inancial district
ck coffee in my hand. On the massive screen mounted on the wa
er ten million dollars have been siphoned from the company's offshore accounts overnight. The FBI and federal regulators have
of my coffee. It w
rs were in a panic, pointing fingers at each other. My hackers had done their job perfe
I made
ghts outside. I dialed the direct line to Julian's office. His s
logies, how m
nt Thorne Capital. I have a proposition for Mr. Vance regarding his current
e. Then a click.
an Va
years. It sounded the same. Arrogant, smooth, and e
lem. I am also aware that if you do not secure a capital injection before the gala tomorr
use. Longe
you?" h
. "And I am willing to sit down with you and discuss a buyout. But I will only do i
efore he co
-
Julian Vance walked i
ere rimmed with red from lack of sleep. But when he saw
the dark room. My hair was slicked back, my makeup sharp and m
om my heels to my face. There was a flicker of som
ecovering his composure
walked past him and
d. "Let's get stra
ps. He sat in the chair across from me. "Straight to busines
bank calls in your loans. I am offering to buy the majority of your shares at a dis
ng me. "You're offering to save my comp
," I said. "Once you're back on your feet, the stock will recover
. Then he laughed. It was
d. "I've met a lot of businesswomen in my li
I look at yo
t to destroy
blink. "M
a fraction of a second.
rms," he said. "L
otiated. He tried to outsmart me, but I was always one step ahead. I knew hi
my side. He was standing very close to me now. I could smell his cologne.
ally do this. But I'm going to be honest with yo
. For a moment, I wondered if he recognized something. A
aw only a cold, bea
aid, my voice cold as ice. "This is a
the room, my heels clicki
self to breathe. My heart was pounding, but not from
my phone and
set. He too
came a sec
ful, swe
Vance was going to learn the hard way that the
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