Chapter 4: Business Proposal

The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of my apartment, casting long shadows across the hardwood floor.

I sat at my kitchen island, my laptop open in front of me, the cursor blinking ominously on the email that had just arrived. The subject line read, "Business Proposal: Max Thorne."

My stomach twisted. After last night's unsettling encounter and the mysterious texts, the last thing I wanted was another surprise from Max. I took a deep breath, steadying myself before clicking the email open.

From: Max Thorne

To: Seraphina Devereaux

Subject: Business Proposal: Max Thorne

Dear Seraphina,

I trust this message finds you well. Following our conversation, I believe there is significant potential for collaboration between Seraphina Luxe and Thorne Industries.

I am keen to explore synergies that could be mutually beneficial, particularly in expanding your brand into new markets and leveraging Thorne Industries’ global distribution network.

Attached is a preliminary proposal for your consideration. I would be delighted to discuss this further over lunch at a time of your convenience.

Looking forward to your thoughts.

Best,

Max Thorne

I hesitated for a moment, then clicked on the attachment. As I scrolled through the pages, my initial unease gave way to outright disbelief. This wasn’t just a proposal for collaboration—it was a takeover attempt disguised as a partnership.

Max's proposal outlined plans for Thorne Industries to take a controlling stake in Seraphina Luxe in exchange for an infusion of capital and access to their global network. While it would provide the resources to expand quickly, it would mean surrendering control over my company, my vision.

I slammed my laptop shut, the sharp sound echoing through my quiet apartment. "Unbelievable," I muttered under my breath. Who did Max think he was, swooping in like this? I had built Seraphina Luxe from the ground up, with my own blood, sweat, and tears. There was no way I was going to let him take it from me.

Before I could spiral any further, my phone buzzed on the counter. I glanced at the screen and saw it was from Hugo Laurent, my mentor and former professor at Parsons. Hugo was one of the few people I trusted implicitly in this cutthroat industry. His text was short but clear:

Hugo: Can we talk? It's important. Call me ASAP.

A sense of foreboding settled in my gut as I quickly dialed his number. Hugo answered on the second ring.

"Sera, good to hear from you," he said, his voice warm but tinged with urgency.

"Hey, Hugo. I just got your message. What’s going on?"

There was a pause on the other end, and I could hear him take a deep breath. "I heard some troubling things about Max Thorne. I thought you should know."

My heart sank. "What do you mean?"

"I have a contact at Thorne Industries," Hugo began, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "They mentioned that Max has been keeping a close eye on you and your company. More than just a casual interest, Sera. He’s been asking questions about your business practices, your suppliers, even your personal life."

A chill ran down my spine. "Why? What does he want with me?"

Hugo hesitated. "It’s hard to say for sure, but knowing Max, it’s likely he sees an opportunity. He’s known for his aggressive tactics and for taking over businesses when the owners least expect it. He could be planning to do the same with Seraphina Luxe."

I felt my grip tighten around the phone. "He sent me a proposal this morning. It’s framed as a partnership, but it’s really a takeover attempt."

"Exactly what I feared," Hugo muttered. "Listen to me, Sera. You need to be very careful with Max Thorne. He doesn’t play fair, and he doesn’t take no for an answer. Whatever you do, don’t let him get his hooks into your company."

I nodded, even though Hugo couldn’t see me. "Thanks for the warning, Hugo. I’ll keep my guard up."

"Good," he said, his tone softening. "You’re a smart woman, Sera. Just remember what you’ve built and don’t let anyone take it away from you."

"Thanks, Hugo. I won’t. I promise."

After we hung up, I sat there for a moment, letting his words sink in. Max Thorne wasn’t just interested in a casual business deal—he was coming for my company, and he was willing to use any means necessary to get what he wanted.

I stood up, pacing the length of my kitchen, my mind racing. I needed to figure out my next move, and I needed to do it fast. There was no way I was going to let Max take over Seraphina Luxe without a fight. But how could I outmaneuver someone as powerful and ruthless as him?

As I pondered my options, my phone buzzed again. This time, it was an email notification. With a sinking feeling, I opened my inbox and saw another message from Max.

From: Max Thorne

To: Seraphina Devereaux

Subject: Re: Business Proposal

Sera,

I understand that the proposal might seem a bit forward, but I assure you, my intentions are purely professional. I see great potential in your brand, and I believe that together, we could achieve incredible things. I would hate for us to miss out on an opportunity because of a misunderstanding.

I am more than willing to discuss any concerns you have and adjust the terms to better suit your needs. Let's meet and talk this through, shall we?

Best,

Max Thorne

I clenched my jaw, my frustration mounting. He was trying to smooth things over, to make it seem like he was being reasonable and accommodating. But I knew better. This was just another tactic, another play in his game.

My thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Startled, I made my way to the front door, peering through the peephole. To my surprise, I saw Lila standing there, a concerned look on her face.

I quickly opened the door. "Lila, what are you doing here?"

"I came to check on you," she said, stepping inside. "I ran into Adriana earlier, and she mentioned you seemed really shaken up after the gala last night. Are you okay?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Honestly, I’m not sure. Things are getting really complicated."

She frowned, folding her arms. "What happened? Did Max say something to you?"

"More like he’s trying to take over my company," I replied, handing her my laptop and showing her the email from Max. "He sent me this proposal this morning, and Hugo just called to warn me that Max is up to something."

Lila’s eyes widened as she skimmed the email. "Wow. This is… a lot. What are you going to do?"

"I don’t know," I admitted. "I can’t let him take over Seraphina Luxe, but I also can’t afford to go to war with Thorne Industries. He’s too powerful. And if Hugo’s right, he’s been digging into my past, my father… It’s all so confusing."

Lila reached out, squeezing my hand. "You’re not alone in this, Sera. We’ll figure it out together. You have people who care about you and who will stand by you no matter what."

I nodded, grateful for her support. "Thanks, Lila. I really appreciate it."

Just then, my phone buzzed again, interrupting our conversation. I glanced at the screen and saw another text from Hugo.

Hugo: Sera, one more thing. I just heard that Max might have something on you—something related to your father’s business dealings. Be careful. He’ll use whatever he can to get what he wants.

My heart skipped a beat, and I felt a cold knot form in my stomach. What could Max possibly have on my father? And how could he use it against me?

I looked at Lila, my voice barely above a whisper. "This is bigger than I thought. I need to find out what Max knows about my father. I need answers."

Lila nodded, her expression serious. "Then that’s what we’ll do. But we have to be smart about it. We can’t let him catch us off guard."

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what lay ahead. "You’re right. We need to be prepared. Whatever Max is planning, we’re going to make sure he doesn’t get away with it."

As we began to strategize our next move, my mind raced with questions. What did Max know about my father? What secrets was he hiding? And how far was he willing to go to get what he wanted?

One thing was certain: I was about to dive into a world of deceit and betrayal, and I had no idea who I could trust.

And as much as I wanted to believe that I could handle whatever Max threw at me, a small voice in the back of my mind whispered that I was in way over my head.

I just hoped that when the dust settled, I would still have something left to fight for.