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Chapter_149
Zachary’s voice was earnest as he responded to Howard’s offer, his tone conveying both gratitude and skepticism.
Howard raised an eyebrow, momentarily surprised. He had expected Zachary to be overwhelmed, but instead, Zachary’s candidness caught him off guard. In the face of what could only be described as a lifeline, Zachary wasn’t treating him like a savior. He was simply laying out the harsh reality of the situation.
Howard’s lips curled into a mild smile, but there was something calculating in his eyes. This man doesn’t panic easily, Howard thought. I respect that.
He lowered his voice, his words measured. “Mr. Chambers, I’ve looked into the situation. To save the Chambers Group, you’d need around five billion dollars. It’s not a large sum for me. The money will be in your account by tomorrow. As for the promising projects you mentioned, if you’re interested, I have a department in my company that focuses solely on game development. We’re planning to collaborate with FastPulse Technologies in Mysonna. I can transfer the entire department to the Chambers Group. They’ll become your team. With them, you can completely revitalize the company. If you agree, everything will be in place by 8 PM tomorrow. What do you think?”
Zachary’s hand trembled slightly, and his coffee cup slipped from his grasp, splashing onto the luxurious carpet beneath him. His face twisted in shock, as if he couldn’t believe what he had just heard.
Lucas, who had been silently observing, blinked, utterly stunned. Has the world gone mad?
Liam, who had worked with Howard for years, couldn’t suppress his amazement either. Yes, the world is already crazy.
Howard’s expression remained impassive, his demeanor unchanged. He didn’t seem to care about the weight of his words or their impact.
Zachary, still in disbelief, stammered, “Mr. Yates, surely… you’re not joking, right?”
Howard’s smile remained mild, almost too casual. To him, this was business as usual. For some people, five billion dollars is just pocket change. Transferring an entire department is no more difficult than ordering dinner.
Zachary’s mind raced. He’s willing to invest five billion just like that? To hand over his core team without a second thought? Why would something this once-in-a-lifetime happen to me?
After a few moments of silence, Zachary gathered himself and asked cautiously, “Mr. Yates, are you planning to acquire the Chambers Group? If that’s your intention—”
Howard cut him off with a slight shake of his head, a soft laugh escaping his lips. “Acquire your company? Why would I do that? I’m not like the Smith family or the Carter family. They’re the ones who go around making reckless acquisitions.”
He leaned in slightly, his voice lowering. “Mr. Chambers, perhaps I didn’t explain myself clearly enough earlier. I’m not interested in acquiring the Chambers Group. I’m offering you a no-strings-attached, interest-free loan of five billion dollars for the sake of Ms. Chambers. There’s no deadline, no conditions. The team and technology are free as well. You don’t need to worry. Just agree, and I’ll have my team start preparing everything immediately. It’s that simple. Don’t overthink it.”
Zachary, now fully aware of the magnitude of the offer, nodded slowly. He wasn’t a fool. Turning down a gift like this would be pure idiocy.
Seeing Zachary nod, Howard felt a wave of relief. He had successfully completed the task his boss had assigned him. If Zachary were anything like his boss, this would have been much more complicated, but he had handled it with grace.
The next two hours were spent hashing out the details of the collaboration. By the end of the meeting, it was clear that the Chambers Group’s crisis would be resolved with the signing of a contract tomorrow.
As they finished their discussion, Zachary insisted on treating Howard to a meal, something he had rarely done. Howard, perhaps unexpectedly, didn’t refuse.
On the way to the restaurant, Zachary’s phone rang. He answered it, only to hear a familiar, angry voice on the other end. It was Nellie, his ex-wife, threatening to destroy the Chambers family if he didn’t return to her.
Zachary immediately hung up, frustration evident on his face. This woman has been harassing me non-stop, he thought. It’s like I’m dealing with someone with multiple personalities—sometimes sweet, sometimes furious. One moment she’s threatening me, the next she’s crying, begging me to come back.
He flashed an apologetic smile at Howard, who was quietly observing. Howard looked more serious than before.
“I take it that was your ex-wife?” Howard guessed, his tone even.
Zachary nodded, a tight expression on his face. “Yes, she’s been at it for weeks. Calls from different numbers, demanding I come back. It’s exhausting.”
Howard didn’t seem surprised. “If my boss weren’t handling her situation personally, I’d have taken care of those types a long time ago.” His voice was calm but laced with authority.
Zachary chuckled dryly. “You’re not wrong.”
Howard then shifted the conversation. “By the way, Mr. Chambers, I was wondering if Ms. Chambers would like to join us later?”
Zachary thought for a moment. It didn’t seem unreasonable for Howard to want Yvette to join them—after all, Howard had been a great help to their family, and his connection with Yvette was clearly positive. There was no harm in it.
He made the call to Yvette, briefly explaining that he was having dinner with Howard and asking if she wanted to join them.
Yvette, who had been drying her hair when Zachary’s call came through, paused when she saw his name on the screen. She lowered her eyes for a moment before responding with a soft, almost detached tone. “Hello.”
After hearing the invitation, Yvette’s expression shifted slightly. She raised an eyebrow and smirked, her voice full of casual amusement. “Sure. Send me the address.”
After hanging up, Yvette quickly dressed in a simple but stylish outfit: a T-shirt, a pair of slacks with rolled hems, and her usual white canvas shoes. She grabbed her phone and made her way to the restaurant.
Halfway there, Jeremiah called her to provide the address.
Inside the restaurant, Howard was visibly excited, his energy palpable. Not only Zachary, but also Lucas and Liam could feel the change in his demeanor the moment Yvette was mentioned. Howard’s anticipation was almost contagious.
For the next twenty minutes, Howard’s eyes repeatedly flicked to the entrance, his impatience growing with each passing moment. Zachary, attempting to steer the conversation, asked Howard about his preferences for the meal.
Howard waved it off nonchalantly, saying he didn’t mind as long as the food wasn’t too spicy and didn’t contain cilantro. Zachary assumed this meant Howard simply didn’t like those ingredients.
When the dishes arrived, Zachary thought they could start eating while waiting for Yvette, but Howard insisted they wait until she arrived. His determination was clear, so Zachary held back.
The door opened once more, and this time, Howard’s eyes immediately lit up with excitement as Yvette entered. He stood up swiftly, his face brightening with genuine joy.
Yvette walked in with a casual grace, her eyes scanning the room before settling on Howard. She smiled, mischief dancing in her gaze.
Howard was already on his feet, striding toward her. “Yvette! Long time no see!”
Yvette’s lips quirked into a small, knowing smile. “Five years.”
Howard chuckled softly. “Yes, five years. Time flies. I’m not getting any younger.”
Yvette raised an eyebrow, her gaze flicking to him. “You are.”
The atmosphere between them was easy, almost effortless. Zachary couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy. Why doesn’t Yvette ever look at me like that? he wondered. I must not be a very good father.
Yvette and Howard exchanged pleasantries as they settled into their seats. Howard eagerly gestured for her to sit beside him, but she politely declined, choosing instead to sit next to Zachary.
As she leaned back in her chair, her voice softened, almost teasing. “You didn’t sleep well last night?”
Zachary, taken aback, was at a loss for words. He looked at her, touched by her concern but unsure how to respond. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”
Without another word, Yvette reached into her pocket, pulled out a vanilla toffee, and placed it in front of him. She glanced at him briefly, then turned her attention elsewhere, leaving Zachary speechless.
