The Billionaire’s Game

rries about Asher. I’ve always been protective of him and tho

hat I could handle it all on my own,it was right there. Asher clearly need

g a sense of trepidation I hop

r, Mrs. Thompson, sitting at her desk. She smi

ins. "But this time, it's gotten physical. Cole pushed Asher

of concern. "

ess this behavior. Asher's been having trouble standing

uilding his confidence. But what about Cole? He's been bully

n. But we're working on it. In the meantime, let's f

. I'll do whatever it takes to help As

looks up at me with big, worried ey

through this together. And remember, you alw

dent. And I know that together, w

hile he sits with nana enjoying a vanilla mi

on Wells

” she exhaled,her

ook, “is there anythin

e’re losing our capital,with the rate things are going,

th the implications “And Jaso

or a partnership” she reve

rising “How long has this being h

hispers “you don’t want to rattle the

know?!” I shou

ve me tell her huh? that the business sh

urden you Em, you have a lot to deal with already,Ash,your other job at the ba

said something,I can’t begin to imagi

in the chai

ls offering?” I ask m

m says her voice firm. “He wants 50%

yes widening in shock

ine on our own,” Mom says,

u believe it?,how do this people

ndering the

his type. All smooth talk and at the end, grab everythi

nsinuated if not him,another person woul

sn

e hot stuff now”

lan mum,we can’t let Jason o

face sets in

’s think this through. What are our options? We can’t jus

come up with a counteroffer. Something that will

t. What if we offer him a smaller percentage, say 20%,that wa

lights up i

seat on the board,so he feels like he’s

nse of hope for the

t dwindles,her expr

mum?” I ask noti

n’t believe it’s gotten to this…losing so m

t’s not your fault mum.

ods,

y nana…,I’m sure she has savings that she’d be willing to give us to save the business.

not sure Nana has such an amount of savin

e averts her gaze.

k called last week. They're foreclosing on the bakery. We

've been punc

d Jason Wells'" I say, trying to

r. But I don't trust him. He's got

p the phone, hoping against hope that he'll be willing to help us... and not make things worse. As the phone rings,

ng." I take a deep breath and launch into my plea... but as I speak, I realize