Chapter 19
Edmund POV
The boardroom was quiet, the kind of silence that pressed against the walls. Only the low hum of the projector and the fen scratch of someone’s pen filled the space. I sat at the head of the long mahogany table, leaning back in my chair, hands folded loosely but deliberately, my gaze fixed on the men and women seated before me.
They knew I had little patience for hesitation, and today was not the day to test me.
“Alright,” I said finally, my voice breaking the silence. “Let’s hear it. Where do we stand on the research? Demand, growth potential, target demographics. I want clarity.”
The Head of Strategy, Lucas Hayes, straightened in his seat, flipping open a neatly tabbed binder. “Our research indicates a strong demand for premium healthcare facilities, particularly in metropolitan areas. There’s also a growing market in suburban cities that lack advanced medical centers. Families with higher disposable income are migrating there, and they want accessible but world–class healthcare.”
I nodded once. “Risks?”
“High upfront costs and regulatory hurdles,” Lucas replied quickly, his tone cautious. “Licensing, compliance with health codes, staff recruitment. They’ll all slow the rollout. But the long–term demand makes the risks manageable.
“Good,” I said, letting my gaze sweep across the table. “What are the capital requirements?”
The CFO, Richard Coleman, cleared his throat. “The projected cost for the first three hospitals is around four hundred million. We can fund it in–house–the conglomerate has the liquidity–but it would stretch us thin on other expansion projects. Ideally, we should leverage external investors to share the burden.”
The COO, Elena Ross, jumped in. “We also need to consider public perception. Healthcare isn’t just another business. It’s people’s lives. If we position Montgomery Conglomerate as a partner in health and community development, investors will be more willing to align themselves with us. It gives us goodwill, not just profit.”
I steepled my fingers, eyes narrowing at them. “Alignment with the company’s vision?”
Elena gave a confident nod. “It matches perfectly. Our conglomerate has always positioned itself as forward–thinking, invested in infrastructure that improves lives. Hospitals elevate that image. It reinforces our narrative: Montgomery builds for the future.”
Richard adjusted his glasses. “The pros far outweigh the cons here, Mr Montgomery. The only challenge is making sure we attract the right investors, and on our terms. We don’t want to look desperate.”
I drummed my fingers against the table, a slow rhythm. “Exactly. Investors must come to us, not the other way around. So how do we make that happen?”
Elena exchanged a quick look with Lucas before leaning forward. “We can launch a medical outreach. Something large- scale, visible, and impactful. Free consultations, treatments, maybe minor surgeries for underprivileged communities. Invite the press, TV stations, and influential voices to cover it.”
Lucas picked up her point. “The outreach would showcase not just our intent but our ability. Investors and donors would see Montgomery Conglomerate stepping into healthcare with both expertise and heart. It’s good PR and it builds trust.”
“And,” Elena added with a small smile, “we end it with a gala night. Elegant, high–profile, well–covered by the media. It will tie the outreach to the bigger vision. That’s where the investors come to us, asking how they can be part of what we’re building.”
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55 pm p p м M
Chapter 10
Spence fallowed, but it wasn’t the heavy kind. It was the kind that came when womething made on me pupp with. I let the idea sink in, my gare sweeping dowly arross the roms tube mais rippled around the roues de ransforming from cautious calculation into something sharper. Determined! Hungry Exactly hose ford my wam
Make it happen.” I said finally, voice low. “Stat planning the outreach. I want proposals on my teak by nurse week
Yes, sir.” Elena said, already jotting notes.
The conversation drifted back into numbers, projected costs, expected ROI, regulatory timelines, het my mind! hegan to wander. Not enough to miss the detaile; I never missed details. But enough to pull at the edges of my compose
Amelia
The thought of her slipped in uninvited, like it always did. She was a doctor. She’d want to be involved in an outreach like his, wouldn’t she? She would thrive in it, treating patients, rolling up her sleeves, that focused frown on her face when she was buried in work.
t was business, yes. But it could also be more. A chance to be around her, to remind her, remind myself, mat no matter the listance, no matter the years, we were meant for each other.
I smirked faintly, enough that Elena glanced at me curiously before turning back to her notes.
This outreach wasn’t just good for the Montgomery Conglomerate. It could be good for me. For us.
I straightened in my chair“So now that this is settled, when do we start?”
Elena tapped her pen against her notepad. “We’ll need a planning committee, public relations, strategy, and finance all working hand in hand. Outreach of that scale requires logistics, volunteers, media coordination-
I cut her off with a small lift of my hand. “I think I have a brilliant idea,” I said suddenly.. Every head at the table turned toward me.
I shifted my gaze to my PA. “Daniel, put a call through to the owner of Benthoven’s Hospital.”
They all turned to me, surprised. Elena’s brows knit together as she leaned slightly forward. “With all due respect sir, but what does that have to do with any of this?”
‘Because before we move further,” I said, “we need at least one hospital under our name. Outreach is one thing, but credibility? That comes from ownership. The quickest way to achieve that is to buy one, right here in London.”
Richard frowned, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Benthoven’s is a household name. Especially the London branch. What makes you think he’ll want to sell?”
I allowed myself a slow smirk. “Because we’ll give him an offer he can’t refuse,” I responded, ” And the name? Once we buy it, we change the name without changing anything about it… well maybe a little renovation, but that’s it.”
Silence settled for a moment, before Lucas let out a low whistle under his breath. Elena’s lips pressed together, but she didn’t argue further. One by one, reluctant nods followed. The idea was bold, maybe even reckless, but that was why it was mine.
“Alright,” Richard said finally. “If we can secure Benthoven’s, the outreach will carry ten times the weight. Investors will see permanence, not just a publicity stunt.”
“Exactly.” I leaned back in my chair, satisfied.
Richard cleared his throat. “If we’re even considering Benthoven’s, we need to start with a valuation. Their London branch alone pulls in millions annually.”
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3:55 pm PPM M
Chapter 19
Elena added quickly, “And we’d have to study their liabilities. You don’t buy a hospital that size without knowing what debts you’re inheriting.”
“Not to mention staff contracts,” Lucas said, flipping a page on his folder. “Doctors, nurses, specialists. We can’t risk mass resignations if word leaks out before we’re ready.”
“That’s a PR nightmare waiting to happen, another executive muttered.
Elena tapped her pen again. “And the legal framework, health regulations in the UK can be quite crazy. This will require approvals, licenses. It won’t happen overnight.”
Richard leaned forward, adjusting his glasses. “Still, if we manage it, Benthoven’s brand recognition alone could fast–track. our outreach plan. Investors would have no choice but to take us seriously.”
“Assuming we can even get them to the table,” Elena shot back. “The owner isn’t exactly known for parting with his assets.”
But I wasn’t listening. Not really.
All I could think about was Amelia.
The way her eyes would widen when she discovered the truth. That the man she was trying so hard to keep out of her life was now the man in charge of her hospital.
The look on her face… that mix of shock and fury. The way her lips would part, like she wanted to yell but couldn’t find the words.
She thought she could keep running. But she was wrong.
There was no running from me now.
B
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
