Free TheBillionairesPilot by Suzanne Graham Page B

deep
investigating to be sure the charges had been legally cleared. “Otherwise,
I wouldn’t be here making this offer.”
    “This offer is much too low. It is an
insult.” Xavier huffed.
    “Estrella is not worth the same as it was
before the investigation, Xavier. Even though you’ve been cleared, the
company’s value has not returned. You need to take this offer, and you know
it.”
    “You are so much like your father.”
    Evan felt a stab of regret and instant
denial that he was anything like his father, but he kept his face blank. His
father had put everything of himself into his company, while Evan had been
traipsing about playing with cars, ignoring his duty to help with the family
business. He was nothing like his father, and Evan deeply grieved for his loss.
    Xavier continued. “He never pulled his
punches either, but I will accept no less than twice what you bid.”
    “I won’t budge on my proposal. You take
what’s on the table, or I walk away.” Evan took another sip of the iced tea.
    “I have others willing to buy.”
    Evan took his time setting his glass on
the mahogany side table. “Who? Linders? I know for a fact he can’t afford what
I’m offering you. The recession hit him too hard.” Thank God, Dan had given
Evan those figures on the plane on the way down yesterday. There was just so
much Evan needed to learn, and the problem was he didn’t always know what he
didn’t know. Dan was a priceless resource.
    “There are others interested in making a
deal,” Xavier asserted.
    “Then why aren’t they here? Why did you
only invite me?” Evan held up a hand. “No, wait. I’ll answer that for you. It’s
because I’m your highest bidder.” God, he hoped Dan’s research was exhaustive,
and Xavier hadn’t been secretly meeting with any other companies.
    “Yes, you are right. Our value was hurt
by the investigation, but we will recover. Then we will have offers pouring in,
much better offers than this one.” Xavier waved his hand dismissively at the
contract on the low table between them. “Offers that won’t include the
controlling seizure of my company.”
    “If others haven’t made the offers by
now, when they can grab your company at a discount price, they won’t be coming
around when your value rebounds.”
    Xavier frowned fiercely. “I am not a
bargain basement deal.” His voice was nearly a growl. “Estrella is a valuable
company.”
    “It was, and it still has great assets.”
Evan attempted to soothe Xavier’s bruised ego. He didn’t want to beat the man
down in the process of this negotiation. He only wanted to establish that he
held the winning hand. “But you have declined too much in the past year to
recuperate your losses on your own. It’s obvious that’s why you’ve been looking
for investors.”
    “Investors are exactly what Estrella is
looking for, but this contract is more than that.” Xavier’s voice rose
slightly. “You are asking me to hand over the management of my family
business.”
    “It’s about stability in this volatile
economy, Xavier.” Evan kept his tone steady. “If new investors see that
Mitchell Industries is now in charge of Estrella, they will be reassured the
company is in good hands.”
    Xavier glanced down at the contract and
back at Evan without commenting.
    “Look, Xavier.” Evan pushed a little
harder. “I don’t need this deal. Mitchell Industries will be fine without it,
but Estrella won’t. Your star will burn out.” Evan forced his breathing to
remain smooth and regular as he waited for Xavier’s answer.
    Would Xavier accept Evan’s bluff? Because
in reality, Mitchell Industries did need this deal as badly as Estrella did,
but they needed it under the terms that favored Mitchell. Transportation costs
were eating up their profits. With this contract, Evan would slash those
expenses to a fraction.
    After a painfully drawn out moment of
silence, Xavier stood and offered his right hand to Evan. “You’ve done