As for Shawn''s disappearance...


    What did that have to do with Ste?


    She had a rock-solid alibi.


    Shawn''s parents insisted Ste had kidnapped their son, while Ste retorted that it was Shawn''s own parents, desperate to dodge responsibility, who had hidden him away and were now putting on a show in front of everyone.


    Haynes said evenly, "ording to Star, the Pearce family and the Williams family have been close for generations. Yet Shawn did something so despicable-and even tried to film it to ckmail Star. If you don''t give Star a proper exnation, don''t be surprised to see Shawn''s face sshed all over the headlines tomorrow."


    He nced at Mr. Pearce. "I hear you''re preparing for the uing election. With a son like this-morally bankrupt and the subject of scandal-not only will the public turn against you, but your colleagues will lose faith as well. Surely you can weigh what''s at stake here."


    The Pearce family had always been involved in politics; they couldn''t afford too many negative stories. And with Mr. Pearce''s campaign just around the corner, the threat was all too real.


    If that video were to go public...


    Mr. Pearce''s jaw tightened. He could already see it: his chances of winning would evaporate overnight.


    Ste was the Williams family''s heiress, and Haynes was no pushover either. There would be no sweeping this under the rug.


    Mr. Pearce swallowed his pride. "What will it take for you to hand over the video?"


    He was backing down.


    Haynes exchanged a nce with Ste, and she gave a small, almost imperceptible nod.


    Haynes slid a prepared contract across the table.


    Mr. Pearce''s eyes roamed over the terms his face turned red with anger. "This is extortion!"


    Ste wanted to acquire a 20% stake in several of the Pearce family''s core businesses. It didn''t sound like much, but with their shares spread so thin, it meant ceding control of thepany.


    Haynes remained calm. "Mr. Pearce, we''re offering a fair market price.


    We''re not taking advantage. Besides, Star Holdings controls several leading tech firms now. If you ept the offer, the Pearce Group could be first in line for some lucrative coborations. That would put yourpany leagues ahead."  s


    He leaned forward. “Let''s be honest: with the Pearce Group''s current standing, you wouldn''t stand a chance of winning those contracts against yourpetitors. But forty percent of a kündred millioncor twenty percent of ten billion-any rational person knows which is better."  s


    Mr. Pearce fell silent, hesitation and uncertainty flickering across his face.


    He understood, perhaps better than anyone, why Shawn had tried to force himself


    on Ste—even resorting to drugging her. It wasn''t just about her looks. The real prize was the pre-IPO shares she controlled-an asset worth far more than money.


    Ste''s tech and biotechpanies were the future. If the Pearce family could get a slice of that pie...


    They might even secure a presidential nomination.


    Ste found herself watching


    Haynes with new appreciation. He


    was a master negotiator, cutting


    straight to the hear


    of what people


    wanted. For all Mr. Pearce''s years of


    experience, Haynes never


    flinched-if anything, he dominated


    the conversation.


    to s


    Ste realized she didn''t know Haynes as well as she thought. And maybe, he didn''t know her, either.<fn20c1> Checktest chapters at find?novel</fn20c1>


    After a long silence, Mr. Pearce finally nodded. "Fine. Market price. But if there are suitable projects, your family''s techpanies have to give the Pearce Group first consideration."