Hostile Takeover

Chapter Five

The days had blurred into one long endless day for Gray. Between the death of his marriage and trying to save his newspaper he didn't sleep much. He really had no idea what day it even was let alone the date. So it was a surprise to him when he saw that it was Friday, the twenty-third of September on the front page of the copy of the Daily Metro on his desk. Quinn's birthday. He wondered briefly what she would be doing today, then with a maliciousness that surprised even him, he hoped she was spending it all alone. He flipped over to the second page of the paper, killing the thoughts.

And there it was. The story that broke the news about his failed marriage. He knew it wouldn't be long for the story to break, but Dylan must've worked quickly last night after his revelation to the family. So much for Dylan showing he was trustworthy. Gray had a mind to march over to his office and throw him from his window.

Suddenly his phone rang and he swept it up.

"Yes," he said.

"Gray, it's Harrison."

"Harrison," Gray said sitting upright in his chair. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I want to set up a meeting."

"Are you ready to broker a deal for Global?" Gray asked, always hopeful. So it came as a complete shock when Harrison answered.

"I have several propositions for you, including Global."

Gray was silent for a moment before he remembered himself. He never showed his reaction or surprise. He was slipping, it seemed. "Why now?"

"Dylan's back at the helm of Holloway Enterprises. He almost broke us the last time he was in charge. Your father brought us back from the brink. But now that Martin has just announced his illness, I want out."

"Well, that's very interesting, Harrison, because I was just about to make you an offer you couldn't refuse."

"Like the first time you bought my company?"

"I always saw the potential in Global right from the get-go. It was my one regret when I left my dad's company that I couldn't take you with me."

"My one regret was that I didn't have the foresight to go."

"Well, let's rectify that first thing Monday morning. How does nine a.m. sound?"

"I'm there," Harrison said.

He might be the CEO of the hugely successful Global Corporation, but Gray was the one calling the shots. He always did. Gray hung up the phone but immediately picked it up again, this time dialling Zeke. He answered on the first ring, everyone always did.

"Gray?" he said.

"Prepare the acquisition documents. Global Corporation is finally coming home."

"Wow! Congratulations, sir. You've been after Global for a while."

Gray allowed himself a small smile.. "Have them ready by this afternoon."

Gray had a lot of work to do if he was going to be ready for his meeting with Harrison on Monday. By nine p.m. he was still going. He looked at his watch and suddenly remembered he was meant to be at Dylan's party. He wondered if he should go at all given Harrison's phone call this morning. Things were getting very tense. He was moving to take the crown jewel from Dylan's company, he probably shouldn't be associating with him, but then, he needed to secure his shares for The Daily Times. Business was business, he needed to go. He picked up his phone.

"Curtis, have the car ready in five. We're heading out to Point Piper."

The party was pumping when he finally arrived, but Gray knew from Dylan's lavish parties that it was only just beginning. They usually ended with Dylan making some sort of business deal and a woman in his bed. Gray had been part of it all once, it was how he'd met Victoria, after all. They had been celebrating Sim's latest win on the car racing circuit, a venture that both Dylan and Gray had backed. Sim had just started dating Taryn and she had brought a pile of supermodel friends with her. He'd ended up in bed with Victoria that night and between them, they had formed a new business empire involving women's lingerie. To Gray's knowledge, Victoria still owned that company. But since his marriage to Quinn, he hadn't been interested in the party circuit so tonight was going to be interesting.