With the family matters settled, Averi shifted the conversation back to business. "Dad, I met with Mr. Gilmore from the Commercial Bank about two weeks ago. He reached out again a few days back with a solid offer."
Cristopher looked sharp. "What did he say?" One thing he appreciated most about his third daughter was her focus on the company, rather than getting entangled in family drama. Even when facing grievances, she simply resolved issues without unnecessary emotional displays.
"Mr. Gilmore said if we use Plenex project's shares as collateral, he can guarantee a loan of 1.8 billion. If the stock price rises by another three dollars, he's confident he can secure 2.4 billion."
"He said that?"
Using unacquired shares as collateral for a loan—known as "simultaneous lending"—was legal but uncommon due to the high risks involved.
Averi blinked. "I was just borrowing your name to add some weight to the conversation."
"If everyone could pull off borrowing my name like you, I'd feel comfortable retiring."
Joking aside, Cristopher thought for a moment before shaking his head. "We're putting in two billion ourselves? That's too much."
Cash flow was the lifeblood of any company, and Cristopher's principle was to always use the bank's money over their own whenever possible.
Averi was prepared. "With Mr. Gilmore's help, Horizon Ventures is also willing to invest 1.8 billion under the same conditions as the bank. That means we only need to contribute 1.6 billion ourselves."
Cristopher finally nodded, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "You've got my instincts, kid. In business, knowing how to leverage others is everything."
Averi offered a polite smile, then casually mentioned, "By the way, Dad, there's a company from H City that's been in discussions with the Plenex Project for about six months now."
Milo didn't seem bothered and withdrew his hand. Cristopher waved it off. "If it's taken this long with no agreement, they must be lowballing too hard."
Averi lowered her gaze, her deep eyes hidden beneath her lashes, and murmured softly, "True enough."
After leaving Cristopher's study, Averi headed straight to the restroom to wash the sweat from her palms.
This was a high-stakes gamble. She was betting that her year of obedient behavior had earned Cristopher's trust, that her humility had satisfied his pride enough for him to let his guard down, and that he wouldn't send someone else to dig further into the H City company's background.
She had succeeded.
Averi looked up at herself in the mirror, exhaling slowly until her lungs were empty.
With Cristopher's approval, the Pure Culture acquisition project began to accelerate.
As for raising Plenex project's stock price, that was simple—just leak the news that J Corporation was planning to take over. Once the rumor was out, Plenex project's stock rose for five consecutive days, increasing by more than four dollars, "overachieving" their goal. Cristopher then held a press conference to officially announce the acquisition plan. By playing with timing, any inquiries could be brushed off as delayed reactions, as it was common for news to leak before major changes in A-share listed companies.
Cristopher handled the public-facing work, while Averi managed the specifics. She grew busier by the day, and Dallas, strangely, had gone quiet. By the time she realized it, they hadn't spoken in eight or nine days.
Late at night, Averi was driving when her phone screen lit up. She ignored it, only checking her phone after parking in the underground garage of her residential complex. It was a message from an unknown number.
"I'm back."
As unfamiliar as it seemed, that string of numbers was etched into her memory.
She dialed the number directly. After two rings, a deep male voice answered, "Averi." No greeting, just her name right from the start.
Averi chuckled silently and asked, "Are you at the airport? I'll come pick you up."
There was a pause. "No."
No?
A wave of intuition washed over her, and Averi's breath turned sultry. "Dallas, where are you?"
She heard his breath catch slightly. "I'm outside your door."
"How long have you been waiting?" Averi got out of the car, asking as she walked.
Dallas blinked, his face expressionless as he lied, "Not long."
"Is that so." Averi drew out her words, seeming nonchalant. "I'm getting in the elevator. The signal is bad in there."
Dallas remained silent.
The receiver soon buzzed with static, turning to a complete busy tone after a couple of seconds.
The sound of the elevator operating came from nearby. Dallas gripped his phone tightly, standing motionless.
As the elevator doors slid open, the hallway's motion sensor lights flickered to life, casting a warm glow across her face. The soft light highlighted her delicate features, her long lashes fanning down like a curtain, veiling her gaze in a quiet, tender calm.
Averi stepped forward, pulled out her keys, and unlocked the door. She slipped off her shoes without a second thought, letting them fall to the side as she walked barefoot onto the cool floor.
Dallas suddenly remembered his dreams, in which she always wore high heels, which disappeared once he pinned her down.
Turning on the light, Averi noticed the red bloodshot in his eyes, his sharp features showing a hint of melancholy due to exhaustion.
Seeing him standing at the door, Averi urged, "Come in, it's not like this is your first time here."
Dallas stood rooted in place, his gaze fixed on her, eyes filled with an intensity that seemed impossible to soften or disguise.
If she wasn't mistaken, there was also a stubbornness in them.
Taking off her coat and running her fingers through her hair to relax her scalp, Averi slowly turned around, looking into his pupils. "Look at you, competing with me again."
Dallas frowned. "I'm not—"
"You are," Averi softly interrupted. "Why are you standing there, not coming in?"
Because she didn't hug him, didn't kiss him, or because she didn't say she missed him first?
Dallas's lips trembled slightly, and he remained silent.
She hadn't even asked why he hadn't told her in advance that he was coming back, or why he hadn't informed her when he arrived at her doorstep.
"Dallas, are you trying to catch me off guard? Seeing if I've been holding out just for you?"
Dallas frowned. "That's not what I was thinking."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"The company called me back to M Country for a report, and I didn't know how long it would take." He looked at her. "I got the notice yesterday afternoon and went straight to the airport to buy my ticket."
Averi sighed softly, approaching with soft steps, and reached out to wrap her arms around his neck. "If you had told me earlier, I would have picked you up at the airport, and we could have met sooner."
The man who had been immobile moments ago moved swiftly, immediately grabbing her arm and pulling her into his embrace.
Averi didn't ask again why he hadn't notified her before takeoff. If he didn't want to say, pressing the issue was pointless.
Ultimately, he didn't fully trust her.
A faint fragrance wafted into his nostrils, and feeling her body heat, Dallas's heart truly came alive.
His light-colored irises were drenched in desire, turning into swirling black.
His scent was irresistibly complex—a touch of fresh soap blended with the lingering musk of cabin air, warmed by the heat of his skin.
Averi tilted her head back to look at him, a smile playing on her lips as she scolded, "I'm talking seriously with you, what are you thinking about?"
Afraid that he wouldn't know, one hand slid to the zipper of his pants and caressed it as if it were nothing. There, she had already looked up and felt even harder when she touched it through her pants.
Dallas quietly took a sip, his gaze becoming even more intense, and his head slowly lowered, about to touch her lips.
Averi dodged and said, "Dallas, you might want to check out those red eyes in the mirror." Leaning close to his ear, she added with a playful whisper, "Careful, or you're gonna wear yourself out."
Dallas's eyes sank, with mixed feelings in his heart: embarrassment, anger, and a slight inexplicable desire to laugh. He lifted his head, distancing himself from her face, but his hand tightly gripped her.
Averi had long realized that deep down he was actually a very tough person, and it was his military life that shaped this toughness into obedience and endurance.
Although she was tempted to "teach him a lesson" in bed, the deep exhaustion etched on his face made her heart soften.
She must have come to find her as soon as she got off the plane.
Averi coaxed in a good voice, "You're exhausted, you need to take a break."
