Chapter 40 – The Chairman’s Offer

  The elevator ride to the executive floor passed in near silence.

  Lucien stood with his hands loosely clasped in front of him, eyes fixed on the glowing floor indicator above the doors. Dorian leaned against the back wall, arms folded, already cataloging everything that had happened since they stepped into the bank. Theo stood slightly apart, shoulders tense, still trying to process how a simple refinancing discussion had turned into a personal summons from the chairman himself.

  Polvin, on the other hand, looked like a man walking inside a dream he was terrified of waking up from.

  When the doors opened, the atmosphere changed immediately.

  The executive floor of Lunecrest Bank was quieter, more restrained. The carpet absorbed footsteps. The walls were lined with abstract art and polished wood panels. Everything was designed to signal authority without ever announcing it outright.

  They were guided down a short corridor and into a large office.

  Spacious and thoughtfully composed, the setting felt calm and intentional with each element carefully arranged, conveying a sense of luxury that is refined and understated, rich in quality rather than excess.

  Behind a broad desk stood a man who did not bother pretending to be surprised by their arrival.

  Sorin Thale.

  He was already waiting.

  He did not sit as they entered. Instead, he observed them openly, his sharp gaze moving from one face to the next. When his eyes reached Lucien, they lingered just a little longer than necessary, not enough to be rude, but enough to be deliberate.

  The assistant stepped forward first.

  “Chairman Thale,” she said smoothly, “these are Mr. Lucien Ashborne, Mr. Dorian Vale, and Mr. Theo Rendon. Mr. Polvin Sarett from loan processing is also present.”

  Sorin nodded once, then gestured toward the seating area opposite his desk.

  “Please,” he said. “Have a seat.”

  They complied.

  Only after everyone was seated did Sorin take his own chair. He folded his hands atop the desk and leaned back slightly, his posture relaxed but attentive.

  “So,” he began, his voice calm and even, “you are the ones responsible for causing a rather unusual chain of events in my bank this morning.”

  Lucien smiled politely. “That was not our intention.”

  Sorin allowed a faint smile to surface. “Intentions are rarely relevant. Outcomes usually are.”

  “…And apparently,” he added under his breath, more to himself than anyone else, “the one she’s a fan of.”

  The words were soft, almost lost in the space of the room.

  Lucien blinked. “I’m sorry, did you say something?”

  Sorin straightened immediately, his expression resetting to neutral professionalism.

  “No,” he said briskly. “Nothing important.”

  He placed his hands on the desk and continued smoothly, as if the slip had never happened and turned his attention fully to Lucien.

  “Let us start with the basics. Mr. Ashborne, tell me about this loan. What exactly are you refinancing?”

  Lucien explained carefully. He spoke about Rendon’s Press, the accumulated liabilities, the structure of the existing loans, and their plan to consolidate everything under a new corporate entity. He kept his answers precise, leaving the numbers to Dorian when necessary.

  Sorin listened without interrupting.

  “And your book?” Sorin asked next. “What is it about?”

  Lucien described the story in broad terms, focusing less on plot and more on themes and audience reception.

  Sorin nodded thoughtfully. “And your café. Why a café?”

  Lucien explained Café Ashborne, its scale, its limitations, and its role as both a livelihood and a meeting place rather than a high-growth venture.

  Sorin leaned back slightly.

  “Your family?” he asked next.

  Lucien hesitated for only a moment before answering.

  “And your parents?” Sorin continued.

  Lucien answered again, his tone respectful but increasingly cautious.

  By the time Sorin finished his line of questioning, the air in the room had shifted. Dorian noticed it first and Theo noticed it next.

  The questions had moved beyond what was necessary for any loan approval.

  They were not inappropriate, but they were personal. Too personal.

  Dorian’s gaze flicked briefly toward Lucien, then back to Sorin.

  This isn’t about numbers anymore, he realized. This isn’t about the loan at all.

  The pattern was obvious now. He’s not evaluating risk or projections. He was measuring the person sitting across from him, his temperament, background, judgment, intent.

  He’s testing character, not capital, Dorian thought.

  And from the way his attention keeps circling back to Lucien… the money is secondary.

  Sorin seemed to notice the subtle change in their expressions. He cleared his throat lightly.

  “Do not mind me,” he said. “I am simply curious.”

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  The looks on all three faces suggested that none of them found that explanation particularly convincing.

  Sorin turned slightly toward his assistant. She leaned in and spoke quietly, summarizing what had occurred downstairs and outlined the sequence of events efficiently. The initial hesitation. The risk assessment. Polvin’s sudden change in approach. His decision to move forward with the refinancing without escalation. The speed at which he had initiated approvals.

  Sorin listened carefully, his expression unreadable.

  When she finished, his eyes flicked briefly toward Polvin, who straightened instinctively as if pulled by invisible strings.

  Then Sorin returned his focus to Lucien.

  “From what I understand,” he said, “this refinancing of one hundred thousand crowns merely resets your position. It clears past obligations, but it does not solve your future constraints.”

  Lucien nodded. Dorian did as well.

  “You will still need capital,” Sorin continued, “to modernize equipment, scale printing capacity, and accelerate distribution. Especially if you intend to move beyond Marilon.”

  “Yes,” Dorian replied. “That is correct.”

  Sorin folded his hands.

  “In that case,” he said, “in addition to the refinancing Mr. Sarett is already processing, I am prepared to extend an additional loan.”

  The room fell silent.

  “This additional funding would come with a significantly reduced interest rate compared to standard commercial terms,” Sorin continued. “Repayment would be flexible and structured around your projected cash flows rather than rigid deadlines. There would be no immediate pressure from the bank.”

  Dorian’s instincts reacted quickly.

  “What is the condition?” he asked.

  Sorin raised an eyebrow. “Why do you assume there must be one?”

  “Because you would not personally meet us for an amount this small,” Dorian replied evenly. “And offers that appear easy rarely are.”

  Sorin chuckled softly. “Fair.”

  “There is a request,” he admitted. “One that is also beneficial to you.”

  Lucien glanced at Dorian. Dorian gave a slight nod.

  “We are listening,” Dorian said.

  “I would like your company to hire someone,” Sorin said. “You are expanding. You will need capable people. I am recommending one.”

  Theo frowned. “You are offering additional funding just for hiring someone?”

  “From your perspective,” Sorin replied, “you receive capital and a skilled employee. You lose nothing.”

  Dorian studied him. “Then why does this seem to irritate you?”

  Sorin’s smile slipped.

  “Because,” he said irritably, “you are taking her away from me.”

  Before he could elaborate further, a voice interrupted.

  “Dad.”

  Lunessa Thale stepped out from beside the wall where she had been listening quietly.

  “Can you stop sulking?” she added.

  Sorin fell silent immediately.

  He cleared his throat. “This is my daughter. Lunessa Thale.”

  Lunessa stepped forward, posture composed but eyes alert, already bracing herself.

  Sorin continued, pride slipping into his voice despite his attempt to sound neutral. “She will be joining your company as an intern.”

  “And please do not start,” Lunessa said quickly, shooting him a warning look. “I already know everything you’re about to say, and I don’t need the full résumé recited again.”

  Sorin paused, clearly caught.

  “…I was only going to mention a few things,” he muttered.

  She folded her arms lightly. “You always say that. Then you don’t stop.”

  A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, but he wisely closed it, conceding without argument.

  She stepped forward. “Hello. I am Lunessa.”

  Her eyes landed on Lucien.

  “Mr. Lucien—”

  “You can call me Lucien,” he said quickly. “We are not that far apart in age.”

  Her expression brightened instantly.

  “Lucien,” she said. “I am a huge fan of your book. I have reread it several times already. When is the next part coming out? And what about—”

  The questions came fast, tumbling over one another, barely pausing for breath.

  Lucien hesitated, clearly caught off guard, his expression blanking for a moment as he searched for a response.

  Dorian looked from the woman to Lucien, surprise briefly crossing his face before he smoothed it away.

  Theo simply stood there, staring at the scene in front of him.

  Lunessa stopped abruptly when she noticed the silence.

  “Sorry,” she said quickly. “I got carried away.”

  She smiled sheepishly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

  “I was actually planning to visit your café with my friends,” she admitted. “We were going to check it out together sometime soon.”

  “So, seeing you here instead was completely unexpected. I thought I was imagining things at first.”

  She turned serious again.

  “How was your experience with the bank?” she asked. “Anything you are dissatisfied with?”

  Lucien shook his head. “Not at all. The process was smooth. Mr. Polvin was extremely accommodating.”

  Lunessa turned to Polvin. “You did very well.”

  Polvin looked like he might collapse from happiness.

  “Thank you,” he said.

  Lunessa turned toward her father, her expression composed but decisive.

  “Dad,” she said, “Mr. Polvin did an excellent job today. He handled everything efficiently and made sure the process moved smoothly. I think we should promote him and revise his compensation.”

  Sorin didn’t hesitate even for a second.

  “Of course,” he replied at once, nodding firmly. “Why not? He performed well, showed initiative, and handled a difficult situation responsibly. Capable people should be recognized and rewarded. That is how a bank like ours should operate.”

  He turned sharply toward his assistant.

  “Please follow up on this immediately,” he instructed. “Initiate the promotion review, revise his pay and benefits, and ensure it’s processed without delay.”

  “Yes, sir,” the assistant replied, though her smile was thin.

  Internally, she let out a quiet sigh.

  You dote on her far too much, sir.

  Not that Polvin didn’t deserve advancement, she admitted to herself. In fact, she had already been considering his promotion based on today’s events. But not like this. Not at this speed, and certainly not because of a single sentence from his daughter.

  Outwardly, she maintained her professional composure and nodded again.

  “I’ll take care of it,” she said evenly.

  Polvin was internally exploding with joy.

  If anyone looked closely, they might have noticed the faintest tremor of excitement in his hands, or the way his shoulders straightened just a little more than before. He kept his expression carefully neutral, but in his mind, he was already several floors higher in the building with better office, better pay and a better future.

  I bet correctly, he thought, heart racing. The gamble paid off.

  Lunessa looked back at him. “Please continue overseeing their account personally.”

  Polvin didn’t hesitate. “Absolutely,” he replied at once. “They will be my top priority.”

  Then, in his eagerness, he stepped forward and reached out, clasping Lucien’s hand firmly with both hands.

  “Mr. Lucien,” he said earnestly, almost overflowing with enthusiasm, “please feel free to reach out to me anytime. Anywhere. Not just regarding the loan.”

  Lucien blinked, slightly caught off guard.

  “If you need help with suppliers, machinery vendors, raw material sourcing, logistics contacts, or introductions within the industry,” Polvin continued rapidly, “I know a wide range of people. I have connections across multiple sectors. I will assist you to the best of my ability. Whatever you need.”

  Inside, his thoughts were already racing again.

  I won’t let go of this. This is a golden opportunity. A hen that lays golden eggs doesn’t get ignored. You hold on and rise with it.

  Lucien offered a polite, slightly uncertain smile and returned the handshake.

  “Thank you,” he said sincerely. “I appreciate that.”

  He assumed Polvin was simply overwhelmed and grateful after the sudden promotion.

  Dorian, however, watched the exchange with sharper eyes.

  So that’s it, he thought. His gamble paid off, and now he wants to attach himself to us for the long term.

  He considered it for a moment, then relaxed.

  It’s not a bad arrangement. He gains security and momentum. We gain access, connections, and smoother banking support.

  A win-win, at least for now.

  Theo shifted beside them, still processing everything that had happened, while Polvin finally released Lucien’s hand, looking thoroughly satisfied, as if he had just secured not one but two promotions in a single morning.

  Sorin opened his mouth again, clearly not done.

  “You are extremely fortunate to have her,” he began, pride already seeping into his voice. “She is intelligent, efficient, and exceptionally capable. Top of her class, disciplined, quick to learn, and—”

  “Dad.”

  “Chairman.”

  The two voices cut in at the same time.

  Lunessa turned toward him with a flat, warning look, arms already crossed. The assistant stepped forward slightly as well, her tone calm but firm, professional to the core.

  Sorin froze mid-sentence.

  The room went quiet.

  He blinked, then slowly cleared his throat, realizing he had once again drifted into territory he had been explicitly warned about.

  “…Right,” he muttered, closing his mouth. “I’ll stop.”

  Lunessa relaxed marginally, satisfied.

  The assistant gave a subtle nod, as if silently saying thank you for your cooperation.

  Lucien, Dorian, and Theo exchanged brief, amused glances.

  The pattern was becoming very clear.

  Once Sorin started talking about his daughter, stopping him required a coordinated effort.