Chapter b135 /b

    Alexander

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    I couldn’t help butugh, the sound echoing in the break room. “You can’t beat me, James. You never could.”

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    His eyes narrowed slightly, but his smile remained fixed. “Not yet. But one day, Alexander. One day I will.”

    The casual observer might have seen friendly banter between business rivals, but I knew better. Ourpetition had begun years ago in college, and what had started as ia /ifriendly rivalry had morphed into something far moreplex.

    “Why don’t we get back to the meeting?” I suggested, turning

    toward the door.

    “Wait,” James said, his voice suddenly less confident. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something. Why wasn’t I invited to your wedding?”

    I paused, genuinely surprised by the question. “My wedding?”

    “Yes, your wedding,” he repeated, his tone casual but eyes watchful. “Was it intentional, or did you just forget about your old friend?”

    I hadn’t given it a second thought. With the rushed timeline and everything else happening, James hadn’t even crossed my mind.

    “It wasn’t intentional,” I replied smoothly. “Everything happened quickly. Small ceremony, family only.” I paused, then added, “We should do dinner sometime. You and me. Catch up properly.”

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    James nodded, seeming satisfied with my answer. “I’ll look forward to that.” He took a sip of his coffee. “I saw the photos, by the way. Your wife is absolutely beautiful.”

    “Thank you,” I said, feeling a strange surge of pride at his words.

    “Actually, that’s what made me curious,” he continued, watching me carefully. “What possessed Alexander Carter to marry someone… normal? Instead of the rich, sexy socialites you usually date.” He raised his hands defensively. “Not saying Olivia isn’t sexy, but she’s not exactly from our world, is she?”

    Something hot and dangerous red inside me. The way he spoke about Olivia, analyzing her like a business acquisition that didn’t meet specifications, made my jaw clench.

    “You can’t quantify love based on wealth or beauty or social standing,” I said quietly. “Some things in life can’t be measured on spreadsheets.”

    He looked genuinely surprised by my response, then broke into a wide smile. “Alright, alright. The great Alexander Carter has finally found his heart. Who would have thought?”

    The conversation ended as Edwin poked his head into the break room. “Gentlemen? We’re ready to continue.”

    Back in the boardroom, the negotiations intensified. James presented detailed projections for Meridian’s growth under Westbrook Financial, while I countered with Carter Enterprises‘ extensive resources and experience in simr acquisitions.

    “Our offer provides long–term stability,” James argued, pointing to his charts. “Five years of guaranteed employment for all staff.”

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    “At reducedpensation,” I pointed out. “The fine print says ‘current sry levels where appropriate.’ That’s a significant loophole.”

    James shrugged. “Standard legalnguage.”

    “Perhaps,” Edwin Meridian said, “but Mr. Carter makes a fair point. Job security means little if sries are reduced.”

    I could see James recalcting, eyes darting to his legal counsel, who whispered something in his ear.

    “We can amend that use,” James conceded. “Current sry levels, guaranteed, for all employees.”

    Edwin nodded appreciatively but remained nomittal.

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    For nearly three hours, we went back and forth, each trying to outmaneuver the other. Every time James thought he had the upper hand, I countered with a better offer or exposed a weakness in his proposal.

    “The Meridian name matters to us,” Edwin said, returning to a point James had emphasized earlier. “It’s my father’s legacy.”

    I leaned forward. “What if Carter Enterprises created a Meridian Division? Your name would continue as part of our corporate structure, heading up the real estate portfolio you’ve built.”

    Edwin’s eyes lit up. “With what level of autonomy?”

    “Significant,” I replied. “You’d report directly to me as CEO, with your own budget and team.”

    James interrupted. “We’re offeringplete autonomy as a

    subsidiary.”

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    “With reduced resources,” I countered. “Carter Enterprises can provide ten times the development capital.”

    Edwin looked between us, clearly weighing his options. “And my children’s involvement?”

    “Jacob would head the Meridian Division,” I said without hesitation. “ine would join our executive leadership program, fast–tracked for senior management.”

    Jacob sat up straighter. “That’s… more than generous.”

    James shuffled his papers, clearly sensing the momentum shifting away from him. “Westbrook can match those terms.”

    “Can you?” I asked quietly. “Really, James? Yourst quarterly report showed low capital reserves. This acquisition alone would stretch those resources thin. Where would the development capitale from?”

    Edwin’s gaze sharpened, turning to James. “Is that urate, Mr. Westbrook?b” /b

    James maintained hisposure, but I could see the slight twitch in his jaw. “We have partners prepared to invest.”

    “Spective funding,” I tranted for Edwin. “Meaning nothing is guaranteed.”

    The atmosphere in the room shifted perceptibly. Edwin exchanged nces with his children, then with his legal team.

    “I think we need a few minutes to discuss privately,” Edwin

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    seat on our advisory board for you, Edwin, should you wish to remain involved.”

    “Very generous,” Edwin murmured, looking over the numbers.

    James leaned forward, his expression confident. “Westbrook Financial is prepared to match the financial terms offered by Carter Enterprises.”

    I kept my expression neutral. James was bluffing; Westbrook couldn’t afford to match my offer without leveraging themselves significantly.

    “However,” James continued, “we’re also offering to maintain the Meridian name as a subsidiary brand, preserving the legacy you’ve built, Edwin. And rather than just eighteen months of job security, we guarantee five years for all current employees.”

    Edwin’s eyebrows rose slightly.

    “That’s quite amitment,” Jacob Meridian said, looking impressed.

    “We value Meridian’s expertise,” James replied smoothly. “Your team has built something special here. We want to build upon that foundation, not dismantle it.”

    I kept my expression calm, but inwardly I was reassessing. James was ying the emotional angle, the family legacy card. It was clever, especially knowing how attached Edwin was to thepany he’d built from nothing.

    “If I may,” I interjected, “Carter Enterprises has a proven track record of sessful acquisitions in which we’ve maintained the

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    originalpany’s culture while integrating it into our broader vision. The Donovan Group is a prime example.”

    “The Donovan Group was hardly a family business,” James pointed out. “It was already a corporate entity when you acquired

    it.”

    “True,” I conceded. “But the principles remain the same. We respect what makes eachpany valuable.”

    The discussion continued for nearly an hour, with both sides presenting the details of their offers and answering questions. from the Meridian family. Throughout, James maintained his confident demeanor, asionally throwing nces my way as if to gauge my reaction.

    During a brief break, James approached me at the refreshment table.

    “Quite a coincidence, running into you here,” he said, pouring himself a coffee.

    “Is it?” I replied, selecting a water bottle. “Somehow I doubt that.”

    James chuckled. “Always suspicious, Alexander. But then, that’s served you well over the years.”

    “What’s your real interest in Meridian?” I asked directly. “This isn’t your usual type of acquisition.”

    “Diversifying,” he shrugged. “Real estate is a solid investment these days.”

    “There are easier properties to acquire if you’re just looking to diversify.”

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    James studied me for a moment. “Perhaps I wanted to see if I could beat you at something.”