Chapter 43 Business proposal
CHAPTER 43
Business proposal
The Carter Corporation headquarters stood tall in the center of Ashwood’s financial district, its glass walls reflecting the bright morning sun. Inside, employees moved quickly through the polished marble lobby, the quiet buzz of productivity filling the air.
A sleek black car pulled up to the entrance. Leo Carter stepped out, adjusting the cuff of his charcoal suit as he walked toward the glass doors. His presence alone seemed to shift the atmosphere. Conversations lowered, employees straightened slightly, and a few offered respectful greetings as he passed.
“Good morning, Mr. Carter.”
“Morning.”
Leo acknowledged them with brief nods as he moved through the lobby and toward the private elevators.
Waiting near the elevator was his secretary, Emily, holding a digital tablet tightly against her chest. She had been with Leo long enough to recognize the sharp focus in his eyes this morning.
“Good morning, sir,” she said politely.
“Morning, Emily.”
She stepped beside him as the elevator doors opened, pressing the button for the executive floor.
“You have a board discussion in fifteen minutes,” she began, glancing at her tablet. “The finance team already delivered the quarterly projections to your office.”
Leo nodded slightly.
“Also,” she added carefully, “Mr. Richard Carter asked that you come directly to the conference room when you arrive.”
Leo’s expression hardened almost imperceptibly.
“My father is already here?”
“Yes, sir.”
That was unusual. Richard Carter rarely arrived before Leo.
The elevator doors opened to the quiet executive floor. Thick carpets muffled their footsteps as they walked down the corridor toward Leo’s office. Emily opened the large glass door for him.
But the moment Leo stepped inside, he stopped. His father was sitting comfortably on the leather sofa near the center of the office. Beside him sat three men Leo recognized immediately long-time business partners of the Carter Corporation.
And standing near the window… Was Clara.
She turned slowly when she heard him enter, her confident smile already in place.
“Good morning, Leo.”
Leo’s jaw tightened. Of all the people he expected to see this morning, Clara was the last.
She looked exactly as she always had—elegant, poised, dressed in a fitted navy dress that highlighted her figure. Her blonde hair was styled perfectly, and her expression carried that familiar mix of charm and calculation.
Leo walked further into the room, addressing his father first.
“Father.”
Richard stood up calmly.
“Leo,” he said, gesturing toward the others. “Join us.”
Leo nodded politely to the business partners.
“Gentlemen.”
They greeted him with friendly professionalism.
Clara watched the exchange carefully.
What surprised her slightly was Leo’s reaction. Or rather… the lack of one. He looked at her only briefly before turning his attention back to his father.
It was subtle, but Clara noticed. He wasn’t giving her the attention she expected. And oddly enough, that made him seem more comfortable.
Leo took a seat across from them.
“What’s this meeting about?” he asked.
Richard folded his hands together. “We’re discussing a new partnership.”
Leo leaned back slightly, listening.
One of the partners, Mr. Howard, spoke first.
“The Carter Corporation has been expanding its international trade routes, but we’ve reached a point where stronger regional alliances would be beneficial.”
Leo nodded once.
“That’s obvious.”
Richard Carter continued calmly.
“That’s where the Dilson Group comes in.”
Leo’s eyes shifted slightly.
Clara smiled faintly.
“The Dilson family has extensive logistics networks in several markets we’re interested in,” Richard Carter explained. “Combining our operations would significantly increase both companies’ reach.”
Leo processed the information quickly.
Business-wise, it made sense. The Dilson Group was powerful, well-connected, and financially stable.
But there was still something about the situation that didn’t sit right with him.
His gaze moved to Clara.
“You’re representing the Dilson family now?” he asked.
Clara crossed her legs gracefully. “Yes,” she said confidently. “My father wanted me to oversee the negotiations personally.”
Leo studied her expression.
Clara had always been ambitious. Even when they were together, she had been deeply involved in her family’s business affairs.
Still…
Seeing her sitting here as an official partner was unexpected.
Mr. Howard leaned forward slightly.
“This partnership could open several new markets for both companies.”
Leo turned back to his father.
“And the decision has already been made?”
Richard Carter shook his head.
“No. We’re discussing the framework today.”
Leo stood up slowly and walked toward the window, his hands sliding into his pockets as he looked out over the city skyline.
Behind him, Clara watched closely. She knew that posture. Leo was thinking, analyzing, and anything waiting to be released out of his mouth won't be good.
After a moment, he turned back toward the group.
“The numbers check out,” he admitted.
“But partnerships like this aren’t just about numbers.”
Richard Carter nodded. “Explain.”
Leo’s gaze settled briefly on Clara again.
“Trust matters.”
Clara raised an eyebrow slightly.
“And you don’t trust us?” she asked.
Leo met her eyes calmly. “This isn’t personal.”
She gave a soft laugh. “That’s not how it feels.”
Richard Carter interrupted before the tension could grow.
“The Dilson family has built a reputation on reliability,” he said firmly. “That’s why they’re here.”
Leo walked back to his desk and leaned against it.
“Then let’s hear the full proposal.”
Clara stood up smoothly, retrieving a tablet from the coffee table.
She walked to the large screen on the wall and began presenting the partnership outline.
As she spoke, her confidence filled the room.
“This collaboration would combine Carter Corporation’s manufacturing infrastructure with the Dilson Group’s global logistics channels,” she explained.
Charts and projections appeared on the screen. The numbers were impressive.
Even Leo had to admit that.
She continued, “Within the first year, both companies could see a projected thirty percent increase in international distribution capacity.”
The partners murmured approvingly.
Leo watched silently. But his mind was doing more than just calculating profit margins.
He knew Clara.
And Clara rarely made moves without deeper intentions.
When she finished the presentation, the room was quiet for a moment.
Richard looked at his son.
“Well?”
Leo remained silent for a few seconds before finally speaking.
“From a business perspective…”. He paused. “…it’s a strong proposal.”
Clara’s lips curved slightly.
“But?” she asked.
Leo looked directly at her. “But partnerships require boundaries.”
Clara tilted her head curiously. “What kind of boundaries?”
Leo’s tone was calm but firm. “Professional ones.”
The meaning behind those words was clear. Whatever history they shared had no place in this deal.
Clara smiled slowly. “That won’t be a problem.”
But inside, her thoughts were very different. Because now she had exactly what she wanted. A reason to be in Leo’s world again.
And this time…
She wasn’t planning to walk away from it.