He Never Loved Me Until the Day I Finally Left Him novel Chapter 521

Business was a game of strategy.

Whoever showed their hand first lost.

There was always a need for deliberation.

And their current silence meant today's negotiation had concluded.

Everyone understood the unspoken rule.

Sebastian Hayes, however, kept his gaze fixed on Helena Wallace. "Would I have the honor of taking you out for lunch, Ms. Wallace?"

"Since you're visiting Coralia, Mr. Hayes, the treat is naturally on me. Next time I'm in Riverton, I'll let you pick up the tab." Helena offered a faint smile, firmly keeping the upper hand.

"Fair enough," Sebastian replied without declining.

The people in the conference room stood up.

Helena gave a brief nod and quickly rose to her feet.

It was perfectly normal for her not to turn down a meal.

In her eyes, this was simply professional courtesy between potential business partners.

She viewed it as a dinner for both their teams, not a private date with Sebastian.

Therefore, she didn't think much of it.

Shortly after, Helena left the room.

Sebastian didn't rush to follow, and Helena's secretary promptly forwarded the dinner time and location to Carter Miles.

Carter looked up at his boss. "Mr. Hayes, Ms. Wallace has booked the restaurant and set the time. It's right next to the hotel."

Sebastian gave a low hum of acknowledgment.

The two calmly exited the conference room.

Once they were in the car, Carter didn't sugarcoat his thoughts. "Mr. Hayes, if IGM demands complete control over the project, I don't think we can move forward with this partnership."

Sebastian glanced at him, remaining silent.

"The sunk cost for the Hayes Corporation is too high. We're looking at a minimum investment of around three hundred million dollars. If IGM takes the reins and starts making exorbitant demands, our company will be completely at their mercy," Carter explained truthfully.

Sebastian understood this perfectly.

He waited until Carter finished before asking at a leisurely pace, "Aside from IGM, are there any other tech companies capable of partnering with us?"

"No," Carter sighed, shaking his head.

"If there isn't, do you have a better solution?" Sebastian pressed.

"No..." Carter admitted.

Sebastian's tone remained flat. "Since there are no other options, IGM is our only way forward. She knows this, otherwise, she wouldn't have made such a bold demand, would she?"

Unable to argue, Carter simply looked at his boss.

"If IGM wants control, then the Hayes Corporation will require them to buy shares rather than just supply the technology. IGM isn't short on suitors, but heavyweights like us are rare. We need to tie them to our sinking ship. That's the crux of this negotiation," Sebastian stated, clearly having already formulated a plan.

Carter quickly noted down the strategy.

After dinner, the teams would enter a new round of negotiations.

"I'll handle this round of negotiations personally," Sebastian added decisively.

Carter froze, not immediately grasping his boss's intention.

But a second later, it clicked.