Chapter 1081 A Way Out at the Last Minute (VI)

• “After all, because of my mistakes and those headlines, you’ve seen how much blowback Regal Peaks took. No one can say how long it’ll take to clear. You, more than anyone, know what people are saying about me. And let’s be real—right now I’m leagues behind the Zhengs. Anyone can see that at a glance. Even with your plan just now—pulling the firewood from under the pot—it still might not stop Zheng Mingjie if he gets cornered and flips the table. There’s no sure win here. Pouring in a fortune to bet on someone most folks don’t believe in… honestly, Mr. Burns, from where you stand, that’s a bad deal.” Madison Sawyer spoke slowly. “There are so many projects out there. Just in Millsborough, there are tons of companies. With your eye, your muscle, your funds—pick one carefully and chances are the returns beat Regal Peaks.”
• Donnie Burns blinked, then laughed. “Miss Sawyer, you’re refreshingly blunt. That kind of straight talk makes for the best partners. We’re throwing real money in—we don’t want someone who hides the ball. Since you asked, I’ll lay out how I see it.”
• “I’ve read those stories too. Honestly, at first I thought your behavior really didn’t fit what a manager should be. And a crisis at Regal Peaks like this? It’s prime time for investors—and even speculators—to pounce. I even thought about jumping in myself, trying to ride the chaos in Regal Peaks’ stock. But that’s an even bigger risk. Then I started tracking you. All your counterattacks. With no hope on paper, you still chose to burn the boats and buy back shares piece by piece. I checked where your money came from. Every move you made—Miss Sawyer, your grit floored me. I don’t think a person should be written off forever for past mistakes. That’s when I seriously started thinking about partnering. I dug deeper, talked it through, and decided it was worth a shot. So I told Kate Penrose I wanted us to meet for a real conversation. Your candor today, your resolve to take on the Zhengs, and your vision for Regal Peaks—they all look damn good to me.”