CHAPTER EIGHTY NINE - A DANGEROUS GAME

Lucas's eyebrows shot up, his earlier panic replaced by cautious interest. "Go on." As Max began to outline their proposal, Ava watched the faces around the table. The Novatech team looked increasingly intrigued, while Lucas seemed to be weighing every word carefully. "This stake," Max continued, his voice steady and persuasive, "would give Novatech a say in major decisions, access to our technology and market share, and a substantial return on investment. In return, Bennett Enterprises would maintain control over our day-to-day operations and have access to Novatech's distribution networks and international presence." Ava picked up the thread seamlessly, her voice complementing Max's as they presented their case. "Our analysis shows that this arrangement would result in a 30% increase in combined market share within the first year, with projections for continued growth in the following years." She pulled up a series of graphs and charts on the main screen, illustrating the potenti