Mr. Sanders shifted into a more comfortable position and said, "According to my analysis, I'm afraid Apex Construction Corporations' total output value this year won't even be half of last year's. In that case, I have to ensure that I don't lose out on my investment even if I don't earn from it. I'm being reasonable, right, Director Ramsay?"
Amelia immediately patted her chest as her warranty, "Mr. Sanders, I solemnly promise to you that your company won't make a loss! The moment Apex Construction Corporation receives the right project, I can assure you that we will prioritize installing your brand of bathroom products before anything else!"
Mr. Sanders sighed, "But I'm precisely afraid of the possibility that you can't get your hands on any project."
Amelia bit her lip. "Can you lower your requests? Apex Construction Corporation is in a life-and-death situation now..."
"How about this," beamed Mr. Sanders, sly as a fox. "As long as you persuade your husband to invest in our company, we won't hesitate to invest in Apex Construction Corporation, without the dividend too.
What do you say?"
Amelia did not know what to respond.
So was this the power play everybody was talking about? And if so, Amelia and Apex Construction Corporation were at the bottom of the chain, huh?
Seeing that he had driven Amelia into a tight spot, Mr. Sanders could not help but ask, "In fact, President Ramsay have a trump card right in your deck now. Why aren't you using it?"
Amelia took a sip of water from the glass and said, "I heard this French restaurant is the best in Northville. Is it true?"
"Yes," replied Mr. Sanders. Then, very swiftly, he changed the topic back. "Then, my offer stands at six per cent of extra dividend bonus per annum..."
"F*ck!" thought Amelia, having every desire to curse at him!
Apex Construction Corporation was not even just a pawn in the game, they had some market shares in the industry too! So why did these investors all have their minds set on Roxxon Corporation, a firm that had nothing to do with real estate?
Were they blind?
"Calm down!" Amelia told herself.
Amelia gulped a few mouthfuls of water and then said, "Alright, we accept the six per cent bonus
dividend offer!"
Mr. Sanders showed a charming grin. "President Ramsay is indeed so full of vigor. It's so much easier to talk business with you than with the former acting chair."
Amelia uttered gloomily, "That's because I'm stupid!" Otherwise, how could she let him lead her by the nose?
Mr. Sanders kindly drawled on, "President Ramsay, don't worry. Our company won't hesitate to provide Apex Construction Corporation with our best bathroom products upon requests."
"Okay." Amelia was pleased to hear that. After all, this was an investment that she strived for and earned herself. "I'll have someone deliver the contract to you tomorrow after I sort it out at the office later. Please have a look at it then."
"No problem." Mr. Sanders nodded, and his elated attention fell onto the table with a spread full of food. "President Ramsay, can we eat now?"
"Sure..." Amelia was shocked to realize that she was so occupied with the investment that she had forgotten to ask her guest to dig in!
She hastily replied, slightly ashamed, "Mr. Sanders, please enjoy!"
In the middle of their meal, a mature, refined figure of a woman attracted Amelia's attention.
She had just caught an accidental glimpse of her at first, but when she saw her face, the knife in her hand slipped in response and almost scratched the back of her hand.
Mr. Sanders furrowed his brows at the sight of this.
In the blink of an eye, the graceful woman disappeared into the bathroom entrance. There was no air conditioning in the restaurant, but Amelia still felt a chill shot down her spine.
"President Ramsay? What's wrong?"
Amelia tore her look away from the bathroom door with her heart thumping erratically in her rib cage and crossed look with Mr. Sanders's perplexed eyes.
She struggled to form a word out of her mouth. Her soul seemed to have left her body as if only the shell of her was speaking as she mumbled, "I'm fine."
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Come Into My Arms