"Alright, enough catching up." I placed the share transfer agreement on the desk. "Ms. Gilbert, one share for one million dollars. Seventy shares total. Seven billion. Not a penny more, not a penny less."
Melody smiled and produced her own share transfer agreement, setting it on the desk beside mine.
I frowned. "What's this supposed to mean?"
"A share swap."
She pointed at the agreement I'd brought, then at the one she'd laid out.
"I could scrape together seven billion to buy your shares, but it would shatter Gilbert Group's cash flow overnight. I don't do deals that destroy me just to win."
"So here's my offer: my seventy percent of Gilbert Group for your seventy percent of Simmons Corp. You agree, and starting today, you become Gilbert Group's majority shareholder with absolute authority. You won't be getting the short end of this deal."
I froze. I hadn't expected Melody to propose a share swap. But she was right. This deal didn't shortchange me at all.
"Aren't you worried I'll just turn around and sell off the Gilbert shares the moment the ink dries?"
"You won't."
She shook her head, her tone carrying absolute certainty.