After giving it some thought, I thought I better have him back down a little. “Sure, I could sign on it, but on the condition that you promise not to push through the plans with GW within the next two years.”
The two-year period was a proposal after much consideration. I would be able to wrap up everything pertaining to my pregnancy during that stretch, and with Ashton’s ability, it should give him sufficient time to gain a foothold in K City.
I know that I would not be able to stop him from pursuing better avenues of development, but with an extended period for preparation, it might help mitigate any potential risks that may arise.
Ashton’s eyes widened momentarily as he considered his options. His lips then curled into a smile. “Alright, I promise.”
Ten years was enough time for me to learn how to discern when he was being sincere or deceitful. His eyes and his smile told me that I may dispense my suspicions.
I took the pen from him and scribbled my John Hancock above the line. Ashton followed up by having the document sent out to the Notary Office for processing.
The courier had just left when someone rapped at the door twice. “Mr. Fuller, the representative from GW Group has arrived.”
My gaze fell upon Ashton the second I heard that. I regarded him with ambiguity and shot him several looks. Would it not be a golden opportunity for him to prove that he had been straight with me?
Ashton gave me a knowing smile before he turned to Joseph. “Have them taken to the conference room.”
“Understood,” Joseph replied with a nod before he exited.
Ashton went around to other side of the table and retrieved his coat from the rack. He spoke as he put it on and checked his attire, “Come, Mrs. Fuller. You should try to resolve the matter with GW today while you are still able to exercise your rights as shareholder.”
He wanted to have me along for the meeting.
And I do not see why not.
I shrugged and put a hand around his arm as we made our way to the conference room.
The representative from GW Group was a blue-eyed blond. He was already seated when we stepped in.
Ashton had an arm around me when we approached. “Good to see you again, Mr. Blondell. May I introduce you to my wife, Scarlett Stovall.”
“Oh, my pleasure to meet the very lovely Mrs. Fuller.” Sean took ahold of and charmingly kissed the back of my hand before he recovered himself.
He had brought along three foreign assistants, all of them corporate elites.
All of us then took our seats.
Sean seemed to have come to us on his own accord with tremendous sincerity and started as soon as he sat himself down. “According to the terms that were presented to us, Mr. Fuller, GW would only receive a fifteen-percent stake for our investment. After conferring internally, we’re willing to settle for seventeen-percent. That would be our best offer. If you are amendable to that, then we would be able to finalize the contract today.”
The assistant closest to Sean got up on cue to place the contract in front of Ashton.
The financing proposal was something that Ashton had put on the agenda about a year ago, and Sean and his assistants had remained in the country for almost half a year since. Thus, their eagerness to wrap things up so that they may all return home was understandable.
I had gone through their proposal. GW’s original demands were for a twenty-percent stake in Fuller Corporation’s shares. After negotiation with Ashton, Sean was willing to concede three percent, which was considered very generous. No good business person would dabble in any losing propositions. As there was still some profit in it for GW, I need not be excessively obliged to them.
Ashton and I exchanged looks before he reached out and calmly nudged the contract subtly in Sean’s direction. “Thank you for your offer, Mr. Blondell. I may have to ask for your understanding as the hostility directed toward Fuller Corporation locally leaves me with other considerations to make. So I’m afraid that we may have to put this proposal on hold until a later time.”
