Chapter 59: How to Play the Game

Michael’s POV

"We’re still going through the information, Alpha. We don’t have enough to determine exactly what they were looking for yet," Xero answered.

I leaned back slightly in my chair. "Then find out."

"Yes, Alpha," he nodded.

Just then I recalled something very important and immediately drew his attention to it. "There is something else."

He straightened. "Yes, Alpha?"

"I want you to look into Miss Hugo as well."

Xero’s expression remained respectful, but I noticed the slight hesitation before he answered. "Emerald Hugo?"

"Yes." I lifted my fork. "Check her medical records."

"Only that?" He inquired.

"Yes." I nodded. "We have already had her background investigated. I want you to dig deeper this time. Find out if there is anything unusual in her medical history, anything substantial that might explain why those shapeshifters were interested in her."

Xero nodded. "Understood."

"Keep it discreet. I don’t want Emerald to know."

"Of course, Alpha."

Draxen had made it clear that he knew something about Emerald, yet he had refused to tell me.

I would have to find it myself. And her medical records were the next place I intended to look.

I took another bite of my dinner and glanced at the clock. It was getting late. Then I remembered. I wouldn’t be teaching on Monday.

I had already told my students that they would have my class the following Monday instead, which meant Emerald would return to Boston without seeing me at Larnard.

If I waited until my next class to speak with her about Mercer Technologies, I would lose another week. That wasn’t necessary, so I reached for my phone the next moment. I opened Emerald’s conversation and typed a message.

When are you returning to Boston?

I sent it. Her response came shortly afterwards.

Tomorrow evening.

I looked at the message for a moment. Tomorrow was Sunday. I considered it briefly before typing again.

If you don’t mind, you can join me on my jet. We can discuss the way forward with Mercer Technologies during the flight.

I sent the message and placed the phone beside my plate. I finished my dinner before taking the phone with me upstairs.

Once I entered my bedroom, I sat on the edge of the bed and checked the screen. She had read my message, but there was no reply.

I stared at the screen for a few seconds before locking it. What was she thinking?

Perhaps she found the offer too sudden, or perhaps she was wondering whether it was appropriate for a professor to invite one of his students to travel with him privately.

That would be understandable.

Five minutes passed, and I checked the phone again. A message was waiting.

Professor King, thank you for the offer. I really appreciate it, but I’ve already booked my flight back to Boston, so I don’t think I can waste the ticket. Thank you again.

I read the message twice, then a faint smile touched my lips. Of course.

I didn’t know whether the ticket was genuinely the reason or whether she simply preferred not to travel alone with me. Either way, I wasn’t going to pressure her.

I typed my response.

That’s fine. Have a safe flight back. Good night, Miss Hugo.

I placed the phone on the nightstand and leaned back against the bed. Draxen’s voice came almost immediately.

"She declined."

I ignored him.

"She will still come back to Boston."

I closed my eyes. "I know."

"You wanted her to travel with us."

I opened my eyes. "And she said no."

Draxen went quiet. I almost smiled. At least he knew when to stop.

I turned off the bedside lamp and settled down for the night.

---

The following morning, I had barely stepped out of the shower when I heard my phone ringing.

I had a towel wrapped around my waist as I walked into the bedroom. The ringing continued. I picked up the phone, but then I stopped.

Emerald Hugo.

I stared at her name for a moment. She was calling me this early, was there a problem?

I swiped my finger across the screen and answered, "Hello?"

"Professor King?" Her voice sounded slightly hesitant.

"Yes."

"Good morning," she greeted.

I responded, "Good morning."

She released a small breath. "I’m sorry for calling so early. I hope I didn’t disturb you."

"You didn’t. Go ahead."

There was silence on the other end, prompting me to wait. But then, when she didn’t speak up again, I frowned.

"Emerald?"

"I..." She paused again. "I wanted to ask you something."

"Ask."

She took another breath before finally saying, "Does your offer from last night still stand?"

It took me a moment, but I couldn’t help laughing quietly. It seemed she had changed her mind.

"Yes. It still stands."

She released a breath that sounded almost relieved. "Okay. Thank you."

"You’re welcome."

She hesitated again before asking, "What time should I meet you, and where?"

I walked towards the wardrobe. "Be at the private terminal by nine in the morning. I will send you the exact location."

"Okay. I will be there," she said. "Thank you, Professor."

"You’re welcome."

"I will see you then," she whispered.

"See you, Emerald."

The call ended. I lowered the phone and stared at the screen.

I still didn’t know what had changed her mind overnight. But whatever it was, she had agreed to come.

Draxen was silent for several seconds before finally speaking. "She chose to come to us."

I shook my head. "You sound pleased."

"Of course, I am."

I rolled my eyes and walked towards the wardrobe. At least one of us was satisfied.

═════ ❖ 🐺 ❖ ═════

I was waiting at the private terminal when Emerald arrived.

Her car stopped near the aircraft, and she stepped out carrying a small suitcase. She looked around briefly before spotting me.

There was a slight hesitation in her steps, but it disappeared almost immediately.

I understood it. This was different from our usual meetings at Larnard, even different from the afternoon we had spent talking at the café.

There, we had been two people having a conversation. Here, she was about to board my private jet and spend the flight discussing how she intended to reclaim a company from the man who had taken control of it.

"Good morning, Professor King."

"Good morning."

I took her suitcase and handed it to a crew member before leading her towards the aircraft. Once we were seated and the jet was in the air, I asked whether she had eaten.

"I left early because I didn’t want to risk being late," she replied.

"Then eat something."

A meal had already been prepared, so it was served a few minutes later. I waited until she was comfortable before explaining why I had asked her to travel with me.

"I won’t be at Larnard this week, so I didn’t want to wait until our next class before we continued this discussion. By then, another week would have passed, and you need to start working on Mercer now."

She nodded. "I understand."

"You have the additional time from your grandfather. That’s important, but having time doesn’t mean much if you don’t know how to use it."

She put her fork down and gave me her attention.

"The first thing you need to understand is that you cannot simply return to Mercer Technologies and demand the company because you helped build it. Kelvin controls the company because he has people, money and influence behind him," I said to her. |If you want to take it back, you have to understand the same structure."

She stayed quiet as I continued.

"I want you to find out who currently holds the largest blocks of shares, who sits on the board, which directors are loyal to Kelvin and which ones are independent. I also want to know who controls the company’s finances and which senior executives still have any loyalty towards you."

She nodded slowly.

"Then find out which shareholders are dissatisfied with Kelvin’s management. More importantly, find out what happened to the executives and employees who worked closely with you before you left. Some may have been dismissed, some may have resigned, and others may still be there. I want to know where they stand."

Emerald took out her phone and began making notes.

I watched her for a moment before adding, "Don’t rely on what you remember from before. A month is long enough for people to change positions, alliances and opinions."

"I will verify everything."

"Good." I leaned back in my seat. "Once you have the information, divide everyone into four groups: loyal to Kelvin, neutral, potentially sympathetic to you, and unknown."

She looked at her notes before saying, "That will give us a clearer picture of where the actual power sits."

"Exactly." I gestured with my hand. Then she looked out of the window and said, "I think I’ve been looking at Mercer as my company instead of looking at it as a company that I have to regain control of."

I nodded. "That’s the distinction I wanted you to understand."

She turned back towards me. "And what happens after I finish the list?"

"Bring it to me, then we will decide where to apply pressure first."

I watched the change in her expression. She wasn’t discouraged. If anything, she looked more focused than when we had started the conversation.

"Before you make a single move against Kelvin," I told her, "I want you to know the people standing between you and Mercer. Once you understand them, we can determine which ones can be moved, which ones can be persuaded and which ones will have to be dealt with another way."

Emerald nodded. "I will get the information as soon as I can."

I looked back towards the window.

This was what she needed. Not someone to simply tell her that she could win, but someone willing to show her how the game was actually played.

And now that she had the time her grandfather had granted her, there was no reason to waste another day.