CHAPTER 3
686 Words
LANCASTER ( DAD POV)
The man who single-handedly dominated the beverage industry. The face behind Vicsweet Beverages. My biggest competitor is the last person I ever expected to see in my office.
I immediately instructed my secretary to let him in. Though we had crossed paths at a few industry conferences, we had never actually had any conversation.
His rise to success has been nothing short of explosive. It all took off after a viral post brought his brand into the spotlight, with countless people swearing at the quality of his products. Victor Wellington wasn’t just the owner of the country’s top beverage brand; he was also a top business tycoon, a multi-billionaire with a string of thriving investments across multiple industries, and now he is in my office for what?
As he stepped into my office, I gestured for him to take a seat. He did so without hesitation, and he leaned back slightly. “
“What he gave me was a half-smile, calm and unreadable. "I think we should go straight to business. "I saw that you’re offering to sell your company,” he said, locking eyes with me. That’s why I’m here. I’m interested”.
Mr. Victor,” I looked at him, shocked.
“I’m surprised you want to purchase my small company,” I said slowly, trying to read the game he was playing. How much are you offering? Or do you want to inspect the factory first before making your offer? I can take you round the factory if you want.”
“I’ve already seen enough,” he replied coolly.
“Your numbers, your recent reports… I do my homework, Mr. Batel.” “Honestly, Mr Batel,” he said, his tone dropping slightly, “I’m not interested in buying this company.”
I stiffened, caught off guard. “Then why are you here?”
A slow, confident smile spread across his face. “Because I have an irresistible offer for you.” What I’m proposing is bigger; you get to keep your company. “I’m not here to mock your struggles,” he continued.
“So,” I began, folding my hands on the desk, curious to hear what he had to say.
“I know you have two daughters,” he began. “What I want… is for your eldest daughter to marry my son.”
The room was still. I froze.
“If you agree with this,” he continued smoothly, “I’ll give you one hundred thousand pounds." I’m also proposing a merger between our companies. "Your business gets the boost it needs to bounce back, and you’ll have more than enough to settle everything weighing you down.”
“You want a marriage… as part of a business deal?” I asked slowly, disbelief thick in my voice. “Is it so difficult to find a wife for your son?”
“I don’t understand why one of my daughters? And why can’t you just buy the company without going in this direction?”
Victor didn’t blink. Instead, he rose slightly from his chair and adjusted the cuff of his shirt, calm as ever.
“There’s no need for all these questions, Lancaster,” he said coolly. I’m making an offer. All you have to do is either accept it or reject it. It’s that simple. I just want to help you revive your dying company. It’s left to you.”
He then turned and started walking away from my office. Then he paused, his hand on the handle. “If you make up your mind, contact me. "I will drop my card with your secretary, and you sure know your daughter would be well taken care of if she got married to my son, “and then he stepped out of my office.
It is an irresistible offer, but how am I supposed to break this to my beloved Theila? How do I tell my 20-year-old daughter that her future has been bargained over like a business transaction?
How do I tell her that her future… might be the price of our survival?
- Writer
