His Naughty Lessons
Chapter 64: Irresistible Offer

Chapter 64: Irresistible Offer

** Eli **

"Miracles Gaming was not one of our top candidates at the beginning," his father continued. "But Malcolm is advocating strongly for them now, provided that we invest heavily in Harper McKenzie’s proposal. He has good faith in the market response once that project is completed."

"And let me guess — the CFO opposes this," Eli commented.

"Yes. It is Stephen’s job to consider budgets and risks, which in this case are quite significant. And he isn’t wrong to suggest that our judgment on the matter might be affected by our acquaintance with a certain Miracles employee."

Finally, here came the discussion Eli was prepared for. "I haven’t even said a word regarding my judgment yet, have I?" He spread his hands. "Stephen’s whispers are already planting a bias in your head, before anyone else even gets a chance to give you their opinions. That’s a dangerous way to run a company if you ask me."

His father regarded him with interest. "And what would you say about Malcolm’s stance?"

"His thoughts are his own. If you think I was somehow able to buy off you chief technical advisor, I’d be flattered, but unfortunately that kind of suspicion won’t look good on your leadership team."

There was a moment of silence. "Good reasoning," his father conceded. "Though I would hope that your opinion of me could’ve been higher than this ... The reason why I called off the directors meeting is not the biases you are suspecting. I know red flags when I see them, and I trust my own eyes more than anyone else’s words."

Eli frowned a little at that. "Enlighten me, then. What other reasons could there be?"

The replying smile made a bad omen rise in him.

"So that we can discuss this in private, Eli. I am willing to take a risk and sign this contract with Miracles, under certain conditions."

Oh fuck. Not this again. His father was nothing if not an expert at coercion, and Eli was tired of it. "I’m not making any bargains with you," he snapped. "I don’t care which candidate gets the deal. The Miracles project already got the endorsement it needed, and they might as well go ahead to find a better home with another investor. It’ll be all for the best that they won’t ever have to grovel to your blackmailing way of things."

"That’s not entirely true," his father countered calmly. "And you know it, because you wouldn’t be here if you truly don’t care about which way the results go. You are as aware as I am that few other investors have technical advisors capable enough to rival ours, which means few will recognize the potential of a project at the mere stage of conception. Even fewer will consider scaling it with costly technologies like VR, and none will risk the enormous funding to actually do it. Sterling Trust, on the other hand, can. It would mean a life-changing opportunity for a small company like Miracles, and they won’t ever get it again from anyone else."

It was displeasing how objectively correct this assessment was. But it was something else that made Eli frown. "You’d give the VR idea a go? Stephen will object strongly to it."

"Yes. He will also object strongly when I make you the leader of this venture program and give you complete autonomy over it. Though at that point, it’ll be your own job to butt heads with him." A calculating smile loomed over the CEO’s face. "That’s what you’ve always wanted, isn’t it? Full control over your own program, full freedom to tackle down colleagues you disapprove of, over a project that you actually care about."

Those words struck Eli speechless.

As much as he hated to admit it, his father was right. The ability to follow his own vision, develop his own agenda ... It was the ultimate dream of every businessman, and it’d be a lie to say he wasn’t tempted. Not to mention all the benefits it’d bring to Harper’s project — "life-changing" was not an exaggeration. The advanced technology addictions were a risky choice even by his standards, and it was simply the truth that no other investors would be willing to take such a big leap of faith.

"I see that I have your interest now." The smile on his father’s face widened. "An irresistible offer, isn’t it? And all I ask in return is for you to take your next date with Vanessa Jones seriously."

"... What?"

Eli thought he should’ve expected this as the bargaining price. But somehow, he didn’t. "Are you joking? Are we seriously talking about trading arranged marriages for venture projects?"

"Not trading, and not necessarily marriages ... yet." His father sat up in his chair, his expression turning grave. "But it is time that you start sparing some real consideration for settling down, son. Do you really think I have no clue at all about what you’ve been doing since college? Or what kind of tricks you pulled the last time you agreed to a date I set up for you?"

Oh. That. Eli wondered who had been whistleblowing about those random girls he picked up at bars over the years, or those lewd stares and dirty comments he intentionally slipped out during the last "date" to get himself out of the farce as soon as he could. He didn’t much care though — the truth was the truth, and he owed no explanation to a person who was in no place to judge him. "You mean the fact that I can’t stop acting like an ass?" he smirked, intentional with the choice of language. "Got a problem with it?"

He could see his father’s temper flare. "I will not tolerate any more of this," the old man declared. "If you want this venture project, treat your next date with Vanessa Jones like you mean it. I won’t ask why you canceled the original reservation with her two weeks ago, or why you kept coming up with excuses to avoid rescheduling even though your weekend evenings are wide open, but you’ll stop this nonsense right now and make up for it as much as you can."

"Too late. Her assistant has already given up trying to get back in touch with Justin."

"I have made the arrangements. You will see her this Saturday, at Le Jardin."

... What?

The fact that anyone would go to such lengths to meddle with his life was so absurd that Eli almost forgot to feel enraged. All he could do was to laugh. "What makes you think that I’ll show up to something you scheduled on my behalf?" he asked, bewildered. "And why do you care so much anyway? Don’t try to play the loving father — we’re both clear on how good you are at that, so let’s cut the crap and get to the real point."

His father winced. It was probably the language — of course the old man always liked things proper. "You are my son. Is it really that much of a surprise if I want to see your future taken care of?" He shook his head when Eli snorted. "Fine. On top of that, you will be the one inheriting all my businesses eventually. I have an invested interest to see the legacy pass down through generations."

Eli snorted once more. "Nice try. But you have a daughter better suited for that purpose, so try again. What is it that you’re so determined to get from me? And how many more times do you have to ruin my life on your quest to that end?"

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.