14 Years [GNR/Mötley Crüe]

77.Catching Up

Nadia:

When I entered the conference room, eyes turned to me following the click of my heels on the polished marble floor. The space was modern, with minimalist décor and large windows offering a panoramic view of the city skyline. As I approached the long, sleek mahogany table, the executives from Regal Horizons were already seated. Mr. Daniel Henderson, the CEO, sat at the head of the table, his face set in a neutral expression, while Ms. Elizabeth Greene, the COO, adjusted her glasses and glanced over the papers in front of her.

I could feel the tension in the air. I had done the necessary research. It was a case of acquisition. My firm was officially hired by the Regal Horizon to manage the acquisition of the Miller family's resort on the Vegas strip. I had gathered all basic background information, conducting a general review of the resort's finances, operations, and any public records that could impact the acquisition.

"Good morning, everyone," I greeted cheerfully and took my seat to face the group, who were now paying my firm $1800 for every hour I worked on this deal. "Thank you for having me here today. I'm looking forward to moving with the acquisition of the Miller Resort."

Henderson didn't smile, his tone professional. "We're glad to have you on board, Deal. But I'll be upfront with you. The Millers are proving to be more difficult than we anticipated. They're holding on tight to their family legacy, and every offer we've made has been rejected."

I nodded, understanding the situation well. "Yes, I'm aware. The Millers are deeply attached to the resort. For them, it's not just a business, it's their heritage, their family's legacy. This won't be a smooth negotiation."

I was upfront about it. This wasn't like the deal where Chris and I kept flirting with each other and closed the deal in less than two months. This was a deal that could get stretched anywhere between six months and a year.

"That's an understatement. We've been offering them above-market prices, but they refuse to even consider selling. It's frustrating. We need a strategy that will push them into accepting the deal, or we'll be stuck with this property for longer than we want." Greene said

I knew this deal wasn't going to close easily and that Greene was going to be a pain in my ass very soon. This would take time and patience. A hostile acquisition was never easy, and in cases like this, it was often more about negotiation tactics, legal pressure, and finding ways to break down the resistance without triggering a legal backlash.

"I've already begun reaching out to their legal team," I said, in a calm voice. "I'm preparing a strategy to convince them that selling is in their best interest. I'm also looking into the emotional side of this—what they need to feel comfortable with the idea of letting go. I know it's a delicate situation, but we can make progress."

With time.

Henderson looked at me, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You're suggesting we slow down? We need this deal done quickly, Nadia. We've been trying to get them to sell for months. If we don't push harder, we could lose the opportunity altogether."

I held his gaze. "I'm not suggesting we slow down. I'm suggesting we be strategic. This is going to take at least eight months, hopefully less. The Millers aren't going to give up their resort easily. We need to create an offer they can't refuse, and that means appealing to more than just the financial aspect. I'm prepared for the long haul, but we need to approach this carefully. Otherwise, it'll just end up in court, and that will delay everything."

Greene's expression softened slightly, but she didn't look convinced. "That sounds like we're bending over backward."

"I understand," I replied, "but if we force them into a corner, it will only strengthen their resistance. This is a family business, and if we don't show respect for that, it will backfire."