Byron's POV
Dexter’s expression darkened. He leaned in, trying to stir the pot. “Byron, don’t tell me you think just because you’ve got Mr. Smart on your side, you can start calling the shots around here?”
Harriet’s temper flared. She slammed her hand on the table and spat, “You never brought up shares before, and now suddenly you do? Let me guess, you think I need you, so you want to take advantage?”
She scoffed and continued, “You really think I’ll let you manipulate me? Even without this deal, I’m not desperate.”
I calmly slid the equity agreement across the table to her. “Whether you want to give it or not isn’t up to you. Even if it goes to court, I won’t lose. But if you sign it now, you’ll save yourself a lot of trouble.”
I had the leverage. And more than enough evidence.
She knew it too, but still raised her chin in defiance. “Go ahead and sue me then! You think I’m scared of you?!”
Dexter, standing next to her like a loyal guard dog, chimed in with fake confidence. “If you don’t have the company’s best interests at heart, we don’t need you. We’ll land the deal with Mr. Smart just fine without you.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Do you two even know who Mr. Smart is?”
Harriet rolled her eyes and confidently answered, “Of course I do. Two million dollars turned into hundreds of millions. Made Forbes in two years. You think I don’t know who he is?”
Just then, her assistant walked in and announced, “Mr. Smart's here.”
Harriet shot me a smug look and tilted her chin high. “Whatever. None of this has anything to do with you anymore. You want your shares? Fine. You want to break up? Fine. Just don’t come begging me later. I’ll seal this deal with or without you.”
With that, she grabbed a pen and signed the equity agreement with a dramatic flourish. Then she shouted, “Security! Get this outsider out of my office!”
I raised a hand, completely unbothered. “No need. I’ll see myself out.”
When I turned around, I walked right into Mr. Smart himself, flanked by a crowd.
Harriet and Dexter immediately lit up with wide smiles, stepping forward eagerly to greet him.
But Fabian Smart didn’t even glance at them.
Instead, he walked straight over to me and pulled me into a tight hug.
“Damn, I missed you, bro!”
