Mr. Smith's eyes widened slightly, betraying his anxiety. He had come prepared, but he hadn't anticipated Lorenzo's sharp perception. He thought he had hidden that detail perfectly. Had someone in the company sold him out?
"But you will be getting a substantial profit if we collaborate-about forty percent, to be precise," Mr. Smith said hurriedly.
"Just forty percent?" Lorenzo scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain. "I'm not here to play savior to failing companies and most especially, I'm not satisfied with that. You of all people should know what happens when I'm not pleased," he added, taking a calm sip from his drink.
Mr. Smith gulped, the underlying threat clear in Lorenzo's eyes. He wiped his sweaty palms and forced a nervous smile. "How about 50/50? We can run the business together."
Lorenzo laughed, a sharp sound that cut through the tension. "Two captains cannot sail a ship, Mr. Smith." His amusement quickly morphed into anger. "You came to me thinking I wouldn't discover your little secret-the one where your business is on the brink of bankruptcy unless you secure a deal soon. What do you take me for, a fool? Do you think I built my wealth by doing business with incompetents like you?"
He paused, savoring the discomfort radiating from Mr. Smith, feeling a sense of satisfaction. But this was just the beginning; he intended to extract every advantage from this situation.
Calmly swirling his drink, Lorenzo continued, "I could have opted to shut down your business and make you and your family disappear for attempting to deceive me. However, I will give you credit for your bravery. Instead, I will give you three days to think it over. This meeting is over; you can leave now." He waved his hand dismissively, as if shooing away a fly.
From the top floor, Lorenzo noticed the gorgeous woman paying her bill before hurrying out of the bar. He signaled for Enrico, his head bodyguard.
Enrico stepped forward, bending slightly to bring his towering height in line with Lorenzo's seated position.
"Descubre todo sobre ella antes de mañana (find out everything about her before tomorrow)," Lorenzo whispered, urgency lacing his tone.
Enrico nodded and quickly departed. Lorenzo turned back to find Mr. Smith still seated, his expression dazed.
"Why are you still here?" Lorenzo asked, his voice low and threatening. "Do you prefer one of my bodyguards to escort you out?"
Lorenzo watched as Mr. Smith slowly rose to his feet, the weight of the moment heavy on him, and he walked away without a word. It was evident he had lost more than just composure while listening to Lorenzo's threats.
As Mr. Smith exited the bar, a realization washed over him: he had made a grave mistake by approaching Lorenzo Salvador. But what choice did he have? He needed a powerful ally to stabilize his business, and Lorenzo was the perfect catch in the vast ocean of opportunity. Who could have anticipated that Lorenzo would uncover his little secret? He even called his foolishness "bravery". He might have taken it as a compliment if it had come from anyone else, but nothing about Lorenzo felt complimentary. How foolish he had been to think he could outsmart someone like Lorenzo!
YOU ARE READING
MEANT TO BE SOLELY MINE
Lãng mạnLorenzo Salvador is a twenty-seven-year-old Mexican billionaire, known for his ruthless and merciless ways in both business and the underground drug trade. He believes life is a game to be played to win, and he plays it masterfully. During a busines...
