Chapter 140 Aaron Holds Business Negotiations!
By noon, Aaron had claimed his spot in the bustling eatery.
He sat before a spread of his chosen dishes, tapping away at his phone with barely concealed impatience. After some cajoling, Sarah had given him a shot—to broker a deal with a bigwig named Jaxon. As the lunch crowd swelled, he indulged in his favorites, but Jaxon was MIA.
Aaron grumbled under his breath, "This guy's full of himself. I invite him to lunch, and he can't show up on time? Is this his way of dissing me?"
Zoey, his secretary, attempted to calm him. "Mr. Johnson, let's give it a minute. Mr. Jaxon's a heavyweight in Houston's construction world. He's got a lot of irons in the fire. Just keep it cool when he gets here."
Curiosity piqued, Aaron queried, "And what's Jaxon's net worth?"
After a moment's reflection, Zoey responded, "Roughly a billion dollars, I'd say."
"A billion?" Aaron let out a derisive snort. "He thinks he's top dog with that chump change? That's laughable! My sister's SR Group is worth multiples of that. What's hers is mine, so what's he to me? A small fry."
Zoey's concern was evident. "Still, we do need what he's offering..."
Aaron cut her off mid-sentence, "Spare me the doom and gloom. He should be grateful SR Group's even considering this. He'll be the one making concessions, not me."
Their exchange was cut short by a knock. The door swung open, and a waiter beckoned someone inside.
The man who entered was a study in contrasts—forties, dark-skinned, with no-nonsense attire. His cheap camo gear painted a picture of a humble contractor, not helped by his uneven gait.
This was Jaxon. Renowned for his business acumen, he was equally known for his unpretentious lifestyle, often found on the front lines with his crew. His down-to-earth demeanor was respected throughout Houston's construction scene.
And that's why Sarah had sent Aaron, the more affable brother.
Jaxon came in with an apology at the ready. "My apologies for the delay. Had a situation at the site." He offered a handshake.
Aaron eyed the calloused hand with concealed revulsion.
Disregarding the gesture, Aaron motioned to the food. "Cut the chit-chat. Let's eat. I'm famished!" Jaxon, hand lingering mid-air, reluctantly sat down. They both began to eat without further ado. Aaron thought to himself, "You get what you pay for—this meal's top-notch, way beyond the slop at Ryder's."
Jaxon seemed thrown off. Weren't they here to talk shop? But he let it slide, took a drink, and ventured, "Heard about your company's mishap. Tragic, but thankfully, no lives were lost."
Aaron's demeanor darkened abruptly. He slammed his chopsticks down. "What kind of comment is that? If you don't have anything sensible to say, then don't say anything at all!"
Jaxon was clearly startled. "I... what did I say?"
Aaron's tone was frosty. "'Thankful' nobody died? Sounds like you wish the worst had happened!"
"That's not at all what I—"
"Save it! I can spot a schadenfreude a mile away!"
Jaxon was flustered. "How do you figure?"
Aaron leaned in, feigning expertise. "I dabble in psychology. They say folks with disabilities are often bitter, envious of others' success. Given your limp and lighter pockets, it's textbook."
Jaxon's good nature soured. "Hold on. I hurt my leg working hard, not that it's any of your business. And don't you dare make assumptions about my character!"
Aaron opened his mouth to retort, but Zoey, sensing the brewing storm, quickly interjected. "Mr. Jaxon, there seems to be a misunderstanding. Let's focus on the deal, shall we?"
Jaxon, though still irked, nodded. "Alright, let's get down to brass tacks. I've got to get back to the site ASAP. We agreed on a three-day turnaround for the materials, but with your warehouse issue, what's the new timeline?"
"A month, at least," Zoey replied.
Jaxon mulled it over. "Time is money, and a month's delay is a big hit. But for Sarah's sake, I'll compromise. Let's adjust the price—from the original $25 million to $20 million. That's as low as I can go."
Zoey seemed to agree, but as she reached for the contract...
Aaron interjected sharply, "We agreed on $25 million. We're not budging."
Jaxon was taken aback. "But the fire—"
Aaron leaned forward, his voice steely. "You're not squeezing SR Group. Are we clear?"
"I didn't mean to offend. It's just that—"
Aaron stood abruptly, his anger palpable. "Don't play the Sarah card with me. She might buy your act, but I don't. It's my call today. You'll sign at $25 million, or you'll regret it."
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