Step one is complete, he thought. Keaton is hooked.
But Keaton’s mind was already moving forward, analyzing the situation from new angles. He suddenly sat up straighter, his business acun overriding his embarrassnt.
"If you have sothing like this," he said slowly, pulling them back to the matter at hand, "surely soone else would too."
He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, fixing on Neville with a stare. "Sure, this plan has its rits, but as people get older, they don’t just go down without a fight."
It was a valid point. These people had been doing these for a long ti. They were fighting against people who had decades of experience in corporate warfare. They would surely have their own leverage, their own contingency plans.
"I know," Grayson said. "So I already had sothing arranged for that."
Keaton’s eyes instantly sharpened, turning his gaze to Grayson. "Is there sothing for ?"
"Information," Neville answered before Grayson could, earning himself a glance from his boss that he actively ignored. "Your side’s information."
Keaton beca puzzled, his brow furrowing. "Didn’t you already have those?"
The files Neville had presented contained plenty of information about HW Corporation’s internal politics, power structures, and even blackmail materials.
Neville smiled, the expression kind but with a sharp edge. "These were just the small bits. Your father got it separated. We need you to collect it for us."
And that, Neville thought, is the real point.
Keaton wasn’t surprised at the ntion of his father. Winning the position of a chairman in a family with wolves waiting for their turn, he would most likely want to dip his toes into so of these deals. Of course, he would have divided sensitive information, stored it in different locations, and made it accessible only to those he trusted completely or only to him.
Before Keaton could think of going down the rabbit hole of the possible places this information was and weigh his pros and cons, Neville’s eyes sparkled with another idea.
"Even better," he said, enthusiasm creeping into his voice, "how about you have him co with you to the collaboration eting?"
"Him?" Keaton said in disbelief, actually jerking back slightly. "My father?"
Neville nodded in confirmation, his smile growing. "Yes, your father."
Why not aim high? Neville figured. The worst they can say is no.
Keaton pursed his lips, his mind clearly racing through scenarios and possibilities.
Finally, he asked the question that mattered most: "In exchange for?"
Because nothing ca free in their world. Especially not sothing as important as what they were asking.
"Safely inheriting the remainder of HW Corporation," Grayson said, he just said it casually as if it was sothing easy to give. "Sounds good?"
Keaton’s expression instantly relaxed, tension bleeding out of his shoulders. This was what he really wanted, a guarantee—the promise of legitimate succession without having to constantly watch his back for knives.
"I..." he started, then paused, his natural caution reasserting itself. "I’ll need guarantees. In writing."
"Bryan will draw up the agreents," Grayson said, rising from his seat with fluid grace. The eting was entering its final phase.
Keaton stood as well, almost automatically, and extended his hand. "Thank you. I an that."
Grayson regarded the offered hand for a mont; his expression was unreadable. Then he accepted it with a firm grip, but not crushing. "Don’t thank yet. You still have to earn your keep."
The words were a warning and a challenge.
Keaton awkwardly withdrew his hand and said with a smile that was only slightly strained, "I understand."
Bryan cleared his throat, finally finding his voice again. "I’ll have the preliminary drafts ready by tomorrow morning. We can schedule a follow-up eting to review the terms."
"That works," Keaton agreed. He glanced at Neville, who had been watching the exchange with barely concealed satisfaction. "I’ll be in touch."
"Looking forward to it," Neville replied, his smile genuine for once.
As Keaton moved toward the door, he suddenly paused.
Neville saw it and wondered, Is there sothing wrong?
Keaton turned, and a cheeky smile spread across his face. He crossed the distance between them and stopped in front of him.
"You know," Keaton said, his voice dropping into a more casual tone. "I’ve been thinking."
What’s up with the disgusting tone? Neville continued to be confused.
Keaton’s hand deliberately landed on Neville’s shoulder. The pat was friendly, almost brotherly. But there was sothing with the intention of doing this action that Neville felt his skin prickle.
"If you’ve had enough of Grayson’s face," Keaton said, his grin taking on a mischievous note, "our HW Corporation will welco soone like you with open arms."
The temperature in the room suddenly dropped.
Neville didn’t need to look back to know that Grayson’s expression had gone from rely cold to absolutely glacial.
Grayson moved, removing Keaton’s hand from Neville’s shoulder, gripping Keaton’s wrist a little as if to make a point.
"He doesn’t need your crappy company," Grayson said flatly.
Neville could see Bryan’s eyes widen a little in the corner of his eye. He couldn’t risk looking at either Grayson or Keaton right now. If he did, he felt like the situation would just go high-wire.
[Host! Why didn’t you call ?! This is—] Shelly’s unnecessary presence caught him off guard.
’I told you not to use my savings recklessly!’ Neville ntally hissed back, keeping his expression in check.
He could feel both n’s attention on him now, waiting for his reaction. It was really troubleso. It seed that this was the only way to do this.
Neville showed a small, polite smile as he tilted his head slightly, a gesture that was deliberately disarming.
"If you don’t mind orphans," he said, his tone sounded incredibly sincere, "we have a lot of capable people from our orphanage who could use opportunities."
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Bryan’s shoulders beginning to shake. His lips pressed together in an effort to contain what was clearly either laughter or a coughing fit.
Seeing both Keaton and Grayson turn to stare at Bryan, Neville could finally secretly exhale the breath he was holding.
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