Chapter 55 Successful Acquisition
John got up and poured Benjamin a glass of red wine. "Mr. Rivera, you gotta be kidding. When Rachel got divorced, her ex didn't give her a dime. How's he gonna help her now?"
Benjamin looked at Rachel, eyebrows raised. "Not a single penny?"
John leaned in, "Yep, not a cent. No money, no house, no car. So, Mr. Rivera, why not cut Rachel some slack and sell Blue Sky Ventures to her?" He threw an arm around Rachel's shoulder.
Rachel shrugged him off. "Mr. Rivera, don't listen to him. I didn't want anything from him."
Benjamin was about to say something when a couple walked over, arm in arm.
Mandy smiled sweetly. "Mr. Rivera, there you are. And Ms. Williams, Mr. Davis, what a surprise."
John stretched lazily, dripping with sarcasm. "Not a surprise. I didn't wanna see you."
Mandy's smile faltered but she quickly recovered. "Mr. Davis, still as charming as ever."
John leaned back, hands behind his head, spinning his chair. "Can't help it. I'm always like this with people I don't like, and Miss Brown, you're one of them."
"You!" Mandy's face twisted with anger.
Michael held her close, eyes dark. Rachel tried to calm John down. "Alright, let's stop. Remember what I told you earlier."
John sighed, reluctant. "Yeah, yeah, I got it."
Michael let go of Mandy and turned to Benjamin. "Mr. Rivera, have you thought about my acquisition terms?"
Benjamin pointed at Rachel. "Still thinking. Your ex-wife wants to buy Blue Sky Ventures too, same terms. Thought you gave her the idea."
Michael's eyes flickered. "Nope, I'm set on buying your company. No reason to help anyone else."
Rachel's doubts vanished. Of course, he didn't like her. Why would he help? Besides, if he could think of these terms, why couldn't Z-H?
Michael noticed Rachel's expression and relaxed. He knew her meeting with Benjamin might make her suspect Z-H's identity. So he came to clear things up.
Rachel met Michael's gaze, steady. "Too bad, Mr. Smith. I'm also set on buying Blue Sky Ventures."
Michael stayed calm. "Is that so? Let's see who Mr. Rivera picks!"
John put his hand on Rachel's chair. "It's a no-brainer. Of course, it's Rachel, Skyline Corporation."
Mandy brushed her hair back, smiling faintly. "Smith Corporation is the best choice. Skyline Corporation is almost bankrupt. Not a great pick, right, Mr. Rivera?"
Rachel put down her glass, face darkening. "Miss Brown, this is Skyline Corporation's negotiation. You came uninvited and tried to undermine us. Not cool, right?"
John sneered at Michael. "Exactly. Mr. Smith, your fiancée broke a major business rule. Don't tell me you didn't know?"
Michael felt the sting of John's sarcasm and took Mandy's hand. "Let's go."
Mandy bit her lip. "Michael, did I mess up?"
Michael's voice was gentle but firm. "Not a big deal. Just be more careful next time."
They walked away together.
John shook his head. "He's really defending Mandy, no matter what."
Rachel felt a sharp pain in her heart and stayed silent. Mandy was the one Michael liked. Who else would he defend except her?
Benjamin took a sip of his wine, looking thoughtful. "Ms. Williams, do you hold a grudge against your ex-husband?"
Rachel composed herself and smiled lightly. "Not a grudge, just some old issues. Anyway, Mr. Rivera, let's get back to our negotiation."
Benjamin leaned back, his gaze steady. "Ms. Williams, do you remember what your ex-husband's fiancée just said?"
Rachel nodded. "Yeah, she wasn't wrong. We can't compete with Smith Corporation in some ways. But we have an edge they don't."
Benjamin's curiosity was piqued. "And what's that?"
Rachel recalled Z-H's Facebook message about Benjamin's pride and smiled wider. "It's the freedom to buy and sell. In the future, if you feel like buying back Blue Sky Ventures, I can sell it to you at a price 200% higher than what I paid. But if Blue Sky Ventures merges with Smith Corporation, do you think you could buy it back?"
Even though Rachel had been a housewife for six years, she knew Michael's business prowess. Anything he got his hands on was almost impossible to retrieve.
Benjamin finally showed some emotion. He sighed, "Seems like an offer I can't refuse!"
He raised his glass. Rachel, overjoyed, quickly raised hers too, prompted by John.
After finishing the drink, Benjamin stood up. "Alright, I have an appointment for a hot spring, so I won't keep you two. Let's sign the acquisition contract in a few days when I get back."
Rachel suppressed her excitement and smiled, "Okay."
John cupped her face, eyes full of admiration. "Rachel, you were amazing. Do you know that? When you were talking to Benjamin, you were practically glowing. I believe it won't be long before you stand on your own and become a true CEO."
Rachel swatted his hand away, rolling her eyes. "Talk if you want, but don't touch me."
John clutched his chest in mock hurt. "Rachel, you're too much. How can you reject me? We've grown up together. How can you reject me?"
Rachel rolled her eyes again, not bothering to respond.
Suddenly, his phone rang. John stopped joking and glanced at it. "Rachel, I need to take this call."
Rachel waved her hand dismissively. "Go ahead."
After he left, Rachel thought of something. She took out her phone, opened Facebook, and clicked on a profile with a white goose avatar.
Rachel: [Thanks for the suggestion.]
Z-H: [Did it work?]
Rachel smiled and quickly typed: [It worked. You said Benjamin was proud, so I used the freedom to buy and sell to provoke him, and he was moved. Given his personality, he wouldn't ask his parents for money, and without Blue Sky Ventures, it would take him a long time to earn three times the selling price. By then, Skyline Corporation might have already regained its glory. Even if he bought back Blue Sky Ventures, Skyline Corporation wouldn't suffer any loss.]
Z-H: [Congrats.]
Rachel: [Thanks. If it weren't for your suggestion, I wouldn't have succeeded so quickly. Let me treat you to dinner.]
As soon as she sent the message, she regretted it. The events of that night were still fresh in her mind. Meeting again would be so awkward.
Meanwhile, in a hotel room, Michael, wearing a black bathrobe, sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, looking deeply at his phone.
He pursed his lips as he typed: [No need.]
Rachel breathed a sigh of relief. She typed: [Alright, maybe next time.]
Z-H: [Sure.]
Rachel exited Facebook just as John returned. He suggested happily, "Rachel, how about I treat you to a hot spring?"
Rachel's eyes lit up with excitement. "Sure, I haven't been to one in a long time."
After marrying Michael six years ago, she had given up all her leisure activities and had almost forgotten what it felt like to soak in a hot spring.
John grabbed her hand and headed straight for the hot spring spa. He grinned, "Then let's go."
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