Chapter 121: Never In A Million Years

Jenny walked into the building housing a variety of startups, including FleetForward Logistics with a confident stride. She’d chosen to do this herself without any outside help. This time, she didn’t need Nico or Amelia to negotiate on her behalf.

She needed her independence and this was the best way of getting it. On her own. That was why she’d come prepared, her mind full of all the details she needed.

She walked into the elevator and her assistant pressed the button for the floor Fleetwood was on. She smiled to herself as she made the journey upwards and when she finally got to her destination, she stepped out and froze.

Standing there was a man she never in a million years expected to see here.

Charles Harrington.

He walked towards the elevator and it was as if his presence gave the whole place an air of gravitas. As if just by being there, he made the whole place matter. And it was probably true.

She’d known Charles since she was a teenager, often seeing him at parties and a few locations. He’d had a few business dealings with Apex and by extension, their mother. Not to mention that he was someone Jasmine had on her contact list.

The moment she saw him, alarm bells began ringing in her head as her brain connected the dots. There was only one reason he’d be here. The same reason she was.

Jenny composed herself and walked forward to meet him halfway, her stride confident. If he was surprised to see her, he didn’t show it.

"Well, if it isn’t Jenny Voss." He greeted her with a face that might as well be carved from ice. No smile, no nod, nothing. But Jenny was already used to that. "I didn’t expect to see you here."

"Mr. Harrington. I could say the same about you." She smiled politely at him even as the warmth didn’t spread to her eyes. They were hard as they stared at the man. "I wasn’t aware that FleetForward was part of your investment portfolio."

"Not yet." He said, adjusting his cufflinks as he looked down his nose at her. "But it’s always a pleasure to pursue new opportunities like this one."

Ah. This was not his normal scene but from his words, Jenny could tell that he would not be backing down when it came to this. "Interesting. I thought you were more into established markets. FleetForward is still in its growth phase."

Charles chuckled, a deep, patronizing sound. "Ah, but growth is where the excitement lies, don’t you think? And FleetForward shows a lot of promise. A company like this needs experienced hands to guide it to its full potential. It’s what Harrington & Co does best."

Jenny made sure the smile was still pasted on her face even though she wanted to curse at the man but that won’t help here. She wasn’t the old Jenny anymore. Those methods won’t work here. Besides, the real test wasn’t with Charles. It was with the FleetForward management.

"I suppose that depends on your definition of experience. Some might argue that a fresh perspective is what FleetForward really needs to thrive." She said, nodding graciously.

In that brief moment, a spark of amusement entered Harrington’s eyes. "Is that so?" He asked. "Well, I wish you luck, Ms. Voss. It seems we’re after the same prize. May the best investor win."

With that, he continued on his way and entered the elevator, leaving Jenny standing there. Her hand tightened briefly around the strap of her handbag as she exhaled. Now, there was a competitor.

After taking a moment to compose herself, her assistant approached the receptionist and came back to lead her to the executive conference room.

She stepped inside and was greeted by FleetForward’s management team. The CEO, a middle-aged man named Greg Albright, rose to shake her hand.

"Ms. Voss, welcome." Greg said warmly. "It’s a pleasure to have you here."

"The pleasure’s mine." Jenny replied, taking her seat at the head of the table. Her assistant discreetly set down a folder in front of her, filled with notes and data to support her pitch.

"We’ve reviewed your initial proposal, Ms. Voss," Greg began, "and while it’s what we want, we’ve recently received an alternative offer from Harrington & Co."

Jenny nodded, her expression neutral. "I’m aware. Mr. Harrington and I crossed paths on my way in."

Greg exchanged a glance with his CFO, seated beside him. "To be frank, his offer is highly competitive. It’s not just about the numbers. Harrington & Co brings a level of prestige and connections that could open significant doors for us."

And yet they weren’t dismissing her offer. They wanted more from her. Very well. She leaned forward slightly as she spoke. "I’m here because I believe Apex offers something Harrington can’t. A partnership."

"Unlike Harrington & Co who are just looking to make an investment, we’re looking to build a partnership. FleetForward isn’t just another line item in a portfolio for us. You’d be the cornerstone of our logistics innovation strategy."

"So, which would you prefer? To be another jewelry to be kept in the closet, only brought out for special occasions or to be the crown jewel." She gestured at them. "It’s your choice."

Greg frowned slightly as he considered her words. "That’s a strong pitch, Ms. Voss, but it’ll take more than words to match Harrington’s offer. He’s willing to pay a premium to secure this deal."

Now, he’d gotten to the crux of the matter. He wanted more from her. She quickly did a few mental calculations. While she had the money and didn’t want to lose FleetForward, overpaying will be giving Jasmine ammunition to use against her. The same ammunition that Nico had created against Jasmine but their mother had swept under the rug.

Right now, she needed a middle ground.

"What if we revisited the valuation?" She suggested, sliding a document she’d prepared for an eventuality like this across the table.

"This outlines a revised offer that accounts for FleetForward’s projected growth over the next three years. It’s a much higher figure than we initially proposed." A higher figure but one still grounded in realistic expectations.

Greg glanced at the document, his CFO leaning over to read it as well. The room grew quiet as they studied the numbers.

"This is… interesting." Greg admitted, looking up at her. "But Harrington’s offer still edges this out in sheer dollar value."

Jenny smiled, using it to mask the gritting of her teeth. "That’s the thing, Mr. Albright. FleetForward doesn’t need the highest bidder. You need the right partner."

"Apex’s resources and commitment to innovation align perfectly with your vision. With us, you’d have access to cutting-edge analytics through our partnership with Ward Impact Ventures and Imperium Holdings. Harrington can’t offer that."

Greg leaned back in his chair, exchanging another glance with his CFO. "You make a good case, Ms. Voss. But this is a significant decision and making a decision now would be an error that I’m sure you yourself won’t value in a partner. We’ll need some time to deliberate."@@novelbin@@

"Of course." Jenny nodded, not letting her true feelings show on her face. "I understand completely. Take the time you need, Mr. Albright. But do not deliberate for too long. Opportunities like this don’t stay on the table forever."

Those words also applied to her. She needed to find a solution to this problem and fast.