though I don't know his reasons, one conclusion is obvious."

Her eyes turned frosty. "He's reluctant to marry her, which means he never will. Vivian's clinging to borrowed time. For someone like Nathan, finding a superior replacement would be effortless." She straightened her posture. "Retrieving Viana Jewelry's shares from Vivian is only a matter of timing."

Gregory recognized the truth in her words but remained cautious. "There's no absolute guarantee. What if Mr. Goldmann does marry her eventually?"

If Vivian became Mrs. Goldmann, her status would become untouchable. Reclaiming the shares would be impossible then.

"The Goldmanns have higher standards than that." Evelyn's laughter held an edge. "To become Mrs. Goldmann, a woman would need to surpass even our Vanderbilt status. Think corporate heiresses or royalty."

Gregory looked perplexed. Mr. Goldmann had never publicly stated such requirements. They weren't selecting a queen, yet Evelyn spoke with the conviction of someone personally vetting candidates.

"Let's focus on immediate priorities." Evelyn's tone shifted. "My timeline involves establishing my own jewelry brand quickly."

Gregory's eyebrows shot up. "You can accomplish that in such a short period?"

She met his gaze with a confident smile. "What if I could convince the Board that this position rightfully belongs to me?"

"The board believes Mr. Goldmann supports Vivian. In their eyes, she's the ideal candidate."

The Board of Directors tolerated Vivian only because Richard had gifted her the shares and Nathan's backing. In any other company, an executive with her incompetence would have been ousted immediately.

"Besides attaching herself to a powerful man, what value does she bring?" Evelyn's voice dripped with disdain. "Viana continues to hemorrhage money. Would Nathan indefinitely fund losses for a company not his own?"

She leaned back, crossing her legs. "If that's the case, perhaps I should stop working too. Imagine waking up to automatic deposits without lifting a finger."

Gregory chuckled. "Point taken. So what's your strategy?"

Evelyn slid a document across the desk. His eyes widened as he scanned the contents.

"You're pursuing a partnership with Taylor Jewelry?!"

Taylor Jewelry dominated Zlokova's market, surpassing Viana and all competitors. With international reach, it stood alongside Stoslo's Luxe and Majestic as the holy trinity of fashion jewelry. Runway models exclusively wore pieces from these elite brands.

A partnership with Taylor would catapult Viana's reputation in Zlokova overnight. It would be equivalent to having Taylor's prestigious endorsement permanently attached to their name.