10x Cashback: Your Wealth Is Mine

155  Silver Tongue

Two weeks had passed since the summit, and there was indeed progress. After a few more dinners, my silver tongue working its magic—by speaking, you pervert. Get your mind out of the gutter—and constant back-channeling, the moment had finally arrived. MicroTek and Walk Shop were in the same room, ready to sign NDAs and officially begin due diligence. It was the first real step and at the same time, nothing was guaranteed, towards a potential merger. Celeste would never in a million years agree to selling MicroTek. But a merger? That was something else.

This NDA between our two companies could either end in a technological empire or a war between us. We shall see.

The meeting was held in one of Imperium Holdings' private conference rooms. Murmurs filled the air as the legal teams from both our companies sorted through the final drafts of the agreement.

Celeste sat across from me with her usual composed demeanor. Even now, with her company's future at the table, she showed no sign of nerves. That was one of the many reasons I'd found her so interesting over the last two weeks. She never lost control.

I leaned back slightly, watching as her attorney whispered something in her ear. She nodded once, then turned her attention back to me.

"You know, Voss." She said with a smirk. "I half expected you to use this meeting as an excuse to launch some underhanded takeover bid."

I chuckled, clasping my hands together. "I considered it. But where's the fun in that? It's much more interesting when the opponent willingly walks onto the chessboard."

She arched a brow. "Opponent? Is that how you see me?"

I met her gaze evenly. "Not entirely. Competitor? Certainly. Challenge? Absolutely. But 'opponent' implies that this is a battle. I prefer to think of it as an opportunity."

Celeste laughed softly, shaking her head. "And here I thought you only spoke in corporate strategy. You almost sound... persuasive."

I smirked. "Almost? Give me time."

We watched as the room entered a state of final checks and signatures. The legal teams worked, making sure every clause was where it should be, while the executives from both sides exchanged polite nods and handshakes. "I already know where it leads." I replied with a grin. "The question is, are you ready for it?"

She held my gaze for just a second longer than necessary before signing her name. I followed suit, tying our fate together for the foreseeable future.

"And that," I said, setting down the pen, "is the beginning of something bigger than either of us."

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After the meeting, I wasted no time. There was more to do than sign an NDA with a stamp holder.

"Dinner?" I asked casually as we walked toward the exit.

Celeste glanced at me, amused. "You never stop working, do you?"

"Dinner isn't work. It's a celebration. A chance to talk without the need for legalese and balance sheets. Unless, of course, you're afraid I might convince you of something."

She chuckled. "If there's one thing I've learnt about you in the last two weeks, it's that you rarely take 'no' for an answer."

"I don't." I said with a grin. Ladies are usually fine with letting good looking guys get away with more than the average guy. Why wouldn't I take advantage of that? "So, are we celebrating or not?"

She sighed, feigning exasperation. "Fine. But if this turns into a pitch meeting, I'm walking out."

I grinned. "Deal." @@novelbin@@

The restaurant I chose was a nice place I'd discovered in Crownsborough, tucked away in the heart of the city. Actually, I hadn't discovered it but Noah had been the one to point me in the right direction. It was a place that catered to those who preferred privacy with their power. Exactly like Sunset Inn, so you could call it market research.

Celeste sat across from me, taking a sip of her wine, her eyes scanning the room before settling back on me. Even if she never intended it, the conversation circled back to business and I took it as my chance to hit the hammer on the nail a few more times and drive it deeper. Deeper nails are harder to uproot, aren't they?

"I have to admit, Nico, you're surprisingly patient. Most men in your position would have tried to strong-arm me into a deal by now."

I tilted my head. "I don't strong-arm. I persuade. And persuasion takes time."

She set her glass down, leaning slightly forward. "And what exactly are you trying to persuade me of?"

I met her gaze, holding it. "That what we're building here isn't just another deal. It's something that could outlast both of us."

For a moment, she said nothing. Then she let out a soft breath, something unreadable flashing across her expression. "That's a bold claim."

"It's a fact. Look at history. Legacy is built by those who think beyond themselves. You didn't build MicroTek just to sell it off to the highest bidder. And I didn't build Imperium to be a footnote in someone else's success story."

"But together? We could create something untouchable. Something that defines the future, not just reacts to it."

She studied me, considering. "You make it sound like a certainty."

"Because I don't deal in uncertainty."

Celeste smiled, shaking her head slightly. "You really don't stop, do you?"

"It's why I win."

We sat in comfortable silence for a moment before she spoke again. "You know, when I started MicroTek, I was the only woman in the room ninety percent of the time. Every deal, every negotiation, I had to fight twice as hard to be taken seriously."

I nodded, listening. "And you won every time."

She smirked. "More often than not. But it never stops. You never stop proving yourself. That's what makes me hesitate. If I merge with Walk Shop, people will say I didn't win on my own terms."

I leaned in slightly, dropping my voice. "Then make the terms yours."

"We're not just talking about a merger. We're talking about setting the standard. Being the ones who decide what the future of AI looks like. No one's taking anything from you, Celeste. I'm offering you the chance to shape something even bigger."

She exhaled, glancing at her glass before meeting my gaze. "Are you always this intense or is it just reserved for me?"

I smiled. "Don't worry. It only comes out when there's something worth chasing."