I Accidentally Got Auctioned for a Date… My Best Friend Bid $5,000 to Win Me
Chapter 7
The acquisition had been blocked because several investors had suddenly withdrawn.
Someone had manipulated the market.
Noah’s father called an emergency meeting.
Mia stayed beside Noah.
The boardroom was filled with executives.
One of them blamed Noah.
Another blamed his father.
Then Mia noticed something.
A familiar name appeared on the list of investors who had withdrawn.
Lucas’s largest business partner.
She whispered to Noah.
“Look.”
He followed her finger.
His eyes narrowed.
“This isn’t about the acquisition.”
“What is it?”
“Someone wants control of my family’s company.”
Mia looked around the room.
“Who?”
Noah didn’t answer.
The answer came from his father.
“Victor Hale.”
Mia had heard the name.
Hale was a billionaire investor known for hostile takeovers.
And he had a history with Carter Holdings.
Years ago, Noah’s father had refused to sell him a major property.
Hale had never forgotten.
Lucas had unknowingly become his pawn.
Noah confronted Hale.
Hale didn’t deny it.
“You’ve underestimated me.”
Noah replied:
“You underestimated my family.”
Hale smiled.
“Your family is divided.”
He looked at Mia.
“And your girlfriend is the easiest pressure point.”
Noah stepped forward.
“Leave her out of this.”
Hale laughed.
“You already brought her into it.”
Mia wasn’t frightened.
She looked directly at him.
“You’re making one mistake.”
Hale raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“You think I’m the weak point.”
Noah looked at her.
Mia continued.
“I’m the person who figured out what you were doing.”
Hale’s smile disappeared.
She had noticed inconsistencies in the financial documents.
The withdrawals.
The timing.
The shell companies.
Everything connected.
Hale had manipulated the market using companies he secretly controlled.
Mia had found the pattern.
And now they had proof.
The board voted again.
This time, the acquisition remained alive.
Hale’s plan began collapsing.
Lucas, realizing he had been used, agreed to cooperate.
The investigation expanded.
But Hale wasn’t finished.
That night, Mia received a message.
You should have stayed out of this.
She showed Noah.
He immediately called security.
But Mia wasn’t afraid.
She had spent her entire life thinking she needed someone to protect her.
Now she realized she could protect herself too.
