lookism x reader

Chapter 31

"I'd like to discuss a deal regarding the goods of my father's business and yours." You didn't break eye contact for a second. You wanted to apply pressure. Although Crystal's nerves weren't as weak as you made them out to be.

"I believe that we can come up with a way to export products and give influence to each other by contract. This, of course, would give both the Choi's and us access through international means. And I believe it would be in our best interests."

She was taking in everything you were saying with consideration, although it wasn't much that she hadn't heard before.

Some people can't fully grasp just what it means to deal with business internationally. While it certainly has its plusses, it also has many downsides.

There are possibilities for language barriers. They would need to hire more workers, which would mean putting in more money, along with setting up a facility and getting permits to do so on foreign soil. Even though the problem isn't completely dissolved, having someone on the inside who already knows the laws and manages a similar business is a big help.

But there is a problem with that too. Since the person on the inside, which in this case would be you and your people, have much more knowledge than the people who aren't familiar, it would be very easy to take advantage of the outside party.

You couldn't speak on your father's behalf in that regard. All you were tasked with was getting Crystal on your side. But after that, it becomes out of your hands and into his.

So whether or not you were being used to ultimately scam the Choi's was out of your control in a sense.

"Can you go into further detail about the security of the project?" She crossed her arms in her lap and closed her eyes.

"Yes, of course. There will be a set budget of well over half a million, then a collateral of almost the same amount. So that if anything were to go wrong due to a complication on our end, you and your investors would be fully compensated."

You grabbed the glass of water in front of you and took a sip while swirling it around a bit.

"I'm just a mediator, but I can assure you this much, As my father's daughter, the facilities under my family name are very much secure."

This sentiment wasn't really meant to be sincere at all, just empty words meant to come across as friendly.

But Crystal was smarter than that.

"You mentioned the collateral only in correlation to if anything went wrong on your end. So does that mean that if we messed something up, then you wouldn't be compensated? I'm just assuming, though." She looked to the side slightly, enjoying the view from how high up you two were.

You knew she would catch that.

"That was a consideration when thinking of it. But in the end, we decided that since we were the ones to propose this that we would ultimately take full responsibility for anything that goes south."

That, of course, wasn't a full truth. A deal like that would be too one-sided and obviously be self-destruction if you were to actually sign to it. But that wasn't a concern right now.

"That's a bit unfair, no? It sounds too good to be true."

You nodded your head slightly, letting her know you acknowledge her words. It was the polite thing to do.

"If you look at it that way, then yes." You chose your words meticulously. If you were to say something like,'Well, we have more than enough money for that case scenario,' it could be taken as a jab to their funds.

"If that were the case anyway and if you were to conduct your business in a way that would damage the project then after being reimbursed our contract could be dissolved, if it were determined that we no longer needed eachother."

You didn't lead with this because even if business did go south, you knew that your father wouldn't let the contract go until he had managed to place permanent roots in Korea.

"That makes more sense. But what do you plan to gain from business here other than influence?"

She was easing up, you could tell. You didn't really expect it to, but it seems like your words reassured her to some extent.

"You're right, as you've probably already assumed, influence isn't all we wish to achieve." You were kind of making this part up.

You didn't know what your father was planning exactly. But you knew what his principles were, and that was good enough for you to assume.

"We plan to set roots here and then build up from there, but mostly independently."

She didn't have to ask why you would need them to achieve that because it was obvious. Choi was a successful businessman. If you wanted to grow here, then starting by him would be ideal. But the same was true for them when it came to your father in America.

Your father, much like Choi, was a very influential person. He spent time advocating women's rights, free health care, etc. almost everything in the books to get him on the publics side or at least be perceived as 'the good guy'.

He often says he doesn't get involved with politics, but then he goes and meets with politicians, discusses voting polls, and does the same things he speaks out against.

But you were getting too heated when you thought of this. When you thought of him.

"Is.. is there anything else you would like to know about?" You smiled at her kindly, watching to see if you could catch her off guard in any way.

She did seem a little at a loss for words. Not because of suprise or anything. There was just not more she could ask. The rest would need to be left to her father or someone else above the both of you.

But you weren't going to let her leave just like that.

"Y'know, I was happy to hear that I would be meeting with a girl my age and who comes from a family like mine.. its.. nice." You wanted to see what kind of response she would give.

She didn't seem like the emotional type, though.

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Started: October 3rd, 2023
Finished: October 3rd, 2023

I'm starting to feel better, I think.

Would you like to continue?