Li Ming leaned back into the depths of his leather chair, his icy gaze pinning the woman down with relentless scrutiny.
"Your proposal is certainly intriguing," he said, interlacing his fingers atop the desk. "But of all the hundreds of investment firms out there... why specifically ZX Capital?" The question was a tactical lure, tossed at the President of KCC with calculated precision.
Miling fought to keep her breathing rhythmic, desperate not to let the name "A.P. Markrim" slip from her lips too soon.
"Because ZX Capital specializes in navigating complex structures. And more importantly..." she ventured, meeting the Chairman's eye with a daring look of her own, "I am aware they were bold enough to seek an audience with you personally today. If they weren't the real deal, they never would have made it past your door."
Li Ming let out a noncommittal hum. The cracks of suspicion began to spiderweb across his stoic expression.
"So, you want ZX to lead the merger," he noted, his eyes narrowing as he observed Miling's unwavering composure. "Since it is your request, I will take it under advisement. I'll bring this before the board tomorrow."
Miling offered a respectful bow and exited the room. Left in the heavy silence, the Chairman felt the growing weight of ZX Capital's influence. It was no longer a coincidence; it was a pattern. He would wait to see exactly how their next move would unfold on his board's table.
In a lavish executive suite, the warm ambient lighting cast shadows across Adisorn's sharp features, lending him an air of mystery. He stared at his phone, watching the hottest headline in Asia break:
"CK Group Partners with Wonder Package Thailand: Gawin Appointed to Lead Hydrogen Project."
Adisorn allowed a thin smirk to touch his lips. He reached out and drew back the curtains, revealing the Shanghai skyline—a sea of glittering diamonds on a cosmic chessboard. This minor victory was merely the bait for the trap he had dug for tomorrow. Now, he waited for the Chairman's next move.
The directors sat in their assigned seats, faces etched with tension. Chen Ming, the representative from VCC, was the last to enter. Dressed in a dark, imposing suit, he carried the confidence of a predator holding a checkmate. He exchanged a fleeting, knowing glance with Lu Rong before taking his place at the table.
Chairman Li Ming sat at the head, his eyes scanning the executives who looked to him for the final word. "Let us begin. As you know, the $350 million loan from VCC is due. We are being pressured into a debt-to-equity conversion..." He paused, his gaze drifting toward Chen Ming as the board grew restless.
"However, we have received an offer from ZX Capital to buy out the entire debt and inject emergency liquidity, under the condition that—"
"Mr. Chairman!" Chen Ming interrupted sharply, snapping every head in the room toward the VCC representative. "Before we discuss any third parties... as the representative of VCC, I must officially announce an urgent change in our terms that this board must hear immediately."
Silence smothered the room. Li Ming narrowed his eyes, staring at Chen Ming, who had just stood up to play a hand that went entirely against protocol.