Chapter 11 - THE BUYOUT
Four days earlier, an LLC had offered me twenty-two million dollars for my Mercer Urban shares and two hotel interests. I declined.
Now I knew the offer was connected to Vanessa.
Martin asked Kyle for the investor’s name.
“I don’t know his real name.”
“Then what do you know?”
“He met Vanessa twice. Older guy. New York. She called him Mr. Raines.”
Aaron swore under his breath.
Daniel looked at him. “You know the name?”
Aaron nodded. “Victor Raines. Private equity. He’s been trying to buy distressed downtown assets for two years.”
I knew the type: wait until owners were desperate, offer cash, then take control.
Daniel paced the archive room. “Why would Vanessa be talking to him?”
Kyle said, “She told me he could solve your debt problem.”
“By buying my mother out?”
“And by refinancing the company.”
Aaron’s face hardened. “At what price?”
Kyle looked away.
Martin found the answer inside one of the scanned folders.
A term sheet had been printed and tucked beneath the appraisal.
Raines Capital would inject six million dollars for forty-nine percent of Mercer Urban, first claim on two properties, and forced-sale rights if debt targets were missed. It was a trap.
Daniel read the final page.
Then he saw the signature line.
His name was already typed beneath it.
Vanessa’s name appeared as “authorized family representative.”
He looked at me, stunned. “I never authorized that.”
“I believe you.”
That mattered. I watched his shoulders drop a fraction.
For all my anger, I needed him to hear that.
Security escorted Kyle downstairs to wait for police.
Daniel stood alone by the windows of his office.
“My wife tried to sell pieces of my company.”
“Not yet,” Martin said. “But she was preparing leverage.”
Daniel’s phone rang.
Vanessa.
He stared at the screen.
Then answered on speaker.
Her voice came fast.
“Daniel, don’t sign anything your mother gives you.”
He said nothing.
May you like
Vanessa continued.
“Victor is on his way.”
