His greatest love.

Chapter 36.

Gio was seated in his luxurious office going through the remaining paperwork when there was a light knock on his door.

"Come in.." He said lightly his eyes fixated on the work he was reviewing and his COO who was his brother walked in with his laptop shutting the door behind him as Gio looked up.

"You look busy..." He said lightly as he walked up the wide steps and sat on the guest seat before him.

"Isn't that what am suppose to be doing??" Gio said lightly and he chuckled lightly.

"Well I have not being seeing you around the house-"

"Dad sent you??"

"Do i need my father to send me for me to check up on you??"

"Well then am good thank you for asking.."

"Cara has been looking for you-" He said lightly and Gio groaned frustrated.

"Can we please not talk about this..."

"Avoiding her is giving all of us an equal amount of headache and we aren't fucking her..."

"As you can clearly see I am as busy as it gets and no am not discussing my personal affairs with my little brother that hasn't committed to one girl all his life..." He said taking a light breath and Liam laughed lightly.

"God forbid a man doesn't have a soulmate..." Liam said playfully setting his laptop on Gio's office table.

"I won't  be surprised if you have a baby before you commit to one woman..."Gio said chuckling lightly.

"Alright hold your horses before this turns to my intervention..." Liam said turning on his laptop.

"Am not lying though..."

"Moving on swiftly... something interesting popped on my radar..." Liam said lightly typing something on his laptop.

"Another woman??" Gio said laughing lightly leaning back to his seat.

"Hahaha very funny am on women break..."

"Who?? You?? Hell will freeze over..." Gio said laughing lightly and Liam laughed lightly before flipping him.

"Can we please work or later you'll start saying am a distraction..."

"Alright distraction tell me...what popped your radar??"

"Meridian Business Chain has declared bankruptcy." Liam said a light smirk forming on his face turning his laptop to him. He silently looked through what he was showing him paying attention to the figures on standby.

"This is interesting..." He said a dark smile lighting his face.

"I thought so too... Most of their assets are of value especially with the complications we had at the coast and it's all being liquidated at a fraction of their original worth. The sale cost is roughly around 92 million dollars which is significantly low comparing to their book value which was 196 million dollars. Their coastal branch at a stand alone was worth 100 million dollars last year and with that close amount we can currently get even the parent company as a parcel. We can pick the most valuable assets at cents on the dollar if we move with this window." Liam said calmly as Gio reviewed the numbers he presented.

"This is impressive work Liam. The risks will be minimal only if we acquire the assets only..." Gio said calmly as he continued to review the numbers.

"Can we do that??" Liam said confused.

"Yes because we'll be acquiring it through the bankruptcy court so draft a brief summary and the return of investments majorly focusing on the cost and the legal red flags. Only when everything checks out will we move on it, understood??" Gio said calmly as he gave Liam back his laptop and he smirked lightly.

"Understood!.." Liam said getting up from his seat.

"You will start on that after the meeting with the AVT Enterprises." Gio said lightly as he walked away.

"Do I have to be there??" Liam said exhaustedly.

"The point of you being here is for you to learn the ropes of business and how to proceed with caution... Do I have to keep reminding you that???" Gio said calmly sitting up straight.

"No you don't!!" Liam said silently.

"Good!! See you in 15 minutes.." He said lightly resuming the work he was earlier doing as Liam leaves the office.

Gio continues his remaining work as the distraction of Diana slowly tracks in until his secretary informs him that everyone is settled in the luxurious conference room waiting for him. He got up fixed the coat of his stripe navy three piece suit that hugged on his muscular features perfectly yet professionally classy and then left. He walked into the luxurious conference where all his board members and Liam were already seated with the CEO of AVT and his team at the opposite end. He gave a brief greeting to them as he sat down and gave the AVT enterprise the go ahead to proceed with their presentation. He leaned back to his seat arm supported at the armrest as his fingers trailed on his beard in deep concentration until the presentation was done.

"So what's your final offer??" James, one of the board members said calmly.

"We are offering 20% of our equity for 30 million dollars..." Dante the representative of the AVT Enterprise said lightly looking at his CEO who was beside him.

"That's a bold offer!!" Mike another board member said chuckling lightly.

"Its the best you can get from us so lets talk business.." The CEO of AVT Enterprise finally spoke up as the one presenting sat down while the other board members laughed lightly as Gio remained silent. For the next thirty minutes it was a back and forth between the board members and the AVT Enterprises team until Gio called it to order.

"Alright lets wrap this up... I reviewed your financial books and frankly speaking the valuation doesn't reflect your current liabilities as a matter of fact, your burn rate is unsustainable at our current revenue levels. That 20% stake is not anywhere near 30 million anymore." Gio said coldly and the whole conference room was silent.

"We still have a solid client base and strategic contracts in order. We can rebound immediately we stabilize and you would have invested in the turnaround of everything..." The CEO said confidently trying to hide the nervousness that was trailing in his body.

"You can say that but the risk of your downfall we'll also be on our shoulders. We'll not sit here and pretend that this is a growth-stage investment. This is a rescue, I mean we'd value your company at 50 million dollars at most post-money not 150. That means your 20% is worth 10 million dollars and that is our offer!!" Gio said coldly yet firmly catching the AVT team by surprise as the board members looked at him impressed.

"That's a 50% slash on fair grounds!! Accepting this offer will tell the market we are being stripped for part!!"

"That ship has already sailed... Your Series C failed and you a sent a third of your workforce home two weeks ago. Honestly speaking, we're the only serious bidder still on the table."

"30% equity for the same amount 30 million dollars that way we can still save face in the market. It will adjust your valuation down without publicly slashing our market worth." The CEO said controlling his anxiety and Gio tilted his head left and right in thought.

"30% with board seats, right of first refusal on any future fundraising or acquisition discussions and the deal is contingent on you restructuring your senior debt within 50 days..." Gio said calmly.

"That is a lot of power..."

"Final offer, take it or leave it!" 

"I'll have to discuss with my board then proceed from there..." The CEO said silently.

"Two days to bring an answer or the deal is off the table. This meeting is adjourned!!" Gio said coldly before getting up and leaving the conference room leaving the board members heavily impressed and the AVT Enterprises feeling like they have been robbed.