For several seconds, the virtual meeting room was silent except for the faint hum of audio equipment.

On NuScale's side, the three executives exchanged uneasy glances, unsure whether Timothy's statement was ambition, madness, or the beginning of something historic.

John Reyes cleared his throat first.

"Mr. Guerrero," he began carefully, "that is… a compelling vision. But acquiring a nuclear technology company isn't like purchasing an automotive startup. There are regulations, foreign investment restrictions—"

Timothy raised a hand calmly. "I'm aware of all U.S. CFIUS restrictions. I've already anticipated every hurdle. And I did not come unprepared."

Reyes blinked. "What do you mean?"

Timothy tapped a command on the tablet in front of him. A folder icon appeared on the shared screen — HELIOS STRATEGIC HOLDINGS LLC – OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE.pdf

The executives leaned closer.

"Helios Strategic Holdings," Timothy explained, "is a U.S.-registered investment firm incorporated in Delaware. It is the entity that will acquire NuScale."

One of the American executives frowned. "Helios? We've never heard of—"

"Of course you haven't," Timothy said. "It was created for this purpose alone. It is American-owned, American-fronted, and structured to pass foreign investment review."

Reyes adjusted his glasses, leaning slightly toward the screen. "And… you control Helios?"

"In all practical senses," Timothy replied. "But legally, Helios appears fully American. It will clear initial regulatory scrutiny. By the time deeper review is required, we'll already have Fluor onboard with the sale."

He shifted slightly, tone steady and matter-of-fact.

"Fluor wants out. They're tired. Your board knows this. You know this."

John froze. The other two executives stiffened.

Timothy had hit the nerve precisely.

He continued, voice smooth, almost conversational.

"They've carried you for a decade. They've poured hundreds of millions into R&D, salaries, testing, lobbying… and in return, they've received no commercial revenue. The Idaho project collapsed. Municipal investors withdrew. Their shareholders are calling for capital preservation."

He raised a brow.

"They will sell."

One of the Americans finally spoke up. "Even if that's true, a buyout of Fluor's majority stake isn't cheap. And it certainly isn't easy."

Timothy leaned back, interlocking his fingers.

"That's why I'm offering a premium that Fluor cannot refuse."

He tapped another icon — a valuation chart.

"NuScale's market cap sits at roughly $650 million. I'm offering Fluor a buyout price equivalent to a $1.1 billion valuation, payable in cash through Helios. That's nearly double your current worth."

Reyes inhaled sharply.

"That… would fully recover Fluor's sunk costs," he whispered.

"And give them a graceful exit," Timothy added. "They can report to Wall Street that they've successfully offloaded a high-risk asset at a profit."

The senior American executive stared at the numbers, stunned. "Mr. Guerrero, are you truly prepared to pay that much?"

Timothy shrugged lightly.

"For a working SMR platform and a decade of research data? Absolutely."

He leaned forward again.

"You underestimate the value of your own product. But I don't."

Reyes swallowed, visibly conflicted.

Timothy wasn't done.

"I am offering your company something no American investor is offering you right now."

He raised a finger.

"Certainty."

Another.

"Capital."

And the last.

"A future."

He continued, tone firm but not hostile.

"You have brilliant engineers, but you're out of runway. SMRs are the future, but the U.S. market is slow, overregulated, and politically fragile. You need a market hungry for nuclear energy. You need a region that has no choice but to industrialize."

He spread his hands slightly.

"You need Asia."

Reyes looked up slowly. "And you would keep us intact?"

"Yes," Timothy replied instantly. "I'm not dismantling NuScale. I'm expanding it. Under TG Energy Systems, your research will continue with unlimited funding. Dr. Reyes," he said directly, "your life's work will not be frozen. It will be built."

Reyes' eyes softened at the edges, pride, fear, hope, all mixing at once.

Timothy pressed further, gently.

"Once Helios acquires Fluor's majority stake, the board will reorganize. You will stay as Chief Scientific Officer. Your team will receive retention offers. No layoffs. No shutdowns. No gutting."

He paused.

"And we will build your first successful SMR site. Not in Idaho. In Asia."

A stunned silence followed.

One of the Americans whispered, "This… might actually work."

Reyes finally exhaled. "Mr. Guerrero… your proposal is unlike anything we expected."

Timothy smiled faintly. "That's why I win."

Reyes exchanged a long look with his team before turning back to the camera.

"Very well," Dr. Reyes said. "NuScale is open to exploring this path."

Timothy nodded, satisfied.

"Good. I'll have Helios send you the formal Letter of Intent within forty-eight hours. And Dr. Reyes—"

Reyes raised his head.

Timothy's voice lowered.

"Don't show this to Fluor until you speak with me personally. We move on our timing, not theirs."

Reyes nodded slowly.

"…Understood."

The meeting ended with a chime, the screens going dark one by one.

Hana stood frozen beside Timothy, amazed by the ease with which he had maneuvered through every barrier.

Timothy slid his tablet onto the table and exhaled once.

"Prepare the LOI," he said calmly.

"Yes, sir," Hana replied.

"And, Hana?"

"Sir?"

"Tell Michael Lau to be ready. Helios's first move begins tomorrow."

Hana nodded, already opening a blank draft. "Terms, structure, timeline?"

"Keep it simple and aggressive," Timothy said. "Headline price at a $1.1B equity valuation. Cash. Exclusivity window—thirty days. Diligence period—forty-five. Conditions: CFIUS approval, NRC comfort letter on IP transferability, Fluor consent. Commit to retain key personnel with multi-year packages. Name Reyes Chief Scientific Officer with autonomous R&D charter. And add a build-commitment: first SMR site to break ground in Asia within eighteen months of close."

Hana typed as he spoke, her cadence matching his. "Non-disparagement, strict confidentiality, no leaks to press without mutual consent?"

"Non-negotiable," Timothy said. "And put a reverse break fee. If U.S. regulators block purely on foreign ownership optics, Helios funds a joint venture fallback—U.S. opco holds the tech, Asia devco licenses at scale. Give them certainty."

"Understood." She paused. "External counsel?"

"Engage Covington on CFIUS, Kirkland on M&A. Use Michael's signature for Helios. I'll sign the cover letter."

Hana saved the draft, the file name populating across the screen: Helios→NuScale_LOI_v1.docx.

Timothy rose, collecting his coffee. "We move before Fluor sets the narrative."

Hana stood too. "And if Fluor calls first?"

He smiled, razor-thin. "Then they've just confirmed they read our future."

The room fell quiet again, the kind of quiet that comes before engines spool.

"Send it by morning," Timothy said.

Hana nodded. "By morning."

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.