Page 138 of Shattered Melodies

I was tempted by the wine - God knows I could use a drink right now - but I needed a clear head for this. “Just water, thanks,” I replied, settling into one of the plush chairs across from his desk.

Leon nodded, pouring me a glass of water before returning to his seat. “So,” he said, leaning forward slightly, “have you made a decision about the deal?”

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. “I’m in,” I said firmly. “I want to take it.”

Leon’s face lit up. “Excellent choice, Liam. I knew you’d see the potential here.”

“Yeah, well,” I said, unable to keep the edge of impatience from my voice, “I’m more interested in how you’re planning to pull this off. My father’s no fool - he’s going to smell something fishy a mile away.”

Leon chuckled. “Always straight to the point, aren’t you? I appreciate that about you, Liam. But don’t worry, we’ve got it all figured out. In fact, I think it’s best if I let my lawyer explain the details. He’s the mastermind behind this particular strategy.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Your lawyer? I thought I was the legal expert here.”

“Oh, you are,” Leon assured me. “But Derek well, he’s got a particular talent for this kind of thing. Mind if I call him in?”

I shrugged, curiosity getting the better of me. “By all means.”

Leon pressed a button on his desk phone. “Lilah, could you send Derek in, please?”

A few moments later, the door opened, and a man in his late thirties walked in. He was tall and lean, with a sharp suit and an even sharper gaze. He extended his hand to me with a confident smile.

“Derek Green,” he introduced himself. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Liam. I’ve heard great things about your work.”

I shook his hand, sizing him up. “Likewise,” I said, though I’d never heard of him before. “So, you’re the mastermind behind this takeover plan?”

Derek’s smile widened. “I prefer to think of it as a mutually beneficial restructuring, but yes, I’ve had a hand in developing the strategy.”

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. “Cut the PR bullshit, Derek. I want to know how you’re planning to fool my father. He’s no pushover, trust me.”

Leon cleared his throat. “Derek, why don’t you lay out the groundwork we’ve been working on for Liam?”

I watched as Derek reached into his bag, pulling out a thick stack of papers.

“Alright, let’s see what you’ve got,” I said, leaning forward in my chair.

Derek spread the documents across the table, his face grim. “Liam, what we’re about to show you… it’s not pretty. But you need to see it.”

I raised an eyebrow, my impatience getting the better of me. “Just spit it out, Derek. What’s my father been up to?”

Leon cleared his throat, his expression serious. “Your father has been engaging in some questionable business practices, Liam. For quite some time now.”

“Questionable how?” I asked, my stomach tightening with dread.

Derek pointed to one of the documents. “He’s been systematically acquiring companies, running them into the ground, and then profiting from their downfall through insider trading.”

I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. “What? No, that can’t be right. My father’s a lot of things, but he’s not a criminal.”

“I’m afraid it’s true, Liam,” Leon said softly. “Look at the evidence yourself.”

With shaking hands, I reached for the papers. As I scanned through them, my disbelief turned to horror. There it was, in black and white - a trail of companies acquired, gutted, and discarded. And worse, I recognized some of them. Companies I had helped acquire.

“Oh god,” I muttered, feeling sick. “I worked on some of these deals. How did I not see this?”

Derek leaned forward, his voice gentle. “You weren’t meant to see it, Liam. Your father kept you in the dark deliberately.”

I slammed my fist on the table, anger surging through me. “Damn it! How could he do this? How could he lie to me… again?”

Leon reached out, placing a calming hand on my arm. “I know this is a lot to take in, Liam. But we need to focus on what we can do now.”

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