I'm In Love With My Bestfriend's Billionaire Fiance!
Chapter 58: The First Player

Chapter 58: The First Player

(Kira’s POV)

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"Gosh Kira," Roger said. "When was the last time I saw you?"

"The last stakeholders meeting," I replied as he guided me to the only other chair in the booth. With the flick of a button, the transparent glass turned translucent at once, shielding us from outside eyes.

"Would you like something to drink?" he asked.

I nodded, "Yeah, what have you got?"

He smiled widely as he went to the inbuilt bar and pulled out a chilled bottle of wine. He also came with a glass and poured a generous amount for me. He poured for himself and we clinked the drinks in cheers before taking sips.

"Hope I’m not messing up the match for you?" I asked.

He waved that away, "That’s what the TV is for."

He shifted the seat and lowered himself into it, he was relaxed in the chair. Roger had always been rich. He was born into old money, and when his parents died, he inherited a massive fortune from real estate to companies and major shares. All Roger did these days was travel around the world, looking for new investments to pour money into, and he lived off the dividends.

"So," he said as he finished his drink and placed the empty glass on the table. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

I placed my half-finished drink on the table as I shifted in my seat, "I guess you know everything about my upcoming wedding." I started.

"Oh yeah, I’m afraid I’ve yet to congratulate you on the matter." He said. "Well, congratulations, my dear."

I smiled at him in thanks, "The wedding right now, is not the problem. What I’m in need of at the moment, is your opinion."

He pursed his lips, linking his fingers over his belly as he nodded, a subtle sign for me to go ahead. And I did just that.

"I’ve looked into you," I went on. "I’ve looked into your investments, and I know that you’re not biased at all."

"I have to assume that all this is going somewhere?"

"Yeah, it is. I know that you invested over half a billion in that fitness app company, and I also know that you invested a similar amount in a fashion line. I could name several companies where you’ve made massive investments and they’re paying you serious money in dividends. And then, it tells me one thing about you, you don’t care who is in the seat. All that matters is that the system works."

"And..." he prompted.

"It tells me you’re not misogynist, like my uncle." I finally concluded. Once he saw the direction my conversation had taken, he poured himself another drink.

"Oh..." he muttered after taking a sip. "Let me guess, Leo doesn’t want you controlling Beacon Studios, does he? Even after the merger."

I shook my head, "he doesn’t. He’d rather give it to an outsider than have me be in charge. According to him, a woman can’t handle the responsibilities that come with such a large company."

"Can you?" He asked bluntly as he stared at me over the rim of his glass.

"What?" I blurted, "Of course I can! I’m here because I know that you’re not as biased as him. More than fifty percent of the companies that you invest in are headed by women, which means you don’t care about the sex of those controlling the money you invest. I’m asking for that part of you now."

Roger returned the glass to the table, "You see, you’re wrong. I invest in a system, not in the leader. I don’t care if the person is a man or a woman, hell, they could be a child for all I care. I just want to know that my money is safe with them. And not just safe, it’s also making me more money! Kira, if you’re coming to me because you want to take a stand against your uncle, I’m the wrong person for you."

"No, you’re not. And I’m not wrong. Beacon Studios has always been run by the family and it will remain in the family. All I want from you is your support. With the amount of influence you wield and the weight of your shares, having you behind me could make a major difference."

"Hmm..." he hummed as he stroked his beard. "Is this a corporate coup?"

"No," I told him. "This will only be needed if Leo goes ahead with his plan. So, can I count on you?"

"You’re asking for a lot, dear Kira." He said. "I’m sure you know that Leo is my friend."

"Let’s keep sentiments aside, he’s leading the company to ruin. All of us know that I’m the reason the company has come this far, my ideas are what is keeping us floating. If I didn’t bring the idea to go global, we would have simply been kings of Silicon Valley. Leo is okay with taking my ideas and passing them off as his, but he has a problem with giving me control. That is not going to happen."

Roger nodded, "Let’s keep sentiments aside. You’re asking for a lot, and whatever you say, this coup could end up destroying the company. So, I could lose my investments. I don’t think I want that."

"It won’t get to that point, I promise you."

"And what if it does?"

"I won’t." I insisted.

"And what if it does?" he was just as adamant.

I let out a deep breath, "I would never do anything that would destroy the company my parents built."

"Nobody sets out to destroy their company, they think they’re doing the right thing and end up destroying everything. They had the best intentions, but they went about it the wrong way. Having the best intention for something is not enough. Silicon Valley is filled with companies where decisions were made with the best intention and they ended up imploding. What is your guarantee that it won’t happen to Beacon?"

I kept quiet then, not knowing what else to say. He had a point. I already knew that going against my uncle could have devastating effects on the company. However, I was still willing to go ahead. The alternative was to watch him give Jace the company. I couldn’t allow that.

"What I’m saying is..." Roger continued after a while. "I’m sticking my neck out for you. So, what’s in it for me?"

"I already have that covered, I’ll be giving you an additional two percent stake in the company. From my own shares."

He shook his head, "that’s not enough."

I tilted my head to the side as I stared at him in shock, two percent stake in Beacon Studios was a huge deal and he knew it.

"Uhm... I don’t know what else I can give you that’s not shares."

He only smiled as he poured himself more wine, "Relax Kira, I know very well what I want."

From the look in his eyes, I knew at once that I wasn’t going to like his demand. He was going to make one that I would find hard to give.

"My dear Kira," he said. "Are you ready?"

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