Next Man Better Plan novel Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Stephanie had just turned sixteen that year. Her father and brothers were still alive, and her mother hadn’t abandoned her. As childhood sweethearts, of course she listened to

Quennel.

Later, Jonathan joined the army and slowly faced from everyone’s radar, and Stephanie eventually forgot all about him.

She never dreamed that one day she’d be sitting in a private room with him, negotiating a business deal. But the negotiation hadn’t even started, and it seemed she had… already

offended him.

Stephanie’s fingers tightened slightly.

She looked up, her naturally soft voice as sweet as honey. “Jo.”

Jonathan’s back went ramrod straight. He turned his head and stared at her without blinking.

“Meridian Consortium has always had strong growth momentum. My father poured his heart and soul into the company, and its performance has been steadily increasing in recent years.”

A stray strand of hair clung to her soft lips. She casually tucked it behind her ear, the simple movement causing her lips to part slightly.

Jonathan’s gaze darkened, and the beauty mark under his eye seemed almost hypnotic under the lights.

“If

you don’t believe me, you can look at the files,” Stephanie said, handing them over.

As Jonathan flipped through the documents, Stephanie breathed a small sigh of relief. But she didn’t dare let her guard down, unable to guess what the man before her was

thinking.

Her knowledge of him was far too limited, and she had no idea how he operated.

But one thing Stephanie knew for sure: Jonathan was the best possible buyer for Meridian Consortium. After all, across all of Veridian, few would dare to go against the Gonzalez family.

If she missed this opportunity, she had no idea when the next suitable buyer would

appear.

She did her best to persuade him. “For years, Meridian Consortium has focused on research and development, which aligns perfectly with the philosophy of Ironhold Investment Group. Acquiring us would only benefit you, Mr. Vasquez.”

Jonathan finally looked up, his gaze sharp. “Why did you stop calling me Jo?”

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14.59

Chapter 14

“…” Stephanie paused.

When she was younger, she used to follow Quennel around, calling him by his first name. Thinking of that, however, gave her an idea.

“I hear you and Quennel don’t get along. Aren’t you interested in buying Meridian Consortium and firing him from his CEO position?”

It was more than just that.

Quennel had joined Meridian Consortium right after graduation, working his way up steadily to the president’s chair.

He had poured more of himself into Meridian Consortium than he had into his own family’s company.

But just as he was at the height of his success the company was sold to his arch–nemesis. Quennel would have to stand by and watch his years of hard work fall into another’s hands.

The thought alone must be agonizing.

If he stayed, he’d be nothing but an employee, easily replaced.

If he left, what would all those years of effort have been for? All gone down the drain.

Stephanie thought this proposal would pique Jonathan’s interest, but instead, the smile vanished from his face, and his eyes grew dark

“Trying to use me to get back at Quennel?”

Stephanie froze, quickly trying to explain. “That’s not what I meant…”

“I can see right through you, you know. Using me to pull the trigger for you?”

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