Chapter 80: First Buy

Emerald’s POV

We finished the last of our dessert without rushing.

I placed my fork down and leaned back slightly, feeling completely satisfied.

Lunch had turned out so much more enjoyable than I had expected, and for once, I hadn’t spent the entire time thinking about work.

Michael picked up his glass and took a small sip before looking at me. "You’re ready to start acquiring shares now."

I straightened slightly. "Already?"

"You have the structure in place. There is no reason to keep waiting."

I nodded.

He continued, "But don’t rush into buying a large block. Understand what’s happening around Mercer first. Find out how much stock is actually available and how much you can acquire without attracting unnecessary attention."

"That makes sense."

"It does. You’re trying to build a position, not announce your intentions to the entire company."

I smiled. "I understand."

He held my gaze for a second longer before asking, "Have you bought company shares before?"

"Yes."

"Personally?"

"Yes."

He nodded. "Then you know the basics. You need to buy some now through the holding company."

I glanced at my purse. Then I remembered what I didn’t have with me. "My laptop."

Michael raised an eyebrow.

"I didn’t bring it," I said.

"Where is it?"

"At my dorm." I hesitated for a moment before saying, "My dorm isn’t far from here. I can go and get it."

He looked at his watch. "How much time do you need?"

"Not long." Then I asked, "How much more time can you spare for me?"

"I have twenty minutes."

I smiled. "Then I will be back before your twenty minutes are over."

He gave me an amused look. "That’s a confident promise."

"Well, I know my dorm," I said. "And if you don’t mind waiting at the car park, you can come with me."

He laughed quietly. I settled the bill, and we left the restaurant together.

Outside, we walked toward our cars. I unlocked mine and looked across the parking lot as Michael got into his vehicle.

"I will see you there," I told him.

He nodded. "Drive carefully."

I smiled before getting into my Jeep. The drive back to my dorm took only a few minutes. Well, mainly because there was no traffic.

Shortly after I arrived, Michael pulled up next to me. I grabbed my purse and the document and hurried inside.

I didn’t bother changing or doing anything else. I simply went straight to my room, picked up my laptop, and returned to the car park.

Michael was standing beside his car when I approached. "Do it from your car. I will guide you through it," he said.

I nodded. I got into my driver’s seat, placed the laptop on the console, and opened it. Michael walked over and stood beside my driver’s window.

"Open the account for the holding company."

I did. He watched the screen without taking control of anything. "This is your first purchase through the company, so check everything twice before you confirm it."

"I know."

"I know you do. I’m reminding you because mistakes become expensive when money is involved."

I glanced at him. "Noted."

I entered the information and pulled up Mercer Technologies. Seeing the company on the screen felt different this time.

I had spent months dealing with Mercer from the outside. I had fought for what belonged to me, dealt with lawyers, confronted Kelvin through legal channels, and eventually secured three per cent of the company in my own name.

Now I was looking at it from another position. I was about to become a shareholder through my own holding company.

Michael noticed that I had stopped. "What?"

I quickly recovered. "Nothing." I looked back at the screen. "It’s just strange."

"What is?"

"Buying shares in a company I have spent so much time fighting over."

He smiled faintly. "Get used to it."

I returned my attention to the screen.

The amount I was purchasing was deliberately modest. There was no reason to make a large move immediately, especially when I had no intention of drawing Kelvin’s attention to what I was doing.

I reviewed the order. Michael looked over it with me. "That’s enough for now."

I clicked the confirmation button, and the transaction was processed. I waited, and then the confirmation appeared on the screen.

Completed.

I stared at it for a few seconds. It wasn’t a huge percentage, and it didn’t suddenly give me control of Mercer Technologies. But it was mine.

I had just acquired my first shares in the company through the holding company Michael had advised me to establish.

I turned to Michael. "So that’s it?"

"That’s it," he confirmed.

I smiled. Then something occurred to me. I had never thought about it this way before. I now owned Mercer Technologies shares in two different capacities.

The three per cent Kelvin had transferred to me belonged to me personally. These additional shares belonged to my holding company.

Two separate positions. Two different routes into the same company. Neither was large enough to make Kelvin feel threatened yet.

That was exactly how I wanted it.

Michael glanced at the screen again. "From here, don’t become impatient. You can gradually increase your position when the opportunity is right. Watch the market, watch the company’s movements, and pay attention to when shares become available."

I nodded. "And I shouldn’t buy every time I see an opportunity."

"Exactly. Sometimes doing nothing is the better move."

I smiled. "That sounds simple."

"It is simple. Discipline is what makes it difficult."

I slowly nodded. "That sounds like something you say often."

"Because people ignore it often."

I laughed.

He continued, "Build slowly. You don’t need to own a significant percentage tomorrow. If you keep accumulating intelligently, your position will eventually become meaningful."

"I understand."

"Good."

I closed the laptop, feeling happier than back at the restaurant. Maybe it was because I had just completed another step toward something that had once seemed impossible.

Or maybe it was because I had done it with Michael beside me.

I wasn’t sure. Either way, I looked at him and smiled. "Thank you."

"You’re welcome." He stepped away from my car. "I will leave you to it."

I nodded. "Have a safe drive."

"Mmm." He hummed, got into his car, started the engine, and pulled away.