In the heavy silence, Callie was undoubtedly defeated.
She broke the quiet first, her voice tense, “So your real target isn’t Scott Group, it’s Shamar.”
Nelson’s slender fingers toyed with the wine glass. “After finishing with Dale, it’s natural to reclaim the value.”
He had deliberately given Shamar power but would not let him truly rule the market. This whole maneuver was to reclaim control.
Callie took a deep breath. “Shamar’s company can’t go public anymore. He agreed to let a foreign company-no, let Oconnor Group enter the board. We will approve it at the shareholders’ meeting, but you can’t touch his seat. It must remain his.”
Nelson’s hand paused at his lips, a sneer forming. “When the stock market opens tomorrow and the stock price keeps dropping, his shares will be worthless. What do you have left to bargain with?”
With that, he downed the rest of wine in one gulp.
The strong liquor burned down his throat, bringing a fierce sensation.
Callie’s hands clenched tightly. She was truly cornered.
She took a deep breath and suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with determination despite the bitterness. She controlled her trembling voice, “I’m not negotiating on behalf of Shamar now.”
The man raised an eyebrow, not expecting her next words. “I’m sitting here as your wife.”
Nelson’s heart skipped a beat, and he was genuinely stunned for a few seconds.
“I beg you, let them go.”
Callie’s usual strong demeanor had turned into a soft plea, catching him off guard.
She lowered her lashes, feeling deeply humiliated. She didn’t want to beg him this way.
But if she didn’t… she didn’t know how ruthless this man could be.
She wasn’t sure if Nelson would be moved by this.
What would he say? That business and personal matters shouldn’t mix? Or mock her naivety again?
Callie had mentally prepared herself but didn’t expect Nelson to put down his glass and say in the quiet room, “If Shamar gives up his seat, I can let him stay on the board and keep all his brands intact without being dismantled or reorganized into other companies.”
The light cast a faint shadow on Nelson’s face, making his features even more striking.
Her plea had worked.
This was Nelson’s biggest concession.
Silence fell again. Nelson looked at the exhausted woman, his hardened heart softening slightly, his Adam’s apple moving.
Callie said, “I need time to think.”
Nelson glanced at his watch and said, “The stock market opens in two hours. You can rest in the meantime.”
His resting room.
She had been there many times before.
Callie decisively refused and left his office to call Shamar.
After explaining the situation, there was a long pause on the other end before he said, “Callie, I was too naive.”
Callie closed her eyes.
“It doesn’t matter… do as you see fit.”
The young man bowed his head; this was reality. The wheels of history move forward relentlessly. To avoid being eliminated, one must survive no matter what.
Jaquan could no longer invest in them; he was struggling himself. With such a precedent, no other venture capital company would help them either. In these few days, Shamar had tasted the coldness of the world.
Callie always thought she could match Nelson but found herself at a dead end right from the start.
She re-entered the sharply designed office, her expression very cold. “I’ll have the contract drafted. We’ll sign before the market opens.”
In the end, Oconnor Group had absorbed them.
This business battle and this man’s tactics could be textbook material.
As she turned to leave, the man behind her called out, “Wait!”
Callie abruptly stopped, her legs weak from wearing high heels for so long.
Nelson stood up slowly and walked towards her step by step. The closer he got, the more she trembled.
His lips brushed her ear. “Mrs. Oconnor, remember to come home for dinner tonight.”
Callie struggled hard to resist slapping him.