Chapter 960

The two supervisors hesitated, their mouths opening and closing like fish out of water.

Alexander Sterling's icy glare silenced them before they could utter another word.

They knew better than to test his patience. One mistake was all it took to be permanently blacklisted from Sterling Enterprises.

Once the door clicked shut behind them, Evelyn Sinclair settled into the chair across from her brother, confusion knitting her brows.

"I thought there was an issue with the project?"

Alexander's jaw tightened. "Those two were bribed to sabotage it. Their own team caught them red-handed."

"Who paid them off?"

"Pacific Crest Enterprises. A woman named Cassandra Blake."

Evelyn's fingers stilled on the armrest. "Her again?"

"You've crossed paths before?"

"Unfortunately. Any damage done yet?"

"Not yet, but they came dangerously close." Alexander's knuckles whitened around his pen. "Guess who they hired as our spokesperson?"

Evelyn shook her head.

High-end real estate rarely needed celebrity endorsements unless it was a landmark development.

"Harrison Blake."

Evelyn's espresso nearly splattered across the mahogany desk. "The domestic violence scandal guy?!"

Harrison had debuted alongside Julian Moreau, but their careers had taken wildly different trajectories. While Julian soared to A-list status, Harrison's reputation imploded after marrying during his peak—only to be exposed as an abuser.

Now blacklisted across Montecito, anyone associated with Harrison became instant pariahs.

And Sterling Enterprises had just signed him.

Alexander massaged his temples. "Those supervisors had signing authority. They deliberately chose Harrison so our development would crash alongside his career."

"We can terminate the contract, right?"

"At ten times the endorsement fee. Cancel now, and the Pacific Heights Project dies before groundbreaking."

The office plunged into tense silence.

Evelyn tapped her nails against the desk. "Lucas deals with celebrity scandals daily. Surely he—"

"Lucas said 'Don't sign him' and hung up. Helpful, isn't he?" Alexander scoffed.

Evelyn smirked. "Relax. Your baby sister practically runs Horizon Media now. I'll handle this."

"You?" Alexander's doubtful eyebrow arched.

"Please. I've got half of Montecito's PR teams on speed dial."

A reluctant chuckle escaped Alexander. Some tension left his shoulders.

"Fine. But if it fails, we cut Harrison loose and take the financial hit. Corporate image is non-negotiable."

Evelyn nodded. One tarnished spokesperson could trigger stock crashes, bankruptcies—the whole domino effect.

She stood, smoothing her blazer. "Go enjoy your date with Amelia. This mess is beneath you."

"Evelyn—wait."

Alexander pulled a slim dossier from his drawer. His knuckles rapped against the manila envelope.

"I know Preston Sinclair visited today. K already briefed me." His voice turned gravelly. "I'm not interfering, but after what happened with Nathan... Trust is earned. No matter how perfect Preston seems, he's still a man. And men lie."

Evelyn froze.

She didn't need to open the folder to know its contents.

A full background check on Preston Sinclair.