"Dad, can you believe Mr. Pearce is actually willing to transfer twenty percent of his shares?


    Back when we tried to buy just ten percent, he wouldn''t budge-no matter what we offered. He even yed the nostalgia card, reminding us how he once helped Mom, hoping to guilt us out of pushing through the acquisition.


    But now-now he''s ready to sell to Ste without a second thought."


    Skyler watched as Shawn''s father disappeared down the corridor, his voice calm and measured. "The Pearce family is only epting Star''s offer because they''ve got their eye on those cutting-edge techpanies she controls. Sure, the Pearce stock isn''t quite on par with ours, but that twenty percent is nothing to sneeze at. Not many people could even dream of affording it.


    And I don''t believe for a second that Star has ess to that much cash.


    My guess? She''ll end uping to us for help."


    Even when the Williams family wanted to acquire apany, it took at least a year to free up enough capital. Their business might be worth billions, but actual liquid assets were always tight.


    A smart businessperson knows how to invest wisely. Only regr folks park their money in the bank and collect interest.


    Jonathan''s eyes brightened. "If Ste does ask us for help, could we use the chance to buy some of her original shares in Star?"


    Skyler fixed Jonathan with a steady look, his gaze deep and unreadable. "Jonathan, you and I both know how valuable those original shares are. Do you really think Star doesn''t understand that, too?


    If she were clueless about equity, she never would''ve joined the Williams Group in the first ce.


    Put yourself in her shoes-would you hand over something that valuable so easily?"


    Jonathan''s expression tightened. He had no answer.<fn6915> For original chapters go to Find_Novel(.</fn6915>


    Skyler continued, "If you understand this, why assume Star doesn''t? Besides, whatever we offer her, others could easily match. Why would she pick us over someone else?"


    Jonathan almost blurted out, "Because we''re family." After all, if you''re going to give something away, why not keep it in the family? But just as the words reached his lips, he realized what Skyler was getting at.


    Skyler was reminding him that their intentions were far too obvious.


    They were all fixated on the original shares Ste owned. No one in their right mind would sell something so valuable to a pack of rtives clearly itching to snatch it up Jonathan hesitated, then asked, "If shees tous for a loan but doesn''t want to trade her shares, what do we do?"  s


    It was no small amount-most likely, they''d have to transfer funds from the Williams Group itself.


    If Ste was willing to trade her original shares, that would be easy. The shareholders would never object.


    But if she just wanted to borrow the money without giving up anything? No one would agree to that.


    ??


    Skyler said, Jonathan, when I tell


    you not to covet Ste''s shares het


    don''t mean


    we refuse to negoci


    altogether.


    s


    I''m telling you, buying all her shares is nearly impossible.


    But if you aim for just one percent, she might agree—and we''d be able to justify it


    to the other shareholders.


    Star is family. So what if we''re a little more generous with her?


    Don''t push her to hand everything over at once. She''ll think we''re out to take


    what''s rightfully hers."


    Finally, Jonathan understood what Skyler was getting at.


    "I get it, Dad."


    Skyler patted his shoulder. “You''re still young, Jonathan. There''s a lot left for you to learn."


    Later that afternoon, Shawn''s father calcted the value of the twenty percent stake and sent the figure to Ste.  s


    Ste stared at the number on the screen, feeling her throat go dry.