Chapter 287
Morning light flooded Haven Eterprise’s top floor. Adam drummed is fingers on his desk while Thomas wrapped up his presentation.
a
“Bottom line? Show’s overseas investments are a total disaster, Thomas said, closing the folder, “Six months from now, we could probably snag it for pocket change.”
Adam didn’t even blink. “Twenty billion. Final offer. Give them 48 hours.”
“Sir?” Thomas’s eyebrows shot up. “Their projections put thevalue way higher. They’ll flip out.”
“Not my problem.” Adam’s voice could’ve frozen water. “Two weeks. I want this wrapped up in two weeks, max.”
“Two weeks for an acquisition this size?” Thomas couldn’t hide his surprise.
“I have plans,” Adam ut in, his eyes briefly softening before hardening again. “End of the month. Non–negotiable.
Thomas nodded, watching his boss carefully. Lately, Adam had been different. Still razor–sharp in meetings, but sometimes his mind wandered toward a certain doctor and her three kids.
“I’ll draft it now,” Thomas said, backing toward the door.
“And Thomas? Keep it quiet. I don’t need market vultures circling this deal.”
Once alone, Adam swiveled toward the window. Two weeks to close the deal, then… freedom. The image of three wild kids building sandcastles while Irene laughed in the background made everything else fade away.
The Haven Enterprise reception area crackled with tension three days later. Mr. Snow kept smoothing his tie while Natalie paced in
tiny circles, her heel strikes getting sharper with each turn.
When they finally entered the conference room, Natalie didn’t even wait for the door to close..
“Twenty billion?” she practically spat. “That’s highway robbery! This technology’s potential market is astronomical!”
Adam watched her with the blank interest of someone observing an insect. “Potential isn’t reality. Your company can barely keep the lights on, let alone scale this technology properly.”
“We’ve been business associates for decades,” Mr. Snow leaned forward, desperation leaking into his voice. “Surely we can find a partnership model-”
“Perhaps we should-” Marcus began.
“Twenty billion is my final offer,” Adam interrupted, his tone casual but leaving no room for debate. “You know your situation better than anyone. I’d say it’s a fair deal.”
Natalie’s face went white, remembering their last meeting where Adam had exposed their financial troubles.
“The offer stands,” Adam replied, his mouth barely curving. “Take it or leave it.”
The room went dead quiet. Adam didn’t move a muscle, his calm making everyone else even more nervous. Each word hit like a hammer, crushing any hope of bargaining.
We need time,” Mr. Snow said finally, his fingers trembling slightly as he gathered his papers.
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Chapter 287
Take all the time you need, Alam nodded. Just remember that offer drops ten percent overy wook,
As the dejected Snow family left the room, Thomas caught Adam checking his watch–nager to be somewhere else entirely.
The atmosphere in Adam’s living room couldn’t have been more different that evening. Maps and brochures littered the coffee table while three excited kids hung on Adam’s every word.
“The reef’s teeming with tropical fish. You’ll see patrotfish, angelfish maybe even sea turtles,” he explained, all traces of the cold
businessman gone.
Alex studied a camera catalog with total focus, pushing up his glasses whenever they slid down his nose.
“Everything’s set for the island,” Adam continued, warmth filling his voice, “Yacht’s ready, staff’s been briefed on everything we
need.”
“Can we go snorkeling? Jet skiing? Parasailing?” Lucas bounced so hard he nearly toppled a lamp. “What about cliff diving?”
“Yes to the first two,” Adam chuckled. “Hard no on cliff diving. And ive got the underwater camera rig Alex wanted.”
“You actually remembered!” Lily gasped, looking at Adam like he’d just performed magic.
From the doorway, Irene watched the scene with a flutter in her chest. Adam Haven, terror of boardrooms worldwide, was now drawing a map in the air to show Lily where starfish liked to hide.
“You’ve really thought of everything,” she said, stepping into the room.
Adam looked up, his eyes finding hers instantly. Something electric passed between them–a current of understanding that made her pulse skip.
The moment shattered when the door banged open and Brandon wheeled in, grinning like he’d won the lottery.
“Did someone say island vacation? Sign me up!” He spun his chair in a victory circle.
Adam’s voice stayed calm and even. “It’s just us this time. Private trip.”
Brandon’s smile wobbled. “But I’m family!” He jabbed a finger toward Irene. “Her actual brother!”
“Limited space,” Adam replied, somehow managing to sound regretful without giving
an inch.
Brandon turned puppy–dog eyes on Irene, who suddenly found tropical bird brochures fascinating. The triplets traded hightning–fast glances, their silent sibling telegraph working overtime.
Departure day arrived with cloudless skies. Outside Adam’s place, staff loaded bags while Thomas orchestrated the chaos with practiced efficiency.
“Truly can’t believe you’re all abandoning me,” Brandon moaned, watching Lucas stuff a snorkel mask into his already bursting
backpack.
Alex straightened his collar. “Uncle Brandon, you need to finish your therapy if you want your leg to get better. Katherine knows what she’s doing.”
“She’s evil!” Brandon protested. “Yesterday she made me do squats until I literally cried.”
Lily patted his arm. “That means it’s working, silly!”
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“Take all the time you need, Adam nodded. “Just remember–that offer drops ten percent every week.”
As the dejected Snow family left the room, Thomas caught Adam checking his watch eager to be somewhere else entirely.
The atmosphere in Adam’s living room couldn’t have been more different that evening. Maps and brochures littered the coffee table while three excited kids hung on Adam’s every word.
“The reef’s teeming with tropical fish. You’ll see parrotfish, angelfish maybe even sea turtles, he explained, all traces of the cold businessman gone.
Alex studied a camera catalog with total focus, pushing up his glasses whenever they slid down his nose.
“Everything’s set for the island, Adam continued, warmth filling his voice. “Yacht’s ready, staff’s been briefed on everything we
need.”
“Can we go snorkeling? Jet skiing? Parasailing?” Lucas bounced so hard he nearly toppled a lamp. “What about cliff diving?”
“Yes to the first two, dam chuckled. “Hard no on cliff diving. And ve got the underwater camera rig Alex wanted.
“You actually remembered!” Lily gasped, looking at Adam like he’d just performed magic.
From the doorway, Irene watched the scene with a flutter in her chest. Adam Haven, terror of boardrooms worldwide, was now drawing a map in the air to show Lily where starfish liked to hide.
“You’ve really thought of everything,” she said, stepping into the room.
Adam looked up, his eyes finding hers instantly. Something electric passed between them–a current of understanding that made her pulse skip.
The moment shattered when the door banged open and Brandon wheeled in, grinning like he’d won the lottery.
“Did someone say island vacation? Sign me up!” He spun his chair in a victory circle.
Adam’s voice stayed calm and even. “It’s just us this time. Private trip.”
Brandon’s smile wobbled. “But I’m family!” He jabbed a finger toward Irene. “Her actual brother!”
“Limited space,” Adam replied, somehow managing to sound regretful without giving an inch.
Brandon turned puppy–dog eyes on Irene, who suddenly found tropical bird brochures fascinating. The triplets traded hightning–fast glances, their silent sibling telegraph working overtime.
Departure day arrived with cloudless skies. Outside Adam’s place, staff loaded bags while Thomas orchestrated the chaos with practiced efficiency.
“Truly can’t believe you’re all abandoning me,” Brandon moaned, watching Lucás stuff a snorkel mask into his already bursting backpack.
Alex straightened his collar. “Uncle Brandon, you need to finish your therapy if you want your leg to get better. Katherine knows what she’s doing.”
“She’s evil!” Brandon protested. “Yesterday she made me do squats until I literally cried.”
Lily patted his arm. “That means it’s working, silly!”
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Chapter 287
Brandon turned to Irene, his last hope. Sis, for real? Your fe feeding he to the wolf in yoga pants?”
She bit her lip to keep from laughing. “Katherine knows exactly what she’s doing. Your leg needs her expertise.
Behind Brandon’s back, the triplets exchanged conspiratorial looks. No way they’d let Uncle Brandon crash this perfect opportunity for Mom and Adam to finally stop dancing around each other.
The yacht gleamed in the afternoon sun as uniformed staff whisked bags away while the captain waited to welcome his guests.
“This is INSANE!” Lucas darted from railing to railing. “Can I drive it Please?”
Adam’s laugh came easier these days. “Maybe later, with adult supervision. Lots of adult supervision.”
“I feel like a movie star!” Lily twirled, her dress catching the breeze,
Alex had already found the bridge. “This navigation system is so cool he muttered, eyes shining behind his glasses.
Irene stood at the stem, watching Adam explain how propellers worked to three fascinated kids. The scene before her felt so natural, so right, it made her chest tighten with unexpected emotion
As Adam leaned forward in his wheelchair to show Lily something on the map, his face transformed by a genuine smile, Irene felt something shift inside her. They looked exactly like a real family–no pretense, no complications, just them. Away from Silver City’s gossip and judgment, they’d have days of just being… together.
Looking at the gentleness in Adam’s eyes as he patiently answered Lucas’s tenth question in a row, she finally allowed herself to imagine–what if we were really together? The thought both thrilled and terrified her. Because once they took that step, everything would be different…
The yacht’s engines hummed to life beneath her feet. As Silver City’s skyline began to shrink behind them, Irene realized they weren’t just sailing toward an island paradise–they were heading into uncharted waters between them, with no map to guide them
back.
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