Finn cleared his throat, pushing past the lump in his own chest. "I understand, Dad. I do. But... why give Jake Rivers ten percent? Even with everything happening with Sam, why give up that much power without a war?"
Richard took a deep breath, pulling himself back together. The vulnerability in his face slowly receded, replaced once more by the cold, steel mask of a seasoned patriarch.
"You think I yielded those shares out of fear of a twenty-three-year-old upstart?" Richard asked softly.
Finn blinked. "Didn't you? Meridian had our steel supply locked down—"
"Meridian was a temporary leverage play," Richard cut in cleanly. "An annoyance. I gave up that ten percent because while everyone in that boardroom was staring at Jake Rivers, they failed to see the true predator waiting in the shadows."
Finn straightened up, his brow furrowing. "What predator?"
"The Sheele Group," Richard revealed, his tone dropping into a harsh, dangerous whisper.
