Step one is complete, he thought. Keaton is hooked.

But Keaton’s mind was already moving forward, analyzing the situation from new angles. He suddenly sat up straighter, his business acumen overriding his embarrassment.

"If you have something like this," he said slowly, pulling them back to the matter at hand, "surely someone else would too."

He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, fixing on Neville with a stare. "Sure, this plan has its merits, but as people get older, they don’t just go down without a fight." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

It was a valid point. These people had been doing these for a long time. They were fighting against people who had decades of experience in corporate warfare. They would surely have their own leverage, their own contingency plans.

"I know," Grayson said. "So I already had something arranged for that."

Keaton’s eyes instantly sharpened, turning his gaze to Grayson. "Is there something for me?"

"Information," Neville answered before Grayson could, earning himself a glance from his boss that he actively ignored. "Your side’s information."

Keaton became puzzled, his brow furrowing. "Didn’t you already have those?"

The files Neville had presented contained plenty of information about HW Corporation’s internal politics, power structures, and even blackmail materials.

Neville smiled, the expression kind but with a sharp edge. "These were just the small bits. Your father got it separated. We need you to collect it for us."

And that, Neville thought, is the real point.

Keaton wasn’t surprised at the mention of his father. Winning the position of a chairman in a family with wolves waiting for their turn, he would most likely want to dip his toes into some of these deals. Of course, he would have divided sensitive information, stored it in different locations, and made it accessible only to those he trusted completely or only to him.

Before Keaton could think of going down the rabbit hole of the possible places this information was and weigh his pros and cons, Neville’s eyes sparkled with another idea.

"Even better," he said, enthusiasm creeping into his voice, "how about you have him come with you to the collaboration meeting?"

"Him?" Keaton said in disbelief, actually jerking back slightly. "My father?"

Neville nodded in confirmation, his smile growing. "Yes, your father."

Why not aim high? Neville figured. The worst they can say is no.

Keaton pursed his lips, his mind clearly racing through scenarios and possibilities.

Finally, he asked the question that mattered most: "In exchange for?"

Because nothing came free in their world. Especially not something as important as what they were asking.

"Safely inheriting the remainder of HW Corporation," Grayson said, he just said it casually as if it was something easy to give. "Sounds good?"

Keaton’s expression instantly relaxed, tension bleeding out of his shoulders. This was what he really wanted, a guarantee—the promise of legitimate succession without having to constantly watch his back for knives.

"I..." he started, then paused, his natural caution reasserting itself. "I’ll need guarantees. In writing."

"Bryan will draw up the agreements," Grayson said, rising from his seat with fluid grace. The meeting was entering its final phase.

Keaton stood as well, almost automatically, and extended his hand. "Thank you. I mean that."

Grayson regarded the offered hand for a moment; his expression was unreadable. Then he accepted it with a firm grip, but not crushing. "Don’t thank me yet. You still have to earn your keep."

The words were a warning and a challenge.

Keaton awkwardly withdrew his hand and said with a smile that was only slightly strained, "I understand."

Bryan cleared his throat, finally finding his voice again. "I’ll have the preliminary drafts ready by tomorrow morning. We can schedule a follow-up meeting to review the terms."

"That works," Keaton agreed. He glanced at Neville, who had been watching the exchange with barely concealed satisfaction. "I’ll be in touch."

"Looking forward to it," Neville replied, his smile genuine for once.

As Keaton moved toward the door, he suddenly paused.

Neville saw it and wondered, Is there something wrong?

Keaton turned, and a cheeky smile spread across his face. He crossed the distance between them and stopped in front of him.

"You know," Keaton said, his voice dropping into a more casual tone. "I’ve been thinking."

What’s up with the disgusting tone? Neville continued to be confused.

Keaton’s hand deliberately landed on Neville’s shoulder. The pat was friendly, almost brotherly. But there was something with the intention of doing this action that Neville felt his skin prickle.

"If you’ve had enough of Grayson’s face," Keaton said, his grin taking on a mischievous note, "our HW Corporation will welcome someone like you with open arms."

The temperature in the room suddenly dropped.

Neville didn’t need to look back to know that Grayson’s expression had gone from merely cold to absolutely glacial.

Grayson moved, removing Keaton’s hand from Neville’s shoulder, gripping Keaton’s wrist a little as if to make a point.

"He doesn’t need your crappy company," Grayson said flatly.

Neville could see Bryan’s eyes widen a little in the corner of his eye. He couldn’t risk looking at either Grayson or Keaton right now. If he did, he felt like the situation would just go high-wire.

[Host! Why didn’t you call me?! This is—] Shelly’s unnecessary presence caught him off guard.

’I told you not to use my savings recklessly!’ Neville mentally hissed back, keeping his expression in check.

He could feel both men’s attention on him now, waiting for his reaction. It was really troublesome. It seemed that this was the only way to do this.

Neville showed a small, polite smile as he tilted his head slightly, a gesture that was deliberately disarming.

"If you don’t mind orphans," he said, his tone sounded incredibly sincere, "we have a lot of capable people from our orphanage who could use opportunities."

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Bryan’s shoulders beginning to shake. His lips pressed together in an effort to contain what was clearly either laughter or a coughing fit.

Seeing both Keaton and Grayson turn to stare at Bryan, Neville could finally secretly exhale the breath he was holding.