Billionaire ultimatum

Chapter1

Jessa

Damien White was living proof that evil existed. He had to be.

Jessa Lowe sat at the opposite end of the room with a stiff smile on her face. That was what she referred to as her business smile, because let’s face it, business did not mix with pleasure whenever Mr. White came around.

Almost everyone who ever did business with him said that. She just did not expect to see the reason so soon.

“A merger you say?” he asked in that condescending tone of his, as if it should already be clear that said merger was not going to happen.

Jessa did not like being the center of attention, but being the CEO of Lowe Inc., there was hardly anywhere to hide. Especially when the fate of her family legacy rested pathetically in her hands. She smiled now, even though doing so felt like a strain.

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

He beamed again. Scratch that: smirked. Damien White smirked. The fact that he was across the room did not deter the damn smile from getting on her nerves. What was so funny?

Mr. White was the CEO of the international conglomerate Elpher, a chain of tech subsidiaries. He was tall, buff, and more often in a custom-made suit. Just like right now.

When he first entered her company this morning, Damien already took his sweet time pissing her off. She could tell he was good at that.

Leaning on the cupboard by the wall, Damien had run his fingers through his brown locks of hair. The man had a tall and commanding presence, his broad shoulders and well-defined chest giving him an air of authority.

He moved with a sense of purpose and confidence, and his impeccably tailored suits accentuated the powerful frame beneath them.

Damien had been talking to the company’s COO initially and even a blind man could have seen how much she enjoyed the conversation. The huge blush creeping from Miss Williams’ rosy cheeks to her slender neck said it all.

It was not until he delayed her for forty-five minutes did he deem it fit to grant her an audience here.

With that egotistical grin still in place, Damien rested in on the glass table separating them now. “I wouldn’t dream of it. Go on.”

The boardroom was a modern, sleek space bathed in the soft glow of the city lights filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows. She and Damien sat on opposite sides of a glossy, high-tech conference table.

Damien possessed the kind of striking handsomeness that could turn heads in any room. With a square jawline that oozed arrogance, his chiseled features were accentuated by a perfectly sculpted nose and deep-set, piercing blue eyes that seemed to hold a world of secrets. His strong, expressive brows framed those eyes, adding a touch of intrigue to his gaze.

Jessa bit her lip and looked away. Go on with what? “That’s the proposal. A merger.”

Damien's pomposity was unmistakable, a smug grin playing on his mouth. “What makes you think I would want to merge with you?”

“Mr. White, it will bring a unique synergy to your company's operations, with our innovative technology and extensive market reach. I believe a merger between Lowe and Inc. and your company can be mutually beneficial. ”

“You mean one of my companies? Because I own a conglomerate, woman,” he told her with another smirk.

Jessa resisted the urge to glare at it. She failed when he went further to mansplain, “Meaning I have several companies. You do know what a conglomerate means, don’t you?”

“I know what a conglomerate means!” It came out a little louder than she planned. Jessa cleared her throat, forcing herself to regain some composure. “That is not why I went quiet.”

It only seemed to fuel him, because the irritating curve of his lips widened. “Touchy, are we?”

There was only one other person in the room and before now, Jessa could have sworn Anna faded into the background all through the conversation.

How could she not? Mr. White’s ego was large enough to fill the entire floor and still have leftovers.

“Forgive me, honey,” he told her now. “Perhaps we got off on the wrong foot. Let’s backtrack, shall we?”

Her teeth bit into the edge of her lips in thought. Jessa knew that was pretty much the best apology she was ever going to get from someone like him. “Yes. we should get back on topic.”

Everything about the man was magnetic but his eyes were on a whole new level. His dark, wavy hair had an unruly charm, often falling just slightly across his forehead, giving him a casual, yet well-groomed look. It was the kind of hair that hinted at a man who effortlessly exuded charisma. She was sure he’d never had a bad hair day in his life.

He chuckled so she focused on his words instead. “Anytime today would be alright, sweetheart.”

She winced. “Right.”

“I'm aware of your company's current situation.Lowe and Inc. is on the brink of disaster, isn't it?" he told her, hitting the nail on the head.

Jessa grimaced so hard she nearly reeled off her chair. He did not beat around the bush; that much was obvious.

"That might be an exaggeration. I will not deny that we have faced some challenges. But we believe that merging with White & Sons (under Elpher) is the best way to ensure a bright future for both our organizations."

"Why should I take on the burden of a sinking ship? It's not worth my time."

"With the right resources and investment, Lowe and Inc. can flourish once more. We have valuable patents, and our team is second to none."

"Valuable patents? Your little tech startup isn't exactly a game-changer, sweetheart."

"We are not a startup. Our patents are worth a fortune. Imagine the possibilities." Damien did not look convinced. This was going horribly once again. “We could be partners.”

"A partnership, huh? All I hear is you asking me to tango with a shipwreck of a company. Tell me: is this a desperate plea for help?"

Jessa's voice trembled slightly as she replied, "We have valuable assets, and I believe a collaboration can help us both thrive."

"Assets, what assets? It seems to me that you’re already drowning those assets in debt. Is that what you're trying to hide?"

“We are not trying to hide anything. We are just not giving up.”

"Determination. I can appreciate that. But let's not pretend this is anything more than a plea for a lifeline."

Damien bent farther on the glass, a sly look on his face. "You're quite the optimist, Miss Lowe. Tell me, how much is Lowe and Inc. in debt? It's always good to know what kind of mess I'd be stepping into."

"Debt can be managed. The important thing is that we have something valuable to offer, and with your support, we can rise above our current issues."

“I'll need to see some concrete figures before we proceed."

Jessa tore her gaze away from the reason she was currently having a bad day. The man in the immaculate blue suit. Anything— literally anything —would be better than staring at that man right now.

Her scowl focused on Anna Bailey and how she sat cooped up in her seat as though stuck between a rock and a hard place. “Anna!”

She jumped.

“A little help here?”

Anna looked frozen in place. Then she snapped out of it. “I don’t think it’s my place…”

She trailed off and at that moment Jessa felt so helpless, that she almost turned back to Damien in panic. Luckily she stopped herself just in time.

His eyes, however, were still fully trained on her. Jessa could feel it burrow into her skin. “Of course it’s your place. You’re the Business Analyst of Lowe and Inc. That is literally why you’re here.”

Anna was a sweetheart but Jessa did not need her silence right now. She could use a helping hand here. The man was still staring.

It bothered her, yes, but Jessa refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing that. “This is a negotiation. So—”

“Leave the poor lady alone,” said you-know-who, butting in again. “You’re the Lowe here, aren’t you? The last time I checked it’s Lowe Inc. So talk to me.”

“With all due respect, I was talking to my employee.”

There was something in his eyes when she finally dragged her gaze back to him. Damien White sat clad in a navy blue suit, looking all high and mighty as if he were God’s gift to the earth. He had a few days’ worth of stubble on his chin and his dark hair was swept back lazily.

Her scowl returned tenfold.

“I’m aware. But I am talking to you.”

The tension in the room was palpable as the two of them faced off, each holding their cards on the table. The fate of Lowe and Inc. hung in the balance, and Jessa knew that her company's survival depended on Damien's willingness to take the plunge into this uncertain merger.

Only problem? Someone must have already tipped him off that they were knee-deep in bankruptcy.

~~

Jessa

The air in the room was so thick you could slice it with a knife.

Jessa fidgeted in her chair, desperately trying to hide her unease behind a stack of folders and a forced smile. She felt like a fish out of water, struggling to navigate the treacherous seas of business negotiations.

This was not her first rodeo but this man certainly had a knack for making her feel like it was.

"The uncertainty in your eyes is positively delightful, Jessa. But don't you worry, we're just getting started."

Damien’s eyes gleamed with amusement, no doubt savoring every moment of her discomfort. His grin could have put a Cheshire cat to shame. Her fingers tapped nervously on the table, and she had to fight the urge to pull her hair out.

“Fine. I’ll admit this company needs you. Tell me what I can do to make that happen.” The words burned her tongue as soon as she uttered them.

Little did she know she’d live to regret them.