Chapter 2

Everett took a seat across from my dad.

His lawyer distributed the agreement among the Knight family members.

The terms looked generous on paper. The debts would be repaid, employees would be retained, projects would continue, and my dad would even be allowed to remain honorary chairman.

In layman's terms, the company would belong to Everett, and he'd pay off its debts.

As for the Knight family, we could stay on as glorified doormen.

Heston skimmed through the agreement at lightning speed. "51% is too much. The Dawson Group only needs to repay $10.7 billion, yet it gets effective control of the Knight Group."

Everett smiled. "President Knight, have you forgotten? The Knight Group isn't a healthy business anymore. It's a disaster the banks will seize by tomorrow morning. The fact that I'm willing to put up the money to clean up this mess is practically charity."

As he spoke, his gaze settled on me. "Of course, if Henley is willing to sell those precious assets of his, he might be able to scrape together a little money for the family."

Every pair of eyes in the room turned toward me again.

My dad frowned. "Henley's assets have nothing to do with the Knight Group. If it comes to that, the company can go bankrupt. But we are not touching what's left of his assets."

I looked at my father.

Three years ago, he'd given me $5 billion. He told me I could buy whatever I wanted and that it didn't matter if I lost every penny.

Later, when I'd managed to whittle the balance down to just $28 million, he was so furious he couldn't eat for three days, but he'd never once demanded that I hand back the assets I'd bought.

After the company's crisis erupted, he'd sold his private jet and his collection. Heston had mortgaged every property he owned.

They called me a spendthrift and accused me of being heartless, but neither of them had forced me to sell what I had left to plug the hole in the company's finances.

The Knight family might have been stubborn, but at least we had some backbone. That was why I was still sitting here today.

Everett tapped the table lightly. "President Knight, your devotion to your son is touching. But the money Henley squandered came from the Knight family in the first place. Now that the family is in trouble, shouldn't he bear some responsibility?"

Heston turned to me. His lips moved, but in the end, he asked, "What do you have left in your name?"

"Seven buildings, a plot of land, and five companies. And $28 million in cash."

Someone in the room laughed when they heard the last figure.

$5 billion had dwindled to $28 million. Even a washing machine would've counted that rate of shrinkage as a malfunction.

Heston closed his eyes briefly. "Sell everything that can be sold. Transfer the cash into the company account, too."

My dad immediately snapped at him. "Heston!"

"Dad!" Heston spun around. "Employees haven't been paid in three months! Suppliers are blocking the entrance downstairs, and the banks are freezing our accounts tomorrow!

"He spent the Knights' money! Why the hell should he still be clinging to those worthless assets?"

I looked up at him. "You want to sell my buildings?"

"They're unfinished eyesores!"

"What about my land?"

"Wasteland!"

"And my companies?"

"Empty shells!"

He rattled off the answers in one breath, his chest heaving. "Henley, do you have any idea that every single dollar could save a life right now?"

I thought about it carefully. "I do. Which is why they can't be sold."

Everett's smile deepened. "Henley really hasn't changed. You care about your own happiness and couldn't care less whether your family lives or dies."

My aunt, Michele Knight, had finally had enough. "Waylon, you spoiled him too much. If you'd given that $5 billion to Heston back then, the Knight family wouldn't be in this situation today."

She looked at me with undisguised disappointment.

When I'd bought my first unfinished building as a child, Aunt Michele had even thrown me a celebration party.

Later, when construction never resumed, she became the loudest person in the family laughing at me.

People's patience was a lot like a real estate development. Once it was abandoned halfway through, getting it back on track was difficult.

My dad let out a long sigh. "Henley, hand over the cash. As for everything else, you can keep it. At least you'll have somewhere to live later, if nothing else."

He thought those assets were already worthless. He still wanted to preserve the last scraps of my fortune for me.

I was about to speak when Everett's assistant pushed open the door.

"Mr. Dawson, the bank has just sent a notice. The Knight Group's repayment deadline has been moved up to ten tonight."

The clock on the wall showed eight. We had only two hours left.

Everett pushed the acquisition agreement back in front of my dad. "President Knight, you're running out of time. After ten, this offer won't be on the table at the same price."