Chapter 327 Getting Bolder
At the dinner table, after several rounds of drinks.
Karen personally poured wine for Jeremy, "Mr. Wright, we are getting along so well today. I even brought the contract with me. How about we..."
Jeremy interrupted her slowly and deliberately, "Ms. Abbott, this isn't something I can decide on my own. The prices quoted by Windsor Group are indeed a bit high. Business is business, after all. But Ms. Abbott, you are very generous in both your personal and professional dealings. Even if we don't make a deal, our friendship remains. I'll consider your company next time, next time."
This was clearly a polite lie to brush her off.
Karen smiled and didn't show any displeasure. Instead, she became more proactive, "Although Windsor Group's building materials are indeed priced a bit high, our products are of high quality. Take our insulation materials, for example. StellarWorks Inc. may offer lower prices, but their quality can't compare to ours."
StellarWorks Inc. was another building materials company in Southern City.
In the past two years, while Windsor Group focused on new energy and emerging fields, StellarWorks Inc. quickly captured part of the Southern City building materials market with its affordable products.
Some companies, if not nipped in the bud, become difficult to eliminate once they grow stronger.
The rise of StellarWorks Inc. taught Windsor Group a lesson: Even if you were at the top in terms of financial strength and qualifications, you must occasionally pay attention to those unscrupulous competitors below. Once they became strong, their influence couldn't be underestimated.
But it was clear that Jeremy didn't take Karen's words to heart.
He chatted leisurely with Juniper, "Let's not talk business at the dinner table. How about we play golf next time, Quinn? Let's aim for another hole-in-one!"
Juniper raised her glass with both hands and respectfully clinked glasses with him, "Mr. Wright, cheers."
"Cheers."
Seeing the negotiation going nowhere, Karen exchanged a glance with Juniper.
After downing a glass of wine, Juniper paused and said in a deep voice, "Actually, there are advantages to higher quotes."
Jeremy raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean by that?"
"The higher the quote, the more room you have to operate behind the company's back. If you go for a second-tier brand like StellarWorks Inc., you won't have much room. Since Real Estate wants to build a reputation in Southern City, you must cooperate with Windsor Group. StellarWorks Inc.'s reputation is average, but people in Southern City still recognize the long-established Windsor Group."
The latter part was very flattering.
But the first part made Jeremy's eyes light up.
He looked at Juniper with a smile and said to Karen, "Ms. Abbott, your assistant is quite impressive. She plays golf well, knows how to negotiate, and is also very attractive. Quinn, if you're interested, you can come work for Real Estate. Our salary and benefits are no worse than Windsor Group's."
Karen took out the contract and pen, placing them on the table.
She walked over and made an "three" gesture to Jeremy.
The quote remained unchanged.
Three percent "negotiation room."
Juniper unscrewed the pen and handed it over, "Mr. Wright, is that OK?"
Jeremy's smile reached his temples, "You two girls are quite the team! I love doing business with smart people, no pretense. Since you're so sincere, this contract..."
He took the pen from Juniper's hand and said cheerfully, "I'll sign it!"
Under the night sky, not far from Christopher's Mansion, a black luxury car was parked.
Inside the car.
Paul was scrolling through Facebook and was a bit stunned, "Mr. Blackwood, Ms. Beaumont just posted an update. The timing matches when you called her."
In the back seat, Magnus wore silver-rimmed glasses. Although his vision wasn't perfect, it didn't hinder his daily life.
He opened Juniper's social media update, which featured a photo.
In the photo, a stranger was swinging a golf club on a golf course.
The caption read: [Amazing! Hole-in-one!]
Magnus's face instantly darkened.
She ignored his call to play golf with this man?
Amazing?
Her tone sounded like an admirer.
Magnus's brow furrowed, and his gaze grew colder.
Paul glanced at him through the rearview mirror and thought, Magnus's expression is about to freeze over.
"Mr. Blackwood, why not call Ms. Beaumont again? Maybe she accidentally hung up on you," Paul suggested.
Magnus took a deep breath, suppressed his irritation, and dialed Juniper's number again.
This time, Juniper didn't hang up.
A cold, mechanical female voice came through the phone: "The phone you dialed is powered off. Please try again later..."
Magnus held his phone, momentarily stunned.
Paul cautiously glanced back and hesitantly asked, "Still no answer?"
"Switched off."
Paul tried to ease the tension, "Could it be that she was captured by the Shadow Syndicate? Oh no, Ms. Beaumont might be in danger!"
Magnus was speechless.
What a ridiculous and absurd reason.
Magnus coldly retorted, "If she were captured by the Shadow Syndicate, would she still be playing golf?"
Paul chuckled awkwardly, "Right, right... It must be that her phone ran out of battery! Otherwise, why would it be off..."
The atmosphere in the car was cold and awkward.
A black Bentley drove past their car.
Paul's eyes lit up, "Mr. Blackwood, that looks like the Abbotts' car. Ms. Beaumont might be back."
Juniper and Karen had both been drinking that night.
Ronald went to pick them up.
When they arrived at Christopher's Mansion, Ronald got out, opened the back door, and helped Juniper out.
He frowned and scolded Karen, "Quinn is allergic to alcohol. How could you let her drink?"
Karen laughed, "How can you negotiate business without drinking? She wants to get involved in Windsor Group's business, and drinking is a must. Besides, I didn't force her to drink. Quinn didn't feel wronged, so why are you feeling sorry for her?"
Ronald was momentarily speechless.
Juniper, drunk and unsteady, but still somewhat clear-headed, said, "Ronald, I chose to drink. It has nothing to do with her."
Karen raised an eyebrow, "Hear that? Ronald, don't blame me."
Ronald helped Juniper into the house, "But I see you have a rash on your neck. Are you sure you don't need to go to the hospital?"
She was indeed allergic to alcohol and used to avoid it completely.
But after trying alcohol a few times, she found that as long as she didn't drink too much, she would only get a rash and it wasn't life-threatening, "I know my limits. I'll just apply some allergy medicine."
Ronald said, "In the future, let those who can drink handle the drinking."
Karen scoffed, "You don't understand. Being allergic to alcohol but still drinking with clients shows sincerity. Come on, Quinn, let me take some photos and send them to Mr. Wright to make him feel guilty and ensure future cooperation."
Ronald's face was serious, "Karen, can you stop messing around?"
Juniper, however, stood up unsteadily, rolled up her sleeves, and let Karen take as many photos as she wanted.
She looked at the lighting, "It doesn't look too serious in these photos."
Karen took several shots, "No worries, I'll edit them."
Ronald was utterly speechless.
After Karen finished taking photos, Juniper grabbed the door frame, about to enter.
Suddenly, a familiar deep male voice called out to her from behind, "Juniper."
Juniper was about to turn around when her stomach churned.
She leaned against the wall and vomited.
Paul was stunned.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
