Then Grandma, bless her, looked directly at her and said, “Isn’t it interesting how quickly people forget who bought the first bricks in the first place?”
Silence.
Evan chuckled.
“Always a fan of cryptic wisdom, huh, Grandma?”
She didn’t blink.
“Wasn’t cryptic. Just old enough to say things directly now.”
After dessert, Michael pulled me aside into the den.
He shut the door, lowered his voice.
“I’ll be honest with you, Julian. Sable and Company is willing to increase the buyout again. 3.5 times market value. That’s our final offer. But I think you and I both know it’s not about the money.”
I leaned against the bookshelf.
Arms folded.
“Go on.”
“We’ve reviewed your portfolio. You’ve built something impressive, but blocking this project doesn’t help you long-term. You’re burning a bridge you might need someday.”
I smiled slightly.
“You think I’m worried about access?”
Michael mirrored the smile.
“I think you’re smart enough not to let pride get in the way of strategy.”
I stepped forward.
“And I think your company is used to people folding when you throw big numbers around. But I don’t need the money. I don’t need the deal. And I definitely don’t need Evan’s approval. You want to build something on my land? You’re going to have to find another route or wait until I feel like selling. And I don’t see either of those happening.”
Michael looked at me like he wasn’t used to hearing no.
“So that’s it?”
I nodded.
“That’s it.”
Evan was waiting just outside the den when we walked out.
He looked at Michael, then at me.
“How bad was it?”
Michael straightened his cuffs.
“Let’s just say your brother’s not interested in partnership.”
Evan’s jaw clenched.
“You’re making a mistake, Julian. You’ve made your point, but this is bigger than some petty contest.”
“No,” I said. “You made it a contest when you called me a leech. When you used me to clean up at your party, when you tried to humiliate me in front of our family and then again online. You made it personal. I’m just holding the line.”
He stepped closer.
“You’re going to regret this.”
I smiled.
“Maybe. But it won’t be today.”