DOMINATING HIS FOES

Chapter 9- The beginning

Mark Spencer leaned back in his chair, his gaze steady as it fixed on Edward George, who sat opposite him, fidgeting in his seat. Edward’s face was pale, his mind clearly racing. The pressure of his company’s impending collapse weighed heavily on his shoulders, but pride kept his hands from trembling.

“Edward George,” Mark said, his voice smooth, the words like ice sliding through the air.

Edward snapped his attention to Mark, his lips pressing together in a tight line. “Yes?”

“I take it you know why I’m here,” Mark continued, never breaking eye contact.

Edward nodded quickly, his jaw tight. “It’s about the offer, right?”

A slight smirk tugged at the corner of Mark’s lips, a calculated gesture meant to keep Edward on edge. “You’re right. I’m here on behalf of Mr. Enzo Mancini. He wants to help your company. Think of it as a lifeline.”

Mark leaned forward, his voice lowering to emphasize the gravity of his words. “Mr Mancini is willing to save your company if you agree to give him seventy per cent of it.”

Edward’s face flushed with disbelief. His eyes narrowed as he swallowed hard, struggling to comprehend what Mark had just said. “But we agreed on forty per cent. Over the phone, I told you I could offer forty. Why now seventy?”

Mark’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Edward, we both know your company is struggling. You have no real options left. Mr. Mancini is offering you a lifeline. Seventy per cent, or you lose everything.”

Edward’s hands clenched into fists at his sides. Seventy per cent. The very thought of it was suffocating. His father had built this company from the ground up. To hand over the majority of it felt like a gut punch.

He took a slow breath, trying to calm himself. He could already feel the weight of his decision pressing down on him. “Why seventy? Why not fifty? I’m already giving up half of what I worked for. Fifty would make more sense.”

Mark raised an eyebrow, the hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. He knew what Asher wanted, and he’d make sure the deal was favourable to his master. “Mr. Mancini wants control, Edward. Not a partnership. Full ownership.”

Edward’s stomach turned, but he couldn’t afford to let his emotions take the lead. He couldn’t let pride keep him from saving the company, even if it meant losing his place at the helm. “I’d like to speak with Mr. Mancini myself,” he said carefully, as though negotiating with the last shreds of dignity he had left.

Mark shook his head, his posture relaxed. “Mr. Mancini’s currently on a business trip. I speak for him.”

Edward’s chest tightened. He had no more leverage. No more cards to play. His company was crumbling beneath him, and the thought of signing away his father’s legacy twisted his insides. But the bank was closing in. Investors were fleeing. His competitors were circling like vultures.

With a sharp exhale, Edward finally broke the silence. “If I sign this deal what happens to my company?”

Mark shrugged casually. “It thrives. We clear your debts. Silence the lawsuits. Inject capital into your operations. But understand this: the real decisions? They’ll be made by us.”

Edward’s mind reeled. He had spent years building the company, fighting tooth and nail to keep it afloat. Now, with the stroke of a pen, it would be reduced to a puppet in Mr. Mancini’s hands. The thought was unbearable.

His fingers dug into the armrests of his chair. He could feel his heart racing. This was his last chance. But at what cost?

His thoughts shifted to Emily, the woman he had tried so desperately to impress. His reckless spending had pushed him further into debt, and his foolish attempts to outdo Asher only seemed to have hastened his downfall.

Asher had always known how to hurt Edward, how to attack where it hurt the most. Edward couldn’t escape the truth anymore: he had lost.

“If Mr Mancini had stuck with the original offer of fifty per cent, this wouldn’t be so difficult,” Edward muttered, his voice low, filled with frustration.

Mark’s gaze remained steady. “Time is not on your side, Edward. You walk out of here without signing, Mr. Mancini won’t be offering you anything next week. The banks will seize everything. Your name will be tarnished. You’ll be a cautionary tale in business circles.”

Edward clenched his fists, his face turning a deeper shade of red. The weight of Mark’s words was undeniable. Losing the company would be worse than handing over control. He would lose everything: his legacy, his reputation, and, worst of all, Emily. He couldn’t bear it. Not again.

With a bitter sigh, Edward finally spoke, his voice barely a whisper, laden with defeat. “Fine. I’ll sign.”

Mark’s face lit up with an almost imperceptible flash of victory, though he kept his expression neutral. He retrieved the contract from his briefcase and slid it across the desk with a smooth motion. “You’ve made the right decision, Edward. Mr. Mancini will ensure your company reaches new heights. You’ll have nothing to worry about.”

Edward reached for the pen, his hand trembling slightly. The paper seemed to grow heavier with every second he stared at it. His father’s hard work, everything they had built, now in the hands of someone else.

With a deep breath, he signed the deal.

Mark checked the signature, a faint smile of satisfaction creeping onto his face. “Excellent. Welcome to the family,” he said, shaking Edward’s hand with a firm grip.

Edward forced a smile, but it felt hollow, empty. His stomach churned with regret and uncertainty. He had saved his company at least for now, but at what cost? He had betrayed his father’s legacy. And in the process, he had lost something far more precious: control.

“I’ll take my leave,” Mark said smoothly, his voice calm. “Trust me, Edward. You’ll thank Mr. Mancini one day.”

Edward nodded numbly as Mark walked out of the office, leaving him alone with the weight of his decision.

Mark stepped outside into the cool air, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. The deal was done. Asher’s plan was falling into place. But as he climbed into the car, his thoughts turned to the next steps.

He pulled out his phone and dialled Asher’s number. The rings seemed to drag on before a voice finally answered.

“I’m listening.”

“It’s done, Young Master. Edward just signed. What’s next?”

There was a pause, and then Asher’s voice came through, calm yet filled with purpose. “Good. Now we begin the next phase. Keep an eye on him. We’ll make our move when the time is right.”

Mark’s lips curved into a smile as he hung up. The game had just begun.