Chapter 10 - The Apex Summit
The private lounge at the Sterling Tower was opulent, wrapped in mahogany paneling and commanding views of the financial district.
Victor Sterling, an imposing silver-haired tycoon with sharp blue eyes, rose from his armchair as Clara entered. ""Mrs. Mercer. Or should I say, Ms. Clara Evans?""
""Clara Evans is fine, Mr. Sterling,"" Clara said, shaking his outstretched hand with a firm, practiced grip.
""I must admit, your maneuvering over the last seventy-two hours has been nothing short of masterclass,"" Victor remarked, gesturing toward a seat across from him. ""Julian Vance spent six months pitching his logistics network to my acquisition committee, claiming he possessed proprietary automated routing software.""
Clara took a sip of the sparkling water offered by the server. ""Julian didn't write a single line of that code, Mr. Sterling. I did. The patents for the neural routing framework are registered under my private research lab, Evans Systems.""
Victor chuckled, shaking his head. ""Julian presented it as his life's work. When your legal team served us notice of patent revocation yesterday, my board nearly fired me for almost buying a hollow shell.""
""Julian was excellent at marketing things he did not own,"" Clara noted quietly. ""He believed that appearance was equivalent to substance. That was his fatal flaw.""
""Indeed,"" Victor said, leaning forward. ""Which brings me to my proposal. Apex wants the neural routing framework. We are willing to acquire Evans Systems outright for seventy-five million dollars in liquid capital, with an additional ten percent equity stake in Apex Logistics.""
Clara set her glass down without making a sound. ""I am not interested in selling Evans Systems, Mr. Sterling.""
Victor’s eyebrows arched. ""Seventy-five million liquid isn't enough?""
""I don't need liquid capital,"" Clara said evenly. ""I have more liquidity than Julian’s entire corporate network combined. What I want is a strategic merger. Evans Systems will absorb Vance Logistics' assets at the bankruptcy auction on Thursday. Then, we will enter a joint venture with Apex. I retain fifty-one percent operational authority.""
Victor stared at her, assessing the calm certainty in her eyes. A slow, respectful smile crossed his face. ""You don't play defense, do you, Clara?""
""Not anymore,"" she said. ""I played defense for five years, Mr. Sterling. From now on, I set the rules of the board.""
May you like
Before Victor could answer, his executive assistant hurried into the lounge, whispering urgently in his ear. Victor’s expression darkened.
""Clara,"" Victor said, looking up. ""Julian Vance just posted bail. An anonymous third party posted three million dollars in cash.""
