"Why the hell will I want to solve your problem when I still have mine to solve?" Silas snapped.
Damien smiled, unbothered by the outburst. "Because our problems are connected. Sit down and listen."
Silas remained standing, glaring.
"I signed a contract with Adrian," Damien said. "I'm buying Alisocial Tech Company from him. Cost me 700 million."
Silas's eyes narrowed. "What does that have to do with me?"
"You're the second largest shareholder in that company. I did my research. You bought quite a lot of shares before all this mess started. Now I'll be the largest shareholder, and you'll be right behind me."
"So?"
"So we both have stakes in this. I already took out a loan to cover the shares I bought earlier. Now I have to pay for the company itself, and I'm completely out of funds." Damien leaned forward. "But I have a solution that helps both of us."
Silas finally sat down, his jaw tight. "I'm listening."
"First, you set up a press conference. Make an announcement. Apologize for the product failures. Address the data breach directly. Calm down the customers and clients."
"That's your brilliant plan? Public humiliation?"
"That's step one," Damien said. "Step two is where it gets interesting. We announce a partnership. Alisocial Tech Company partners with Carson Tech Corporation. We stand together, shake hands, show a united front."
Silas stared at him. "You want to partner with me while my company is burning?"
"Exactly. Because when you're burning, you need water. And I'm offering it." Damien's expression was calculating. "Think about it. The two largest shareholders—me and you—joining forces. It gives your clients confidence. It gives them a reason to stay instead of jumping ship."
"And what do you get out of this?"
"Legitimacy. Stability. I just bought this company, and due to the issues we made Andrian face brought the value of the company down. Moreover the second largest shareholder is facing a huge product issue. If Alisocial Tech gets dragged down by association with your disaster, I lose everything. But if we announce a partnership, if we combine resources and fix the problems together, we both survive."
Silas rubbed his temples. "You're asking me to share control."
"I'm asking you to be smart. This partnership calms down your customers. It buys us time to fix the technical issues. Once we solve the data breach and get things running properly, we start making real profit. Two companies, combined resources, shared revenue. We'll make more together than we ever would separately."
"And if I say no?"
"Then you drown alone, and I'll find another way to save my investment." Damien shrugged. "But why would you say no? This solves both our problems."
Silas was quiet for a long moment, weighing his options. His father's threat still rang in his ears. He needed a solution, and fast.
"Fine," he said finally. "We have a deal."
"Hold it all these falls under only you benefiting..I haven't said what I want." Damien chipped in.
"And what's that?" Silas furrowed his brows and asked.
"Funds I need to pay 700 million for the company I bought from Andrian"
"Are you crazy? I can't loan you that amount" Silas spat out wondering if the deal was worth it and it was going to cause more problems.
"Calm down I didn't say you should loan me all I need 500 million" Damien said.
"Now I know you are crazy deals off…I can't keep losing"
"Fine 300 million unless you want Andrian to acquire 3% part of my shares because that's the consequences if I can't pay back"
"I'll work with that but immediately profits starts coming in i want my money back"
Damien extended his hand. "Smart choice."
They shook on it.
"Now," Damien said, settling back in his chair, "we need to talk about the other problem."
"What other problem?"
"Fidelia."
Silas's expression darkened. "What about her?"
"I really don't understand how she managed to get back up after being framed," Damien said, his tone casual but probing. "Someone must have helped her. Someone with resources and connections."
"Obviously Andrian helped her," Silas muttered.
"I think so too but I haven't found a lead on it that he sorted it out"
Silas said nothing, but his mind was racing. He'd thought the same thing. Fidelia hadn't done this alone. Someone had gotten to the couple before his people could.
"I was hoping to use it as leverage," Damien continued. "I thought I could offer to help clear her name in exchange for getting Adrian to sell me the company at a better price. Maybe even get her to hand over all of the money she took. But they settled everything on their own before I could make the offer."
'Damien wanted to manipulate Fidelia too,' Silas thought. 'Interesting. I'm not the only one who underestimated her.'
"So what are you suggesting?" Silas asked aloud.
"I'm suggesting we work together on this too. You want to take down Fidelia. I want to take down Andrian. Our goals align."
"So tell me why do you so much want to take down your own brother?"
Damien's smile was cold. "Half Brother, he is the illegitimate child trying to take what doesn't belong to him. What He doesn't deserve. Now the Chairwoman is supporting him and I can't let that happen "
He grabbed the armrest of the couch "Never "
"So how do we put them down for good" Silas asked
"I have a plan let me fill you in" Damien smiled mischievously and spoke
Silas's phone buzzed on the desk between them. He glanced at the screen and his face went pale.
"What is it?" Damien asked.
Silas grabbed the phone, reading the message from the secretary. His hands started shaking.
"Sir, we found the couple. But there's a problem—they're meeting with a journalist in one hour."