From Betrayal to Billions

CHAPTER 18

Jace listened to Mila’s narration of the dinner, with a blank expression on his face. When she finished, he did not rage or celebrate.

“A private meeting,” he snickered as he swirled the scotch in his glass. “They are that desperate.”

“They are terrified,” Mila corrected with her arms crossed. “Stella offered me a million dollars in cash. Ethan looked like he was going to be sick. They are drowning, and they think you are the only one who can hand them lifeline.”

“Oh, I will throw them a line,” Jace said, his voice turning to deadly whisper. “I will just make sure it is attached to an anchor.” He turned to Reynolds. “Set it up.”

Reynolds didn’t shake. “Parameters, sir?”

“Anonymous. Neutral ground. A private room at the Oak Room, tomorrow night at nine. Tell them the CEO will meet with Ethan Montgomery alone. No lawyers. No Stella. Especially no Stella. If he brings so much as a bodyguard, the meeting is over before it begins.”

Mila frowned. “You are actually going to meet him?”

“No,” Jace said, with an icy smile on his face. “You are.”

The following night, Ethan Montgomery paced in the opulent, wood paneled private dining room of the Oak Room. He had jumped through every hoop…came alone, left his phone in the car, even worn a dull suit as instructed. He felt like a fool, but he was too desperate to care.

The door opened silently and Ethan turned around, expecting the titan of industry.

But instead, Mila Santos walked in calmly and composed, placed a sleek audio recorder on the table between them.

Ethan’s face went from confusion to disappointment and then, fury. “What is this? Where is he? Is this some kind of joke?”

“Sit down, Mr Montgomery,” Mila said, her voice cool and professional. Then she took her seat.

“The CEO does not meet with extortionist who try to bribe his staff. But he is….merciful. He has authorized me to hear you out. This conversation is being recorded for his review. You have fifteen minutes. Begin.”

Ethan remained standing with his hands clenched tightly. “This is an insult! I demanded to speak to him directly!”

“You are in no position to demand anything,” Mila replied as she checked her watch impatiently. “Your fifteen minutes is ticking. Would you prefer I leave and tell him you were too proud to accept his terms for an audience?”

Defeated, Ethan slumped into the chair opposite her and ran a hand through his hair. “Fine. Fine. Tell him…we know we are beaten. We know he is winning. We just…we need to know what it will take to make him stop.”

“Stop what, exactly?” Mila asked, as if she had rehearsed for it.

“The hostile takeover! The leaking of documents! The constant pressure!” Ethan’s voice shook. “He had bled us dry. My family’s company is on its knees. My engagement is over. What more does he want?”

Mila folded her fingers. “The Parkinson Group position that you signed a contract in bad faith, hiding material deficiencies in your company. The ‘pressure,’ as you call it, is simply sound Buisness practice to protect our new asset. As for the leaks, we are conducting our own internal investigation.”

“That is a lie and he knows it!” Ethan snapped and leaned forward. “This is personal! This is about…this is about her, isn’t it? This is about Stella? About me?”

Mila stared at him blankly. “The CEO’s motivations are not my concern. You claim you wish to negotiate. What is your offer?”

Ethan looked broken. “What is left to offer. He already owns us. Name his price. What will it take to get him to call off the dogs and just…leave us with something? Anything?”

Mila paused, inorder to let the words settle and make him sweat uncomfortably on his seat. Finally, she spoke. “The CEO is prepared to offer you a way out. A single, one time offer.”

Ethan widened his eyes in surprise. “What? What is it?”

“He will halt all further aggressive acquisition of Montgomery Medical shares,” Mila said slowly. “In exchange, you will voluntarily sign over your family’s remaining shares to him. All of them. For one dollar.”

Ethan shot to his feet. “That is not a way out! That is total surrender! That is the end of my family’s company! That is everything!”

“It is the only way to stop the bleeding,” Mila said calmly. “You said it yourself….he already owns you. This ends the public embarrassment. It allows you to walk away with…dignity.

“He is insane! I would rather burn the company to the ground!”

“A sentiment he was expecting,” Mila said stiffly. “He asked me to remind you of the clinical trial data from 2018. The six patients. The buried reports. If you choose to ‘burn it all down,’ he will ensure that data becomes front page news. You won’t just be bankrupt, Mr. Montgomery. You will be in prison. And so will your father.”

The color drained completely from Ethan’s face. He missed his step and grasped the table for support. The last card in his stack had just been ripped up and thrown in his face.

“He…he can’t…”

“He can,” Mila said softly and stood up, but she left the recorder running. “The offer is on the table. You have forty eight hours to discuss it with your board. After that, the offer expires, and we proceed with the original plan. The choice is yours. Ruin…or a slightly more controlled ruin.”

She walked to the door and paused to look back at the shattered man. “For what it’s worth, Ethan,” she said calmly, “I would take the dollar.”