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Chapter 850:
“You dropped your auction strategy files at the pier last night during the chaos,” he said. His voice was a rich, magnetic baritone, carrying the effortless authority of a man accustomed to owning every room he entered. “I had my team recover them from the wreckage p>
June glanced at the folder. She didn’t reach for it. She kept her hands folded in her lap.
“Thank you,” she said, her tone clipped and professional. “You can leave them there. As you can see, I’m in the middle of a workday p>
Crawford didn’t move toward the door. He stepped closer to the desk instead, placed both hands flat on the glass edge, and leaned forward — deliberately occupying her space.
His dark, calculating eyes locked onto hers.
“I read the files, June,” he said. “The capital you’ve assembled is impressive for a scientist. But it’s pocket change on Wall Street. You don’t have the liquidity to survive a bidding war at Sotheby’s against the hedge funds p>
He tilted his head, a predatory smile touching the corner of his mouth. “Let Love Media Holdings underwrite your bid. We act as joint partners — I provide a blank check, you walk out of Sotheby’s with your patents secured and zero stress.” He paused, letting the weight of it settle. “I don’t want operational control. Just one seat on the board. It’s practically charity p>
June leaned back in her chair, putting distance between them. She crossed her arms and let her eyes strip away the polished surface of his offer.
“Charity,” she repeated, the word dripping with something colder than sarcasm.
She stood. The action leveled the field between them.
I𝘯te𝗻s𝖾 rо𝗆a𝗻𝗰𝘦 𝘰𝗇.с𝗼m
She picked up the folder from the desk, stepped around the table, and pressed it firmly against Crawford’s chest.
“I am not going to mortgage my company and my future to any man who thinks access to capital entitles him to a leash,” June said, each word landing with precision. “Don’t mistake generosity for leverage. They are not the same thing p>
Crawford caught the folder against his chest. He looked down at her — her eyes blazing, her defiance radiating off her like heat — and felt something move through him that had nothing to do with anger.
He was utterly captivated.
A low laugh escaped him. He raised both hands in a gesture of mock surrender and took a half-step back, giving her room.
“Your pride is magnificent, June,” Crawford murmured, his eyes darkening. “I look forward to watching you slay the dragons at Sotheby’s on your own p>
He held her gaze for one last, unhurried moment — a look that made clear this was nowhere near finished — then turned and strode out, the door swinging shut behind him.
June watched the glass go still. The moment he was gone, her shoulders dropped. She pressed two fingers to the bridge of her nose and let the exhaustion move through her. The pressure was crushing from every direction.
Down on the street, Crawford exited the Apex Bio building and walked straight to the waiting Rolls-Royce Phantom. The moment he slid into the back seat, the charm left his face entirely. His expression settled into something colder and more precise.