The Seat They Never Saved And The Offer I Finally Took Chapter 07

The Seat They Never Saved And The Offer I Finally Took Chapter 07

The acquisition negotiations began the next day in the top-floor conference room at the group’s headquarters

I sat at the head of the table, going through the documents Lauren handed me.

Across the table, Northstar Technologies’ representatives, Nathan and Mason, shifted uneasily

in their seats.

Over three full hours of negotiations, I used sound business analysis to push the valuation of Northstar’s core assets down by thirty percent.

It was all based on the numbers. I let no personal grudges enter into it.

Yet each unforgiving clause landed like a slap across their faces.

Nathan looked at the revised contract, his face ashen.

“Ms. Bennett, Northstar Technologies can’t accept this valuation. We’d be walking away with

practically nothing.”

Nathan spoke quietly, almost pleading.

He was trying to draw a little of our old affection into the business at hand.

“Claire, you know me. I’ve put my whole life into Northstar. Can’t you…”

“Mr. Reed.” I interrupted without looking up.

“This is business. Northstar Technologies has posted negative growth for three straight quarters. Your financial statements are full of holes. Your core technology patents are the only

reason I’ve offered even this much.”

I closed the folder and fixed him with a sharp look.

“If you can’t accept the terms, Mr. Reed, our group can find another acquisition target at any time. You know where the door is.”

Nathan gripped his pen so hard his fingers turned white.

Pain and despair filled his eyes as he looked at me.

He finally understood. The Claire Bennett who’d once given in whenever he so much as frowned was dead and gone.

The meeting ended on a bitter note.

That afternoon, I went down to the underground garage to get my car after work.

As I reached my car, a shadow darted out from behind a pillar.

Mason.

He reeked of alcohol. His eyes were red, as though he’d just been crying.

“Claire!” He lunged toward me, trying to pull me into his arms.

I stepped back quickly and hit the panic button on my car key.

The shrill alarm echoed through the underground garage.

Startled, Mason froze, tears rolling down his face.

“Claire, please don’t treat me like this.”

He broke down, sobbing like a helpless child.

“I’ve regretted it every day for three years. I shouldn’t have put Chloe first. I shouldn’t have

yelled at you like that at the hospital. I know I was wrong. I do…”

He raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face.

The sharp crack of the slap was jarring in the empty garage.

“Hit me. Scream at me. I’ll do anything if you’ll just forgive.me.”

I watched him beg, stripped of all his pride. Nothing in me stirred.

Only overwhelming irritation.

“Mason Carter, do you think admitting you were wrong means I have to forgive you?”

I looked at him coldly.

“Back in the ER, when you grabbed my wrist right after they’d removed my IV and called me a

stalker, did you ever stop to think I was hurting, too?”

Mason flinched. His face drained of color.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t notice. I really didn’t…” He stumbled over the explanation.

“I don’t need your apologies anymore.”

I opened the car door and slid into the driver’s seat.

“You’re not even worth hating anymore.” I rolled up the window.