Elena looked at the ring, then up at him. The logic was cold, efficient, and utterly ruthless—exactly like the man standing before her. "A pretext," she whispered, testing the weight of the word. "Purely," Julian lied.
"Three years, Julian," she said, tapping a silver pen against a thick legal folder. "That’s how long the merger has been stalled. Your board wants blood, and my family wants your territory. We are past the point of handshakes." 3 : A Proposal as a Pretext
"A small price for a billion-dollar empire," Julian said, offering his hand to help her up. Elena looked at the ring, then up at him
Elena arched a perfectly groomed eyebrow. "I’m listening." "Purely," Julian lied
"I have a solution," he said smoothly. "One that bypasses the regulatory hurdles and the internal sabotage."
Julian stood, walking slowly around the desk until he was inches from her. He didn't offer a handshake. Instead, he reached into his pocket and placed a velvet box on top of the legal documents. He flicked it open. A four-carat emerald shimmered under the chandelier. Elena didn't gasp. She went still. "What is this?" "A proposal," Julian replied. "This is a business meeting, Julian. Don't be absurd."