The Ex-Wife’s Billion Dollar Comeback Novel

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Chapter 130: The Price of Taurus7

~ Soraya ~

A week passed.

Soraya was back in Cedar Heights, working her ass off to

make up for the week-long vacation she'd spent with Jacob.

It was another time for her weekly meeting with Lyra and the

others.

“We are planning a membership program for Valmont Privée.

This allows clients to receive an immediate 5% discount for

every purchase,” Lyra explained. “They will simply sign up for a

membership, which only costs a thousand dollars a year. It

not only offers discounts, but also express processing of

orders, exclusive previews of the new clothing line, free

delivery of online purchases, and free alterations.”

“And as Soraya suggested, we won't spend on an actual card

membership, at least not yet. Everything will be done online.

Emil will create a separate tab on the website specifically for

the Valmont Privée Premium membership. On the same page,

they will have their profile information, along with their

membership ID number,” Lyra added.

“We can even add a target purchase amount,” Soraya

proposed. “For example, get your next year’s membership for

free if you spend up to ten thousand dollars.”

“Emil can create a target and progress milestone chart, where

the clients can visibly see where their purchases are at and

how close they are to achieving their free annual membership,”

Soraya instructed her assistant.

“Oh, | love that,” Luca remarked. “I wish | had a team like you

guys during my first attempt in the fashion industry.”

----

“Well, we are here now,” Lyra said with a smile.

“Luca, we are more thankful that you trust us in putting your

brand out there,” Soraya said, smiling.

Soraya knew the strategy would work. It was backed by

proven consumer psychology. Loyalty programs always drove

repeat spending. The perks would justify the fee, while the

spending milestone would push clients to shop more.

The closer they were to the target, the harder they would try

to reach it. And with a progress chart, they wouldn't feel like

they were spending at all, but investing toward a reward. That

was what would keep them coming back.

However, it wasn't just marketing, nor was it Soraya and Emil's

technical work on the website alone. Luca's design was

superb. He had an instinct for cuts that made women look

their best, fabrics that whispered luxury, and details that stood

out. He also knew how to make fashion practical: some

pieces were costly but worth it, while others showed his skill

in working around materials to achieve elegance without

excess.

After Soraya and her team concluded their meeting, Lyra

suddenly said, “Have you heard about the relaunch of Maison

de R.?”

Soraya laughed and said, “No, but since you raised it, and

judging by the look on your face, | assume it did not do well.”

“It didn't,” Luca answered for Lyra. “Some of our clients also

went to Maison de R’s relaunch. Rose raised the prices of her

clothing line, which is understandable, but maybe Miss

Becket went overboard. She leaned too far into high-fashion

pieces that looked impressive on a runway, with quality

materials and all, but were impractical for her current market.

That works for designers who use dramatic looks to build

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brand image, but Rose doesn't have that kind of reach. At

least, not yet. Her clients expect elegance they can actually

wear.”

“| know exactly where Miss Becket is right now. I've been

there. I've had my downfall. | heard she has strong funding, so

she's probably trying to maximize it. But the point is, she

doesn't have that high-fashion clientele yet,” Luca expounded.

“Well, let's leave her alone and just focus on Valmont Privée.”

Soraya smiled at Luca, adding, “We will take it one step at a

time, but | promise you, one day, you will have your grand

runway show.”

“Soraya,” Luca said. “This time, I'm not in a hurry.”

It was a Friday, so following her meeting with the Valmont

Privée team, Soraya went to Belridge and returned to Jacob's

home. Like her, Jacob had also gone back to his busy

schedule. In fact, Jacob had been out of town for an entire

week, but Soraya did not mind.

She did admit to missing him, though, but time away also

gave her a chance to focus on her work. The man was a major

distraction.

In the evening, Soraya stayed with Angela.

Angela had caught the flu the day before and suffered from a

runny nose through the night. Soraya often helped her lie in a

comfortable position, sometimes spraying her nose with

saline to clear her nostrils.

Then, she received an important call from her FBI handler,

Cassie, at around midnight. “Miss Azar, we have an important

job for you. The Montclair Group is being hacked. The

company had tried to use its own defenses, but the hackers

were strangely persistent—”

----

“I'm not taking it. My daughter's sick,” Soraya said. But just as

she said that, she remembered Amanda and Cedric. Sure, she

may despise Calum, but the company also belonged to them.

“Let me first check on some options.”

She called Jacob, and he was supportive of her decision. He

asked Veronica to watch over Angela while Soraya handled

the hacking incident in Cedar Heights. But Jacob suggested, “

Ask for fifty million dollars, with the condition that the funds

come out of Calum's pocket and not from the company.”

Soraya gave the requirement to Cassie, and the Montclair

Group returned with an answer after twenty minutes.

Apparently, the CEO had tried to oppose the request, but the

hackers had already begun infiltrating the company’s network.

Agreeing to Soraya’s terms was probably Calum’s last resort.

Jacob's mother was concerned about the late-night job, but

after Jacob assured her of Soraya’s safety, Veronica

reluctantly agreed to let her go.

soe

~ Calum ~

Calum had first heard of Taurus7 on the news. He was the

highest-paid cybersecurity consultant, the same specialist

assisting the FBI against the hacker syndicate that had been

plaguing corporations for months. His reputation alone

reassured him that the Montclair Group's crisis was in capable

hands.

What he hadn't expected was his fee.

Fifty thousand dollars. Out of his own pocket.

Why? The demand baffled him, but with his company’s

defenses crumbling and the infiltration already underway, he

didn’t have the luxury of seeking out another expert. He

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agreed.

Only later would Calum understand why the price had been

set so high, why the condition had been so audacious.

To Taurus/, it was personal.

Taurus7... was a she.