"That's right, but I'm still sticking to my original price—twenty percent!"
Xiao insisted.
Walter shook his head helplessly.
"Then you'll have to give me a reason to convince the board."
For him, who was already at his wit's end, there wasn't much difference between five percent and twenty percent.
However, his own control over Apex Company's shares was only fifteen percent in total, making it impossible for him to offer twenty percent for cross-shareholding with Xiao.
Therefore, this matter had to be approved by the board of directors. Although Universe was currently a hot commodity, the board would not agree to such a request.
"Apex Company is a setting sun, while Universe is the rising sun. Right now, all the technology companies in the world are trying to crack my Super Dream hard drive, but they have all failed," Xiao said confidently.
Walter retorted, "No matter how much Apex is declining, it is still the world's number one military industry, and its market value is a hundred times that of Universe."
Xiao smiled.
"Godzilla's command is that all Titans on Earth are forbidden from awakening. If you want to create this thing, it will attract Godzilla. So, either you defeat Godzilla, or it's as good as useless."
"Stop giving me official rhetoric! I don't need you to tell me the flaws of Mechagodzilla. Give me a reasonable explanation so I can persuade the board!"
Walter said impatiently.
"Hmm... how about this? Apex Company contracts Mechagodzilla's control system to Universe. If it's not completed within a year, I'll buy this big toy back at its original cost. How about that?"
Xiao snapped his fingers and made a proposal.
However, Walter's response was full of disdain.
"Are you dreaming? You still want to buy my Mechagodzilla at the original price? Who taught you to do business like this? For Apex Company to sell it to you and then let you take it back to crack our cutting-edge technology?"
Walter interrupted Xiao's fantasy with a mocking tone and then proposed another plan, one that would definitely convince the board.
"I'll give you three months. If you fail, you'll pay for the manufacturing costs of Mechagodzilla, but it will still belong to Apex Company!"
"Oh~, Father-in-law, aren't you drawing blood from our family to nourish outsiders?"
Xiao widened his eyes and looked at Walter with dissatisfaction.
"Fuck, can you stop talking like you're from Shakespeare's era?"
Walter immediately made a disgusted face.
"With Super Dream, Universe is a hen that continuously lays golden eggs. A few hundred billion is nothing; at most, it's just a few years of income. Not to mention, your company is appreciating every moment!"
Walter completely ignored Xiao's rhetoric.
What's this about being family or not? The Simmons Family has his son to inherit the family. What does that have to do with your Shaw Family?
If you don't think about devouring the Simmons Family, then you're already a good son-in-law.
Xiao fell silent for a moment, seemingly weighing the pros and cons. Walter didn't interrupt, giving Xiao space to think.
Xiao suddenly stood up and reached for the wine bottle on the table. Just as Walter thought Xiao was about to smash the bottle over his head,
Xiao picked up a nearby glass, added two scoops of ice, and poured drinks for both himself and Walter.
Xiao raised his glass, looked at Walter, and said seriously:
"In three days, I'll come with the marriage contract!"
Walter was stunned for a few seconds before coming back to his senses. Excitement appeared in his eyes as he raised his glass.
"Cheers!"
Their glasses gently clinked together, the crisp sound serving as a witness to the transaction.
After Walter escorted Xiao to his car, he stood there watching his future son-in-law leave, his eyes filled with excitement and joy.
"Yes!!"
He couldn't help waving his fists, releasing all the excitement and anticipation in his heart.
This matter was settled. Even if Universe ultimately failed in its research and development, he wouldn't have to bear the responsibility.
When Walter returned to the villa with an excited expression, he immediately saw his beloved daughter Maya leaning against the wall as she walked out.
Maya's face was pale, cold sweat covered her forehead, one hand supported herself against the wall, and her legs trembled slightly, as though she could collapse at any moment.
It had clearly been her first time last night, but Xiao showed no mercy, instead making her stand up and ride, tormenting her even more intensely.
"Fuck, that little bastard. Doesn't he know how to be gentler?"
Seeing his daughter's appearance, Walter felt terrible. Although it had been his idea to have his daughter use a beauty trap,
watching his precious daughter being worn out still made him feel somewhat shaken.
However, what made him even more curious was what kind of medicine Xiao used for the effects to be so powerful.
"Dad, when are you transferring the shares to me?"
Maya didn't care about those things. Enduring her physical discomfort, she spoke with difficulty.
She knew in her heart that if she couldn't get the shares soon, everything she had sacrificed might become meaningless, which made her extremely insecure.
"Sigh, don't worry. Dad's promises are always valid!"
Walter helped Maya sit down on the sofa and took out a pre-prepared share transfer agreement from a drawer, handing it to Maya.
This was a formal legal document. As long as she signed it, Maya would receive half of his shares.
"???"
Looking at the share transfer agreement that had apparently been prepared for years, Maya widened her eyes and looked at Walter in disbelief.
Maya felt as though her world had collapsed.
She considered herself clever and resourceful, not only successfully rising through this incident but also obtaining Xiao, a highly promising prospect.
Yet she never expected that she would ultimately be outplayed by her own father.
At this moment, her feelings toward Walter became extremely complicated—a mixture of emotion and anger intertwined together, making her entire expression somewhat distorted.
What moved her was that she had always mistakenly believed her father loved her elder brother the most and had naturally assumed that all of his property would eventually be handed over to her brother.
However, the truth was different. Her father had already prepared a will, explicitly stating that after his death, the inheritance would be divided equally among all his children.
And the reason for her anger was that although she had received a huge fortune, it was merely the share that had originally belonged to her.
Her father had simply used this opportunity to transfer that wealth into her hands ahead of schedule.
Walter felt somewhat awkward under his daughter's gaze, so he forced a slight smile and said earnestly:
"My love for you and your brother is equal. I have never favored either side."
Upon hearing this, all of Maya's anger vanished, and she could no longer suppress her emotions. Tears streamed down her face.
She stepped forward and tightly hugged her father's neck, sobbing:
"I love you, Dad!"
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