Chapter 4

It was then that the negotiation officially got underway. Sierra regained her composure and presented Shepherd Group's acquisition proposal with full confidence.

I couldn't help but chuckle under my breath as I took one glance at the presentation slides. It was nothing more than the discarded initial draft I stayed up three nights straight to write for her in my past life. I ended up ditching it back then due to serious loopholes, though.

I got to my feet as soon as she finished her presentation. "Your proposal sounds impressive, but it's actually full of flaws, Ms. Shepherd."

Under Sierra's furious glare, I pointed out the three fatal flaws in her proposal in front of everyone, laying out everything clearly and mercilessly. I then presented my own refined acquisition proposal, which solved Everstone Heavy Industries' core problems seamlessly, from capital support to industrial modernization.

Ms. Chase nodded approvingly as she listened and made the call immediately. "Everstone Heavy Industries chooses to team up with Skyforge Investments!"

Sierra cornered me once the bidding wrapped up, her eyes completely bloodshot. "Do you really think you've won, Caleb? Do you not know that the main technology license behind Everstone Heavy Industries belongs to an overseas conglomerate?

"If you don't have the Shepherd family's backing, getting Everstone Heavy Industries means you're just buying a useless shell company!"

I let out a contemptuous laugh as I watched her lose her temper. I took out a document from my briefcase and tapped it firmly against her shoulder. "You should take a good look at this first, Ms. Shepherd."

Sierra instinctively caught the document. She looked it over briefly and froze, realizing that it was a global exclusive licensing agreement.

"I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but that overseas conglomerate you were talking about signed Caldoria's exclusive licensing agreement with me yesterday."

I didn't just snatch her deal away. I beat her to the punch and completely blocked any way out for her.

Sierra's bid to prove herself in Brightcrest flopped completely after losing the Everstone Heavy Industries deal. Her uncles in the Shepherd family jumped at the chance to team up against her. Her position in the family was on thin ice, leaving her no choice but to beg the Lund family for help.

Mason wanted to take revenge for Sierra, so he used the Lund family's influence to cut off the hardware supply chain for Skyforge Technologies. He also hired online trolls to push rumors that I climbed the corporate ladder using my body.

I remained completely unfazed while dealing with such underhanded tactics.

In my past life, I had investigated the Lund family's background for Sierra. I was well aware that the supply chain companies controlled by the Lund family had issues with tax fraud and illegal smuggling.

I used their own game against them by acting as if Skyforge Technologies was pushed to the brink. I had, however, secretly gathered all the evidence of the Lund family's illegal activities and submitted it to the authorities.

Sierra entered my office holding a lowball acquisition agreement three days later. "You should just give it up, Caleb."

She then tossed the agreement onto my desk and continued, "I'll let you back into the Shepherd family if you sign this. I know you've just been playing hard to get this entire time. You made your point now, Caleb."

I rolled my eyes, then glanced at the clock on the wall. "You've got 30 seconds before the market closes for the day, Sierra."

Sierra furrowed her brow, unable to figure out what I meant.

Just then, the office door flew open, and Sierra's assistant burst inside, her voice shrill with panic. "We have a major problem, Ms. Shepherd!"

Sierra snapped, "What's with all the panic? Can't you see I'm negotiating an acquisition right now?"

Her assistant stammered, "T-The Lund family was raided in a joint operation by the Financial Crimes Unit and Customs, and because of their collapse, the three major listed stocks controlled by the Shepherd family have all hit their lower trading limits!"