Chapter 140
ASHER
"Mr. Spellman. I understand your family feels wronged and humiliated. We can always find another way to settle those scores but reneging on our deal to expose Billion-Err is not a wise decision. It will only hurt us conglomerates more and more in the future. Please. If you’re not interested in loaning us your best tech guys, then allow us to hire them briefly. That blog is the bane of our existence and must be exposed."
Mr. Hugh shook his head. "I don’t know, Asher. Seems to me that Billion-Err is far more interested in dragging your family down more than any other billionaire family in this country. It mostly reports on you guys and your many, many secrets and sins." He let out a short laugh and swirled the glass of scotch in his hand. "Billion-Err appears to be a Rollins family problem from where I am sitting. Let’s be clear on that. I was only going to help as a gesture of goodwill because of the relationship our families were trying to establish but your asshole of a brother thought it wise to make me a laughingstock. Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t sit tight and enjoy the view as Billion-Err continues to find dirt on your family for Danvarr’s entertainment and my company’s upliftment?"
He’s right. I was kind of hoping he doesn’t clue in but nevertheless, I am prepared for this jab. I stare at him lounging on his sofa like a king and sit upright.
"Billion-Err may enjoy reporting on my family almost all the time but that doesn’t mean it would refuse to publish a juicy news tip about any other billionaire family in this country. You and I know how easily scandals can be created. My family has been the subject of attack because we have been running the business scene for years in Danvarr. Do you really think we will sit back and watch some other company knock us off our pedestal and enjoy success by default without putting up a fight?"
"Are you threatening me?" Hugh asks with a conspicuous twitch of his beard.
"Far from it. I am only reminding you of the dirty games conglomerates play to stay at the top. Of course, my family won’t stoop as low as creating scandals about you or your company but we do have a penchant for meticulously digging up long buried dirt. We only report the truth, Mr. Hugh. I wonder what we would find when we dig deep enough about the Spellman family. There’s no way you made it this far without soiling your hands in one way or another. Do you think Billion-Err would ignore a tip just because it isn’t about my family?" I indulge in a devious laugh as I rise to my feet and tug my suit close.
"I really hope you will have a change of heart, Mr. Hugh. We will make such good business partners." As I try to leave, his words make me freeze.
"And you will make a very good son-in-law, Asher Rollins. It isn’t too late."
I grit my teeth before turning around slowly. "What was that?"
Hugh drops his drink and pulls himself to his feet. "It’s no secret that you were always my first and only pick for a son-in-law. None of your brothers match up to your business acumen, work ethic and charm. You have your head screwed on straight and a tunnel vision focus on what matters. You lead with your head and not your heart, the very telltale sign of a formidable CEO in the making."