Chapter 6 - The Rival Billionaire
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By the end of the week, Parker Industries was hemorrhaging. The news of Riverstone’s withdrawal had triggered a catastrophic domino effect. Their secondary investors were panicking, and the banks were demanding immediate meetings to discuss their outstanding commercial loans.
I was sitting in my corner office on the forty-second floor, reviewing the Parker debt profiles, when my assistant buzzed in.
“Ms. Bennett, Julian Vance is here to see you.”
I raised an eyebrow. Julian Vance was the CEO of Vanguard Equity. He was thirty-four, ruthlessly intelligent, and the only man in Chicago whose holding company rivaled mine in sheer capital power. We had circled each other for two years, occasionally stealing acquisitions from one another, but we had never actually met in person.
“Send him in,” I said, closing the Parker file.
The heavy glass door swung open. Julian Vance walked in wearing a charcoal three-piece suit that fit his broad shoulders perfectly. He had piercing hazel eyes and a sharp, calculating smile. He didn't look like a competitor; he looked like a predator assessing a new territory.
“Claire Bennett,” Julian said, his deep voice filling the large room. “I have to admit, you’re much more terrifying than your corporate headshot suggests.”
“Julian Vance,” I replied, not standing up, simply gesturing to the leather chair across from my desk. “To what do I owe the pleasure? Have you come to try and poach another one of my tech startups?”
Julian laughed, a rich, genuine sound, and sat down, crossing his long legs.
“No,” he said, leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I came to talk about a mutual hobby. Destroying the Parker family.”
I kept my face perfectly neutral. “I don't know what you’re talking about.”
“Please, Claire,” Julian smirked. “The entire financial sector knows you pulled the plug on their development deal and sent their stock into a tailspin. What they don't know is why. But I don't care about the why. I care about the how.”
“And how does that concern Vanguard Equity?” I asked, leaning back in my chair.
“Because,” Julian said, his eyes narrowing with dark amusement, “the Parkers are desperately looking for a bailout. They came to me this morning. They offered me thirty percent of their company if I cover the loans you triggered.”
My heart skipped a beat, but I forced my breathing to remain steady. If Julian bailed them out, my revenge would be severely blunted.
“And what did you tell them?” I asked slowly.
Julian smiled, a dangerous, thrilling expression. “I told them I needed twenty-four hours to think about it. And then I came straight here. I’ll make you a deal, Claire. I’ll deny their funding, guaranteeing their bankruptcy, but in exchange, when you carve up their assets, I want the shipping contracts.”
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I stared at him. He was handing me the final nail for Ethan’s coffin on a silver platter.
“Deal,” I said.
