The Billionaire Who Killed Our Son Now Begs Me To Save His Daughter Chapter 02

The Billionaire Who Killed Our Son Now Begs Me To Save His Daughter Chapter 02

“Hello, am I speaking with the deep-sea rescue technical lead?”

The voice on the other end was calm and arrogant.

Ten years, and I still remembered it.

“That’s me. Go ahead.”

My own voice wasn’t what it used to be, though. A decade of deep-sea work had done irreversible damage.

“Good. This is Grant Corbin from Corbin Ocean Group. I assume you’ve seen the situation.”

He paused.

“Name your price.”

“I’m not taking the job.”

The line went quiet for a moment.

Then he laughed.

“Did I stutter? Name your price. Whatever it is.”

“I said no.”

“Fifty million.”

His voice didn’t hesitate. Like he was just throwing out a number for fun.

“Fifty million in cash. Half upfront before the dive, the other half when she’s brought up. That kind of offer doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world.”

I didn’t say anything.

He thought I was considering it. So he upped the ante.

“Equity works too. Half a percent of Corbin Ocean Group. Put it in your name. Dividends every year—”

“Mr. Corbin.”

I cut him off.

“When I say no, I’m not negotiating.”

His breathing got heavier on the other end.

“Then tell me why.”

“No reason. I have the right to refuse.”

“Your right?”

His voice turned cold.

“Do you even know what’s going on down there? Three thousand six hundred feet. The crew compartment’s already deformed. That’s a human life.”

“I know.”

“You know? And you’re just saying no like that?”

His words came faster.

“You’re the only one around here who can reach that depth. You won’t even think about it. You know what that is? That’s turning your back on someone who’s dying.”

My grip tightened on the phone until my knuckles went white.

“Letting someone die. That’s rich, coming from you, Mr. Corbin.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.”

I answered calmly.

“I’m not taking the job. Find someone else.”

“There is no one else!”

He was practically shouting now.

“I’ve already looked into it. In this stretch of water, you’re the only one with the capability to dive right now. If you won’t do it, you at least owe me a reason.”

“Then I guess there’s nothing I can do.”

“You—”

He took a deep breath, trying to get his anger under control.

“Listen to me very carefully.”

His voice dropped low. Every word came out through clenched teeth.

“I don’t care what your reason is. I don’t care what kind of attitude you have. I’m giving you two hours to think it over. Two hours. And if your answer is still no… you and your little operation are dead in the water.”

I closed my eyes and held the phone tighter.

“Mr. Corbin. You should use that time for yourself. Because if you don’t start looking for another option right now, forget bringing your daughter back. You might not even recover her body.”

“You—”

“Good luck.”

I hung up.

Chase poked his head through the door. He looked at my face, biting his tongue.

“Syl… that Grant guy… did he threaten you?”

I tucked the phone back in my pocket and bent down to keep working on the equipment.

“He can’t threaten me.”

“But he—”

Chase hesitated.

“He said he’d blacklist the yard.”

“He can say whatever he wants. I don’t owe him anything.”

Chase didn’t ask again.

But I saw the look on his face before he turned to leave. Complicated.

“Syl… what exactly went down between you and that guy?”

I tightened the last valve, stood up, and wiped my hands.

“He owes me a life.”