Chapter 64: Leaving With an Actual Strategy

Emerald’s POV

Michael turned the file towards himself and began going through several names.

"We’re not going to approach anyone yet. First, I want to determine which of these people can actually influence the decisions being made inside Mercer."

I leaned slightly over the desk, following his finger as he stopped at one of the directors.

"This one," he said. "What did you find about him?"

I looked at the information I had gathered.

"Richard Hale. He’s been on the board for six years. He owns a little over four percent of the company’s shares, and from what I could find, he has supported Kelvin on most major decisions."

"Most?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Not all," I clarified.

"Which ones did he oppose?" he inquired.

I turned a few pages. "Two major decisions in the last eighteen months. Both were related to financial restructuring."

Michael nodded. "That’s the part I want you to investigate."

I frowned slightly. "His disagreement with Kelvin?"

"Not just that. Find out why he disagreed. Look at his other businesses, his major partnerships, his financial interests and his relationship with Mercer. If his interests have been affected by Kelvin’s decisions, that could explain the change in his voting pattern."

I nodded. "I can look into that."

"You should also find out whether he’s dissatisfied with the current management."

"I’ll add that."

Michael closed the file halfway. "We don’t need to contact him yet. I want to understand what motivates him before we make any approach."

I nodded again. It made sense.

I had spent the past few days gathering information about Mercer, but Michael was already looking beyond the names and numbers. He wanted to understand the interests behind the decisions.

"There is something else. You need to start buying shares." He opened the file again and turned another page. "But before that, we need to establish a holding company."

I raised an eyebrow. "A holding company?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I don’t want you accumulating a significant position in Mercer directly under your name."

I understood immediately. "If Kelvin notices me buying shares, he’ll know what I’m doing."

"Exactly." He leaned back slightly. "The holding company gives you a separate structure through which you can accumulate your position. It also keeps your personal assets and the investment separate."

I nodded slowly. "That makes sense."

"It also gives us flexibility later," he added.

I looked down at the file. "So, I should start setting it up?"

"Yes. Properly. We don’t want something hastily registered just because you’re eager to get started."

I smiled faintly. "I’m not that impatient."

He gave me a look that suggested he wasn’t entirely convinced. I ignored it. He then opened another section of the file.

"There is another option," he said. "The lawsuits."

I immediately became more attentive. "What about them?"

"How much control do you currently have over those cases?" he asked.

I hesitated. "Very little."

"Why?" He cast his gaze on him.

"My father is handling them through the Hugo family’s lawyers."

Michael nodded as though he had expected that answer. "Then the lawsuits may be more useful to you than you realise."

I frowned. "How so?" Even I was very curious.

"We can use them as leverage," he answered.

I stared at him. "Against Kelvin?"

"Yes."

I considered it for a moment before asking, "What are you suggesting?"

"Three per cent of Mercer Technologies."

Instantly, my eyes widened slightly. "You think Kelvin would give me three per cent to settle the lawsuits?"

"If the settlement is structured properly, he may prefer giving up three per cent rather than continuing with litigation."

I studied him. "But why would he agree to that?"

"Because the lawsuits are a problem for him. They create uncertainty, consume resources and could become more damaging if they continue. If we offer him a way to make them disappear permanently, he will have to decide what matters more to him: three per cent of the company or the possibility of losing more."

I stayed quiet. He wasn’t just considering regaining Mercer; he was actively seeking ways to use Kelvin’s own problems as leverage.

"That’s..." I shook my head slightly. "I didn’t think about it that way."

"You were looking at the lawsuits as something being handled against him. I’m looking at them as an asset you can use."

I exhaled softly. "You’re very strategic."

His expression barely changed. "It’s necessary."

I looked down at my hands. "Well... then there’s a problem since my father is handling the lawsuits."

"Ask him to let you take charge of it," he said to me.

"Do you think he will agree?" I was now worried Dad wouldn’t let me deal with Kelvin directly. But Michael encouraged me. "You’re his daughter. Ask."

So, I reached for my phone. I wasn’t going to spend another day waiting when I could settle it immediately.

My father’s call connected after a few rings.

"Emerald?"

"Hi, Dad."

"Are you alright?"

"I’m fine. I wanted to ask you about the lawsuits against Kelvin."

There was a brief silence before he responded, "What about them?"

"I want to take charge of them."

Another pause followed before he spoke again. "You mean personally?"

"Yes. I want to be involved in everything concerning them from now on."

He didn’t immediately question my decision. He just said, "If that’s what you want, I will tell the lawyers to work directly with you."

"Thank you, Dad."

"Emerald," he called my name again.

"Yes?"

"Be careful."

I smiled faintly. "I will."

"And if you need anything, come to me. Don’t try to handle everything alone simply because you think you can."

"I won’t, Dad," I assured him.

We ended the call a moment later. I placed my phone on the desk and released a quiet breath. That was one less obstacle to worry about.

"Done," I said to Michael. He nodded. "Good."

I felt more relaxed than I had a few minutes earlier. With the lawsuits now within my reach, I could finally begin putting the pieces together properly.

Michael glanced down at the file again. "There is one more thing I want to know," he said. "If you eventually get Mercer back, what are you going to do with Kelvin?"

The answer came without hesitation. "Out of my sight."

Michael’s eyes remained on mine. I didn’t need to explain.

I had already spent too much time dealing with Kelvin Mercer. I didn’t want him anywhere near my company, my life or my future.

"That’s all?" he asked.

"That’s all," I confirmed.

A faint expression crossed his face, but I couldn’t quite tell what it meant. Before either of us could say anything else, there was a knock on the door.

Xero stepped into the study. "Sir."

Michael glanced at him. "What is it?"

Xero explained. "There’s a document from the Los Angeles office that requires your attention."

Michael nodded and asked him to leave the document here. Xero placed it on the edge of the desk before quietly leaving.

I glanced at it, noticing he truly had work to do. I then looked back at him and said, "I’ve already taken up enough of your time this morning."

"You haven’t."

"But you have work."

"I do," he said, opening the file one last time and looking over the information we had discussed.

"Get the holding company process started. Continue looking into Richard Hale, especially the reason behind those two votes against Kelvin. And now that your father has agreed, get the full details of the lawsuits from the family lawyers."

I nodded. "I will."

"Once you have something useful, we will review it."

"Thank you very much for spending your time with me," I said, standing up and gathering my phone and handbag.

"It was nothing." He smiled.

As I walked towards the door, I glanced back at him. There was something strangely satisfying about the morning.

I had come here carrying a file filled with information, unsure of what Michael would make of it. Now I was leaving with an actual strategy.