From Vows to Desire

Chapter 10: A Proposition from Henri

Scene 1: Henri’s Arrival

Henri Beaumont arrived in London with his usual air of authority, his jet-black car gliding through the streets towards the Palmer residence. As soon as he stepped out, the no-nonsense attitude that he was famous for came with him. After exchanging brief pleasantries with Victoria, Henri wasted no time and followed Arthur straight to his study, where the real conversation was about to begin.

Once inside, Arthur offered Henri a seat, though he already sensed the gravity of whatever Henri had come to discuss. Henri didn’t dance around the topic.

Henri: "Arthur, let me get straight to the point. I want to acquire the shipping yards Palmer Industries holds in England and the Netherlands."

Arthur’s eyes widened in shock. The shipping yards were the backbone of Palmer Industries' revenue stream. Without them, the company would lose a substantial portion of its profits.

Arthur: (firmly) "Henri, I can’t do that. The shipping yards are the highest revenue generators for Palmer Industries. We rely on them."

Henri expected this response. He nodded, leaning forward slightly as he moved to the second part of his proposition.

Henri: "I understand your hesitation, but I’m not just asking for a sale. I have another proposition that I believe would make this arrangement beneficial for both our families."

Arthur raised an eyebrow, intrigued but cautious.

Henri: "I propose a marriage between Theo and my daughter, Samyukta. In return, BR Tech’s division will merge with Palmer Industries’ AI and Robotics division. Not only that, but Theo will be given the management of our fashion malls in London and Edinburgh."

Arthur was stunned. The revenue from the London Beaumont Mall alone was worth more than 40% of what the Palmer shipping infrastructure brought in. And this was on top of the potential merger of two massive tech divisions. Henri was essentially offering to trade a significant portion of his empire for an alliance between the Beaumont and Palmer families.

Arthur: (incredulous) "Why Theo? I mean, you could get anyone your daughter wants. What makes Theo your choice for this marriage?"

Henri met Arthur’s gaze with a steady look, his tone serious.

Henri: "Theo is intelligent, capable, and will lead Palmer Industries into the future. This arrangement is not just a business deal. It’s a way to secure both of our legacies."

Arthur sat back in his chair, taking in the weight of the offer. This was far more than he had anticipated when Henri called for the meeting. He knew that Theo’s life could change drastically with this marriage, and the opportunity was almost too good to refuse. But Arthur also knew his son—Theo wasn’t the kind of man to agree to something like this without serious thought.

After a long pause, Arthur finally spoke.

Arthur: "You’ve put me in a position where I can’t say no, Henri. But I need to talk to Theo about this. I can’t make a decision for him."

Henri gave a curt nod, his expression revealing no surprise.

Henri: "Of course. I expected you to speak with him first. As for Samyukta, she may have some resistance at first, but she will understand why this is necessary. I’ve already prepared for that conversation."

Arthur sighed. Henri always seemed to have every angle calculated. After the formalities were exchanged, Henri left with a final word of expectation.

Henri: "I look forward to hearing good news, Arthur."