Chapter 540: A Deal Under Two Terms

The restaurant was thick with tension. Melvin met Hannah's gaze, silent. No one dared break the silence; it was a game of wills, the first to speak losing. Hannah had laid everything out; there was nothing left to do but wait for Melvin's decision. The clock ticked.

Melvin returned to his seat, Hannah watching cautiously. He lifted his glass, taking a sip with practiced grace. His decision remained unreadable. Perhaps he was still considering. The higher the stakes, the more cautious he seemed. Hannah fought to remain calm. The silence stretched.

Finally, setting down his glass, Melvin spoke, "I have two terms." Hannah's heart leaped at the sound of his voice. Had he agreed? She'd planned this meticulously; she couldn't fathom a reason for refusal. If he wanted to reject her, he wouldn't have given her this much time. The Balderstons needed a flawless excuse. A thought struck her—he was waiting for her response.

"I'd love to hear them," Hannah said calmly.

"First," Melvin said, his eyes fixed on hers, "I can pursue the case, but I will only target Charles Sawyer." Hannah understood. This wasn't the right time for the Balderstons to confront the Collins. Even if he succeeded, the Collins' involvement was inevitable.

"Okay," Hannah promised. They lacked the strength to challenge the Collins. She knew confronting them was beyond her capabilities; that was Oscar's domain.

"Given Charles Sawyer's marriage to Sarah Collins, you must guarantee my actions won't provoke the Collins before I hold him legally accountable," Melvin continued. Hannah frowned at this condition.

Melvin added, almost as an aside, "I believe Mrs. Wells is intelligent enough to understand my meaning."

Hannah bit her lip. He wanted her to sever the connection between Charles and the Collins before he acted. A significant challenge, but she had no choice but to accept.

"Second," Melvin said, not giving her time to respond, "after I get Mr. Wells out of jail, he must remain loyal to me. Frankly, I admire Oscar's abilities, and I'll reinstate him to City Hall—on the condition that he stands with the Balderstons, not the Collins."

Hannah met his gaze directly. This was unexpected.

"Okay," she nodded. "We're grateful for your assistance; the favor will be repaid."

A slight smile, devoid of warmth, touched the man's usually impassive face. It was a transactional gratitude, nothing more. Melvin had clearly observed Oscar, viewing him as a valuable asset.

"Contact me once you've met my conditions. Here's my contact information. Next time, we can meet more formally." He handed her a card.

Hannah received it respectfully, using both hands. Glancing at the number, she looked up at Melvin. He rose gracefully, bowing slightly before departing.

After he left, Theodore rushed in, finding Hannah still seated. "Did you get it?" he asked.

Yes, she had. But a feeling of being manipulated lingered.

"He presented two terms," Hannah explained.

Theodore frowned. Hannah recounted the conversation.

Theodore chuckled, "Birds of a feather."

"This isn't the time for commentary. The priority is fulfilling his terms. The second isn't difficult; I'd already persuaded Oscar to align with the Balderstons. I think he'll agree to this deal." Theodore clamped his mouth shut, swallowing his words.

"The first is problematic. How do we remove Charles from the Collins' protection? If we fail, Melvin can't act against Charles without repercussions, and the Collins will retaliate," Hannah murmured.

"Shit. Isn't this a deliberate challenge? Given Charles' recent marriage to Sarah Collins, he's asking us to sabotage their marriage…" Theodore complained.

His words stunned Hannah. Her reaction in turn worried Theodore.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"What did you just say?" Hannah asked, a spark of excitement in her voice. "You said, sabotage their marriage, right?"

"Anything wrong?"

"Perfectly fine," Hannah said confidently. "Let's wreck their marriage."

Theodore's suggestion shifted Hannah's focus. Instead of finding a way to make Charles disappoint the Collins, she now considered how to sever their connection by destroying his marriage to Sarah.

A cold smile played on Hannah's lips. Those two deserved what was coming.

Theodore and Hannah left the restaurant. Their goal achieved, they returned to Kensbury the next morning.

Hannah went to her office as if nothing had happened. Her sudden shift puzzled many, including Cooper Group staff. They expected her to stand by Oscar. Even Rose was surprised to see her at work.

Calm and composed, Hannah immersed herself in work, unaffected by Oscar's predicament. This was unbelievable to Rose, given the grim outlook.

"Give me a copy of the latest sales report," Hannah ordered, burying herself in files and sipping coffee.

"Yes," Rose replied respectfully.

"Who handled business while I was away?" Hannah asked.

"Important matters were handled by the Chairman himself; otherwise, mostly Tan," Rose answered.

"Have Tan come in and report. I want to hear about the progress made during my absence."

"Right away."

As Rose turned to leave, curiosity got the better of her. "Ms. Hannah, what about Mr. Wells...?"

"That's private. We're discussing business here." Hannah showed no inclination to elaborate.

Rose, understanding the boundaries, ceased her inquiries.

Shortly after, Tan entered Hannah's office with the relevant documents and delivered a detailed report.