Pearce saw that I was intrigued and continued, "Evergreen Health Center-we all want in."


    "Sure, but to buy in, you''ve got to bring some capital. How much are you all willing to invest?" I gestured for Helen to hand me a document.


    I hade prepared with a partnership agreement. I knew Evergreen Health Center was a thorn in the side of other hospitals. By letting them buy in, I could ensure their technical staff joined us, but their sries and benefits remained on their hospital''s tab. Plus, any profits from Evergreen would be shared.


    Last month''s profits were a measly two dors after expenses. If they wanted dividends, I wasn''t going to stop them.


    They hadn''t expected me to agree so easily, and for a moment, they exchanged looks of surprise, then began to pass around the contract.


    Allen Ramsey approached me and said, "ire, they''re up to no good. We can''t let them buy in. I''d rather face being cklisted than let them bully you."


    I chuckled and motioned for him to sit down. "It''s fine. More shareholders mean shared responsibility for Evergreen Health Center. Besides, there''s no secret funding behind us. Last month''s profit was..."


    I raised my voice a bit, holding up two fingers.


    They jumped to conclusions. "Two million?"


    "I knew Evergreen Health Center was profitable. Lately, all the wealthy folks, no matter their ailments, head there."


    "Sign the papers, buy in-let''s do it now."


    Watching them eagerly sign, Helen collected the documents. "The papers are in triplicate. Once everyone''s signed, you can reviewst month''s detailed ie and expenses."


    They all anticipated a two-million-dor dividend, signing in a frenzy.


    Once all signatures were in, Helen nced at me, suppressing a grin, and distributedst month''s financial statement to everyone.


    They wet their fingers to flip through the pages, and when they reached thest page and saw the two-dor profit, they erupted.


    "ire Floyd, are you messing with us?"


    As tempers red, Allen Ramsey stepped in front of me. "You''re the ones who pressured her for shares. ire gave them to you, and now you''re not satisfied!"


    Pearce pushed Allen aside. "Allen Ramsey, consider this a formal warning. From today, you''re..."


    Bang-


    The door swung open with a kick from ude, leading the way for Max. "Who are you warning, Pearce? My uncle might want to hear this too."


    The once-boisterous directors suddenly deted.


    "Mr. Hart... Mr. Hilton... You''ve arrived?"


    Seeing them cower, I realized ude had chosen the right side. Max was genuinely grooming him to take over the Hilton Group, and I had a feeling Max would eventually head to Serythia.


    Without looking back, I knew Max had joined my side, cing his hands on my


    shoulders. "Are they threatening you?"


    I rested my chin on my hand,


    ncing around at the directors.


    "They wanted shares to leave Allen~~ alone. I gave them shares, and now they''reining about


    Evergreen''s minimal profits. They''re even threatening to cklist Allen in the medicalmunity."


    I yed the innocent, and the directors were speechless. It was the truth.


    "Mr. Hilton, how could Evergreen Health Center, presumably your venture, only make two dors? Ms. ire has yed us, and naturally, we''re upset."


    Max chuckled coldly behind me. "Evergreen Health Center was never my venture. How it''s run is ire''s


    business. If she isn''t great at it and loses money, I cover the loss"


    en


    UM


    I shrugged, speakingzily. "That''s my safety."