You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 431

Lately, Riverdale had fallen hard for the whole Han and Tang dynasty vibe. Private dining spots all tried to outdo each other with traditional decor—antique wood, lanterns, intricate screens. Some places even went all out, hiring musicians in flowing gowns to play delicate tunes in the background.

Behind a painted folding screen, Oliver’s voice came across clear and steady.

“If I’m not mistaken, Skyline Entertainment’s already been talking to Martin Group.”

Riley nodded, sounding a little tired. “Yeah, that’s true. Still, I want to give it one last shot. Skyline is like my own kid—I built it from scratch.”

Oliver didn’t bother responding to that bit of sentimentality. If you could raise a kid just to hand them off to someone else, maybe you weren’t exactly parent-of-the-year material.

“In business, you can’t have it both ways. If Martin Group finds out, you might have some explaining to do, Riley.”

Riley let out a quiet sigh. “I just want what’s best for my kid, you know? I’m willing to take the risk.”

Oliver gave him a polite smile, hiding any real reaction.

All this talk about ‘his child’—Oliver had already made up his mind about the guy. But he didn’t say it out loud. Instead, he just went along with it.

“I get it. That’s what parents do.”

Riley seemed to take that as a good sign, his face lighting up a little.

But Oliver kept going. “Thing is, I’ve seen Skyline’s numbers the last few years. They’re not exactly great. Bad investments, constant scandals with your artists, and two out of your three biggest stars have ended up in legal trouble.”

“Those kinds of problems usually come down to management. So, Riley, have you really checked out on Skyline these last few years?”

Behind the screen, Patricia couldn’t help but chuckle quietly.

“You invest in healthcare, Mr. Padilla. I’m sure you know the name: spinal muscular atrophy. We knew from the start how it would end.”

He tried to keep it together, but his eyes went red.

Riley ducked his head, reaching for a tissue to wipe away the tears. “Sorry about that, Mr. Padilla. Didn’t mean to lose it.”

“I’m truly sorry, Riley. Sometimes life just makes it impossible to keep everything together. But right now, Pacific Capital isn’t planning on moving into entertainment.”

“I understand…” Riley’s voice was barely above a whisper. Honestly, if it wasn’t for an old classmate pulling some strings, he wouldn’t even have this meeting.

“But if you’re willing, here’s my promise: within three years, I’ll make sure Skyline Entertainment ends up back in your hands, ready for you to take over again.”