Persistent offers
929 Words
Chapter Three
The rain had finally stopped.
For the first time in days, sunlight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Carter Heights.
It should have been beautiful.
Instead, the building felt emptier than ever.
Every hallway echoed.
Every office stood abandoned.
Most of the employees had already resigned after the court announced the foreclosure.
Only a handful remained, working out of loyalty rather than hope.
Nora stood in her father's office, staring at the framed photograph on his desk.
Daniel Carter.
Victoria Carter.
The day Carter Heights officially opened.
Her father had wrapped an arm around her mother's shoulders, both of them smiling proudly at the skyscraper behind them.
Now...
She was failing.
A knock interrupted her thoughts.
Benjamin Harris stepped inside carrying another folder.
She didn't need to ask.
His expression told her everything.
"There are more buyers," he said quietly.
Nora sighed.
"I've already said no."
"This one isn't an investment company."
"My refusal still stands."
Benjamin placed the file on the desk.
"It's Blackwood Holdings."
"The Blackwoods?"
He nodded.
"They've offered almost thirty percent above market value."
She laughed bitterly.
"So generous." They are so persistent
"Nora..."
"No."
She pushed the file back toward him.
"They don't want Carter Heights."
"They want the land."
Benjamin didn't deny it.
Silence settled between them.
Finally he spoke.
"They've requested a meeting."
"I'm not interested."
"They insist."
"So do I."
Benjamin hesitated before asking,
"What exactly are you hoping for?" Do we even have hope? He asked.
She looked around the office.
The leather chair her father used every morning.
The books her mother arranged herself.
The family photograph beside the window.
"I will do everything within my means not to sell it."
Across Manhattan...
Blackwood Holdings.
Nathan Reed stood in Ethan's office, ready to leave for Carter Heights .
While in the car, Nathan reports his findings
"I've confirmed everything."
Ethan looked up from his laptop.
"The fraud?"
Nathan nodded.
"She wasn't responsible."
"The investigation found forged financial documents, fake regulatory approvals, and a network of shell companies."
"So the media got it wrong."
"They usually do."
Nathan placed another report in his hand.
"Every financial adviser she's spoken to has recommended selling Carter Heights."
"And?"
"She's refused every offer."
"Interesting."
Nathan looked surprised.
"Most people would call it foolish."
"No."
Ethan closed the file.
"People who refuse to sell memories aren't foolish."
"They're loyal."
Nathan paused.
"I've arranged the meeting."
"Did she consent to the meeting?"
“No”
Three hours later...
The conference room overlooking Carter Heights was silent.
Nora entered.
She wore a simple cream blouse and black trousers.
No expensive jewelry.
No designer handbag.
Just quiet confidence.
A few seconds later, the door opened again.
Ethan Blackwood walked in.
Tailored navy suit.
Silver watch.
Calm expression.
He looked every bit the billionaire the newspapers described.
For a moment...
Neither of them spoke.
Ethan had expected someone broken by scandal.
Someone desperate.
Instead...
The woman standing before him looked remarkably composed.
She met his gaze without hesitation.
No fear.
No admiration.
No attempt to impress him.
"Miss Carter."
"Mr. Blackwood."
They shook hands.
Her grip was firm.
"Thank you for agreeing to meet."
"I didn't."
His eyebrow lifted slightly.
"My lawyer did."
For the first time that day...
Ethan smiled.
"So I've been told."
Benjamin and Nathan exchanged a quick glance before quietly leaving the room.
The door clicked shut.
Now they were alone.
Ethan got straight to the point.
"I'd like to purchase Carter Heights."
“I’m not selling Carter Heights.
The answer came so quickly that he was caught off guard, even when he had expected it.
"You haven't heard my offer."
"I don't need to."
"I'm prepared to pay three points six billion dollars."
"No."
"The amount is negotiable."
"Carter Heights isn’t."
Ethan folded his hands on the table.
"And what amount would convince you?"
She looked directly into his eyes.
"No amount."
Silence.
He had negotiated billion-dollar mergers.
Hostile takeovers.
International acquisitions.
No one had ever rejected him this quickly.
"You'd rather lose everything?"
"I'd rather fight for everything."
Her voice remained calm.
"Carter Heights isn't for sale."
"It already is."
"It’s not."
She stood.
"The bank is trying to sell it."
"I'm trying to save it."
Ethan watched her carefully.
"What if saving it isn't possible?"
"Then I'll fail trying."
He had expected desperation.
He had expected panic.
Instead...
He found determination.
It reminded him of someone.
His grandfather.
The old man had once told him,
"The strongest people aren't the ones who never fall."
"They're the ones who refuse to stay down."
For the first time since entering the room...
Ethan stopped seeing Amelia as an opportunity.
He saw her as someone worth understanding.
She picked up her bag.
"If that's all, I have work to do."
"Miss Carter."
She paused at the door.
"I admire your loyalty."
She looked back.
"It’s sad that you don’t understand it."
Then she walked away.
The door closed softly behind her.
Nathan re-entered a few moments later.
"How did it go?"
Ethan remained silent.
His eyes stayed fixed on the closed door.
Finally, he spoke.
"Find out everything."
Nathan frowned.
"Everything?" But I already did.
"Everything."
"Her daily routine."
"The fraud."
"Her family."
"What she's hiding."
Nathan nodded.
"And if she still refuses to sell?"
Ethan looked out toward Carter Heights, gleaming in the afternoon sun.
"Then..."
A slow smile spread across his face.
"I'll make her an offer she never expected."
It was eight in the morning when Nora heard a knock on her door and she wondered who it was.
- Writer
