Chapter 279

The first small shareholder was Zack Farley, who ran a seafood business.

When John brought Bianca to their company, Zack greeted them warmly.

John's eyes scanned the cramped office with barely concealed disdain. Compared to his own office, which took up nearly an entire floor, this place felt like a closet.

John didn't want to linger. He lifted his chin arrogantly and said, "I don't have time to waste here. Just tell me how much Jasper borrowed from you, and I'll pay you three times that amount."

Zack's eyes practically turned into dollar signs. His greed almost got the better of him, and he nearly nodded in agreement. But he quickly masked his eagerness with a look of reluctance.

"Mr. Williams, you have to understand," Zack began, putting on a troubled expression. "Isabella, backed by Mason, also wants these shares. If I agree to your terms, I'd be crossing Mason. You're putting me in a tough spot here." He pretended to be conflicted.

John sneered. He knew exactly what Zack was up to, trying to turn this into an auction. It was almost laughable how these guys thought they could make a quick buck off him.

John slouched into the chair, kicking his feet up on Zack's desk. Leaning back, he said nonchalantly, "You know I'm the heir to my family's fortune, right? That stuff my grandpa said in the news about cutting me off? Total joke. He doesn't have a choice. The fortune is mine, regardless. So, what makes you think you're in a position to negotiate?"

John's icy stare made Zack shiver a bit.

But Zack clenched his jaw and shook his head. "John, if you were in charge, I wouldn't dare cross you. But you're not. Mason's still running things, and even if he kicks the bucket, your dad's next in line."

Zack's unspoken message was clear: 'Don't try to intimidate me with your future power. By the time you get control, my company might be bankrupt, or I could be sipping cocktails on a beach somewhere.'

John's frustration was palpable as he yanked his feet off the desk and stood up, jabbing a finger at Zack. "Fine, just you wait!"

As John turned to leave, the phone on Zack's desk rang. Zack picked it up, and his eyes widened as he listened.

"Isabella? No way, is that really you? What? You're asking about John? Yeah, he's still here. Oh, and get this-he wants to buy my shares at three times the market price. Tempting, huh?" Zack chuckled into the phone.

John had just reached the door when he suddenly stopped. He spun around, marched back to the desk, and yanked the phone out of Zack's hand.

"Isabella, are you seriously planning to ask my grandfather for money to buy those shares?" John said icily into the phone.

Isabella hadn't expected John to be there. She thought Zack mentioning John's offer was a ploy to get her to bid higher.

But with John right there, Isabella saw no reason to hold back.

"It's none of your concern where I get my funds. Even if I did borrow from Mason, I'm confident I can pay him back with my future earnings," Isabella said calmly.

John sneered, "How about this: I'll just buy all the shares for you, then give you a chunk so you can be the second-largest shareholder. You won't have to compete with Bianca anymore. How does that sound? Those shares would give you more money than you could ever spend."

Isabella replied coolly, "Thanks, but I'd rather borrow from Mason than take your money. And while we're at it, since you're already so rich, why are you competing with me for those three companies? Your assets are more than enough for Bianca, aren't they?"

Bianca, standing next to John, heard Isabella's words and snapped, "Isabella, you don't know me at all."

"Oh, I know everything about you! You're a total business moron. No sense for business at all, but still dreaming of owning company shares!" Isabella snapped at Bianca, not holding back at all.

Bianca's face turned pale with rage, her fists clenched, and her body shook.

"You're just a loudmouth, a lowlife! I don't even want to waste my breath on you," Bianca shot back, furious, and reached to grab the phone from John's hand to hang up.

But John was quicker. He dodged her hand and, with a cold smile, said into the phone, "Isabella, let me tell you something. No matter what you offer, I'll outbid you by double!"

Zack, listening closely, felt a glimmer of hope. He secretly wished Isabella would name a sky-high price.

Isabella didn't let Zack down. She said over the phone, "Alright then, I'll offer one hundred billion dollars."

Zack was almost giddy with excitement, but he quickly realized Isabella was just messing with John.

John's face darkened. Even with all his wealth, there was no way he could spend one hundred billion dollars on shares of a failing company.

After not hearing John's voice on the other end of the phone, Isabella laughed and mocked, "What's the matter, Mr. Williams? Where's all that confidence? Didn't you say you'd outbid me no matter what? Why so quiet after hearing a hundred billion dollars? Scared? Or broke?"

With a derisive snort, John finally spoke, "I'm not playing these childish games with you. Those shares are mine, and nothing's gonna change that. You have my word! Let's see how much my grandpa can back you up!"

John hung up abruptly and pulled Bianca away. They didn't need to stick around any longer. He was sure Zack would take his offer.

After John left, Zack called Isabella again.

"Ms. Taylor, Mr. Williams offered three times the price for my shares. What's your counteroffer?" Zack asked greedily over the phone.

Isabella glanced at the documents Carol had given her and replied with a hint of disdain, "I need to check with Mason on this. Honestly, John's right. I don't have that kind of money. Give me some time; I'll see if I can borrow it."