Evangeline followed him over to a nearby table, taking a seat beside him.
Finn lifted his glass, savoring a sip of his drink. With a satisfied hum, he grinned. “Drinks just taste sweeter when there’s a beautiful woman sitting across from me.” Evangeline just stared at him in silence.
“Let’s get to the point,” she said, cutting through his flirtation. “You said there were three reasons. What are they?”
Finn’s demeanor shifted; the playfulness faded, replaced by seriousness. “First, he began, “as someone from Serenity City, you should know the lay of the land here. The reason you haven’t secured any investment tonight is because of Fawkes Enterprises. With their influence, if UME refuses to cooperate with them, it’ll be nearly impossible to get backing from anyone else.”
Evangeline shook her head, unconvinced. “If Serenity City doesn’t work out, I can always go to other cities. Or even look for funding overseas.”
Finn caught the determined look in her eyes and smiled, almost admiringly. “Fine, let’s say you do find someone outside Serenity City willing to invest. What happens if, halfway through, they realize who they’re up against? What if they pull out because they’re afraid of Fawkes Enterprises flexing their muscles?”
He leaned in slightly. “Once UME’s research starts, it’s not something you can just stop without consequences. At that point, any losses would be far worse than what you’re facing now.”
Evangeline fell silent at that. She’d thought about this too.
That was the terrifying thing about power–it didn’t need to be wielded to be felt.
Soren might not be the type to hold grudges or act petty, but the Fawkes name alone was enough to make others wary. Just like before, when Soren’s friends targeted her merely for his sake, other companies might withdraw their support for UME simply to stay on Soren’s good side.
It didn’t matter that she’d done nothing wrong, or that UME was well–run and aboveboard. Opposing the Fawkes family automatically put them in the wrong, at least in the eyes of potential investors.
The only way to ensure stable investment would be to find partners unafraid of the Fawkes family–or bold enough to stand against them.
1/3
11:39
Chapter 92
Almost as if he could read her mind, Finn offered a reassuring smile. “I’m a Lockridge. The Lockridge family has never exactly been on friendly terms with the Fawkes. I’m not afraid of any retaliation from Fawkes Enterprises, and you don’t have to worry about me pulling out halfway if they try to pressure me.”
“If you’re a Lockridge, do you actually have a say in their investments?” Evangeline asked, meeting his gaze.
She had considered the Lockridges as potential supporters for UME when she decided to attend tonight’s gala, but she’d never seen Finn before, nor heard his name mentioned within the family.
Finn just smiled. “Of course. You don’t need to worry about that. I’m actually pretty well–liked in the family.”
He shrugged lightly, still grinning. “I’ve just been studying abroad these past few years, so it’s no surprise you haven’t heard of me.”
“That brings me to my second point,” he continued. “Most investors don’t really understand what UME is trying to do. At best, they can provide money, but they won’t offer any real expertise.”
“But I’ve actually studied a lot of UME’s research. And while I was overseas, my field was advanced robotics.”
He slid his phone across the table, the screen displaying his academic record.
Evangeline glanced at it. Sure enough, he had a stellar record in robotics–and all his grades were top marks.
She looked up at him, genuinely surprised. She never would have guessed Finn had any interest in such rigorous, technical work. And, as it happened, the area he specialized in was one she wasn’t particularly strong in.
She felt herself wavering.
After a moment, she asked, “And the third reason?”
Finn’s eyes sparkled with mischief as he grinned at her. “Third, look at us–a smart, talented woman and a charming, good–looking guy, hitting it off like this. Not working together would be nothing short of a crime against nature.”
Evangeline was speechless.
He leaned back, his tone turning gentle. “Besides, as Soren’s wife, taking the lead in opposing him is risky. If he finds out, things could get dangerous for you. But if you work with me, I can use the Lockridge name to keep you safe.”
273
Chapter 92
Evangeline fell silent again.
So he knew about her identity, too.
Chapter 93
Chapter 93
