Chapter 286
Natalie’s smile vanished. Her n is dug into the folder she’d spent al night working on.
“Why didn’t you mention your company’s overseas investment losses Adam asked, voice ice–cold.
She blinked rapidly, mind scrambling for damage control.
“Okay, we didn’t mention that upfront,” she admitted. “But come on, hat doesn’t change how groundbreaking this project ist
Adam didn’t blink. “Those are completely different issues Your project has serious problems. Add your money troubles, and it’s clear Snow Industries faked those profit numbers.” He tapped his finger once on her proposal. “This crosses a line. Even if I wanted to work together, we’d need to start from scratch.”
But right now? Adam continued, his voice dropping low. “Haven Enterprise isn’t getting involved with Snow Industries at all. You’re a money pit. We’re done here.”
Anger mixed with shante burned in Natalie’s chest. She bit her lip, grabbed her proposal and stormed out of Haven Enterprise, her heels clicking loudly.
Back at the Snow mansion, her father’s jaw dropped when she delivered the news. “He just… rejected it?”
“Dad, he knows everything,” Natalie said, dropping onto the sofa. “It like he had our money problems all figured out before even showed up.”
Mr. Snow’s face fell. They’d tried so hard to hide those overseas losses, even bumping up profit numbers to make the deal look
better.
He ran both hands through his thinning hair. “This is bad.”
“We still have other investors interested, right?” Natalie tried.
“Get real, Nat. Haven Enterprise runs this city. Those other companies only cared because of the Haven name.” He shook his head. “Once word gets out that Adam said no, they’ll all disappear faster than free food at an office party.”
Natalie’s stomach sank. Those potential partners didn’t care about their treatment at all.
Over the next few days, everything happened just like her father said Investors suddenly became “too busy.” Contracts suddenly needed “more review.” Their project sat forgotten while their money problems overseas got worse. Keeping their troubles secret became impossible.
At Haven Enterprise headquarters, Marcus tossed the Snow Industries financial report on his desk. “Unbelievable,” he said. “They actually thought they could pull this off?”
Adam watched his father’s face darken. Marcus had always been rigorous about business ethics.
“We should buy their project,” Adam said abruptly.
Marcus glanced up. “Go on.”
“The tech could work well. We get our team to fix the problems, take over the market.” Adam spoke faster than usual. “Most importantly, we finish this quickly. I don’t want it taking up next month.”
Marcus studied his son. “Seems a bit predatory, doesn’t it?”
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It’s business, Adain replied. Rither wo save the project, or it falls completely. They don’t have any other options.
He straightened in his wheelclfair. Two weeks. I want the acquisition done in two weeks
Marcus’s eyebrows shot up. “That’s aggressive. Something else on your schedule?
“Just clearing the decks,” Adam said, his expression slipping just en gh to reveal something Marcus rarely saw–anticipation. End of month, I want this off my plate.”
Marcus nodded, curious about this unexpected urgency from his son
A few days later, Irene pushed open the door to Adam’s private office at his residence. She hesitated briefly as memories of their last awkward encounter flashed through her mind. Professional. Keep professional.
Inside, she found Adam buried in work. Papers were everywhere, his laptop showing numbers and charts that gave her an instant headache.
He looked up at the sound of her footsteps, and something happened to his face–a softening around the eyes, a release of tension she hadn’t even realized was there until it vanished. For a split second, he just stared at her like he was making sure she was really
there
“You know,” she said, putting down her bag, “there’s this crazy idea called ‘taking a break.‘ Doctors everywhere recommend it.”
Adam’s lips quirked upward–that real smile she’d learned to distinguish from his business one. He immediately set aside the document he’d been reading.
“Working on it,” he said, leaning back. “Trying to clear this mess before it interferes with… other plans.”
“Other plans?” she echoed, busying herself with her equipment to hide the slight quickening of her pulse. She could feel his eyes following her movements.
“Actually,” he said, fingers doing that nervous tap–tap–tap on his armrest, “I’ve been thinking.”
Irene glanced up, caught by something in his tone.
“What about a vacation?” The words tumbled out like he’d been thinking about it for days. “With you and the kids. All of us
together.”
Her hands stopped moving. That was definitely not something a patient normally asks their doctor.
“A vacation,” she repeated, trying to collect her thoughts. Her heart started beating faster.
Adam nodded, tension visible in the set of his shoulders. “Haven Enterprise built this island resort a while back. It has everything kids love–beaches, snorkeling, jungle adventures–plus lots of quiet places.” His eyes met hers, not looking away. “For grown–ups who need some peace.”
What he was really suggesting floated between them, too important to ignore, too new to talk about directly.
Irene bit her lip, imagining it all: the kids playing in the sand, walking on the beach at sunset, seeing Adam relaxed and away from work, just being… himself. What might happen when they were far from Silver City, away from everyone watching and talking.
“The kids would totally flip out,” she said, unable to stop the smile spreading across her face. “When did you want to go?”
“End of month,” he replied instantly, like he’d already checked the calendar a dozen times. “If that works for you.”
When she didn’t say no right away, his eyes lit up, making her feel all warm inside. It was such a small thing, but
g Adam look
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so hopeful because of her made her feel special. Finally, she decided to give them both a chance
I’d need to arrange some things, but… she nodded, her voice softening, I think we’d all like that.”
Adam’s whole face changed when he smiled–suddenly looking younger, happier, almost like a kid getting exactly what he wanted for Christmas. All those important papers on his desk might as well Have disappeared.
“Good,” was all he said, but his voice made that one word sound like promise.
Irene started getting the treatment ready, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. Something was changing between them– something new starting, something they weren’t ready to talk about yet.
Adam watched her work, his mind already racing ahead to sunny beaches and starlit evenings. In his heart, he made a promise to hurry up with the Snow Industries business. Nothing was, going to get in the way of their vacation–their vacation.
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