Chapter 8: The Pursuit Begins
Andreas was a man of action. The information he had on Snow only solidified his resolve. He wasn't just intrigued; he was fascinated, and a sense of injustice burned within him. How could someone so brilliant, so clearly ethical, have been so cruelly wronged?
He spent the morning in intense meetings, but his mind kept drifting back to Snow. He found himself drawn to her story, the resilience she embodied. He recognized a kindred spirit in her dedication to her work and her quiet strength.
"Grumpy," Andreas said, striding back into his office after a particularly frustrating meeting about a potential hostile takeover of a smaller rival. "Get me a meeting with Bianca White. I want to discuss a potential collaboration with EdenTech."
Grumpy's usually impassive face showed a flicker of surprise. "A collaboration, sir? Charm Global does not typically engage in… organic beauty tech."
"We do now," Andreas stated, his voice brooking no argument. He knew approaching her directly for a personal meeting would be futile. A business proposition, however, was something she couldn't easily dismiss, especially if he framed it as a mutually beneficial venture. He would approach it with the utmost professionalism, respecting her boundaries. But he would get her to talk to him. He needed to understand. And, he admitted to himself, he wanted to see that spark in her eyes again, the one that ignited when she spoke of EdenTech.
He also found himself recalling moments from their dinner – the way she blushed when embarrassed, the melodic sound of her laugh, the earnestness in her gaze. He hadn't felt this alive, this curious, in years. It was a dangerous feeling for a man who had meticulously constructed his life around control and predictability.
Later that afternoon, a sleek, unmarked car pulled up to the red-brick building of EdenTech. A tall, impeccably dressed man, not Mr. Grumpy, emerged, carrying a large, ornate bouquet of white roses – a subtle nod to her name. He presented Snow's assistant with a formal, engraved invitation: a request for a meeting between Charm Global and EdenTech, signed personally by Andreas Charm.
Snow stared at the card, a familiar dread coiling in her stomach. He wasn't giving up. But a collaboration with Charm Global? The thought was terrifying, yet exhilarating. The resources, the reach… it could catapult EdenTech into the stratosphere. But at what cost?