At that moment Ms. Jenna leaned forward. "We're not asking for it all now. You get five years. That's extremely generous by any standard, Abigail."
They paused, clearly expecting her to say thank you or show at least some sign of appreciation. Instead, Abigail remained calm, her eyes watching each of them with quiet confidence.
Mr. Kane, picking up on her silence, leaned back. "So, when we say it's a fair deal, we're not exaggerating. We mean it's actually a very good one. Most people would jump at this."
For a moment, the entire room went still. Everyone was waiting for Abigail's reaction.
And then, she smiled.
It wasn't a nervous or forced smile. It was confident, almost serene. She looked at them, one after the other, and then spoke.
"Here comes the problem," she said simply.
The three reps tilted their heads slightly, confused.
She continued, "I am not going to buy the shares for a billion."
Their expressions shifted immediately.
