CHAPTER 23: UNTITLED III
James settled into his study, the glow of his computer screen warming the dimly lit room. He tapped a button, and instantly the faces of his brother, Jared, and his secretary, Angelo, filled the screen. The weight of a massive contract, worth a staggering trillion pounds, hung heavy in the air. It was a deal they'd been chasing for weeks. The deal dangled maddeningly close, yet the other party, Beaulah Construction, kept playing games, refusing to close. James could have strong-armed them, but underhanded tactics were anathema to him. He'd played their game, biding his time. He will just wait for the tantalizing prize dangled just out of reach by fickle, manipulative opponents.
Jared's voice crackled through the speaker, followed by Angelo's. Jared noted a curious absence of his brother's usual sardonic mood. A mischievous glint sparked in Jared's eyes, he couldn't let the opportunity to tease his brother pass just like that. "Sister-in-law must have worked her magic on you today, big bro. You're practically glowing!"
Angelo, ever the loyal lieutenant, shot Jared a withering look. Could the man ever resist a dig? To everyone's surprise, James chuckled. "She did indeed, Jared, and it was blissful."
A stunned silence hung in the air before James cut through it. "Now, let's get to business. Beaulah Construction?"
Since it was a closed in contract and the Boss was handling it personally, he had naturally sworn in his Secretary and Manager into it. Jared handled all the logistics while Angelo handled the paper work. So Jared naturally answered when he asked the question.
"No movement, boss," Jared reported. He handled all Stone Group's covert security, Logistics aside. "Been watching them like hawks for the past 24 hours. Their silence is deafening"
Angelo, ever the meticulous organizer, added, "The paperwork's locked down. We're ready to strike."
James smiled, a flicker of his unusual playful charm breaking through the seriousness. "Excellent. Then let's give them an offer they can't refuse."
James nodded. "I've drafted a new proposal. Check your phones. I just sent it."
With a click of his mouse, James unveiled his latest weapon: a revised proposal, sweetened with a 3% stake in the Stone Group, a tempting olive branch for their greedy counterparts.
Jared's eyebrows shot up. The new offer was audacious - a 3% share of Stone Group. Jared thought with jaws clenched. "Brother, that's risky! Those vultures won't be satisfied with just 3%!. What if they bite for more?"
James leaned back, his eyes glinting with confidence. His gaze held unwavering resolve. "Jared, I've dealt with sharks before and i don't leave loose ends. This negotiation's dragged on long enough. We need a win. Besides this 3% is bait, not blood. And if they get greedy, Angelo will keep an eye on them. Any hint of overreaching, we'll buy back the shares through another means with a hefty sum they can't refuse."
Angelo, ever the voice of reason, interjected. "But this gives them a foothold in the company."
James chuckled, a low rumble of amusement. "Sometimes, Angelo, you have to give a little to gain a lot. Trust me, this 3% is a pittance compared to what this deal will bring us."
"Angelo forward the proposal", James continued. "We should get a response within ten hours if they're serious."
Silence descended on the call, punctuated only by the soft hum of the computer. Then, Jared, always the first to break the tension, grinned. "Alright, boss. Let's reel them in."
Angelo nodded, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "I'll be on watch. We'll be ready for their response."
"Jared, Angelo," James began, his voice laced with steely determination, "we've played their game long enough. The Beaulah Construction contract is ours for the taking."
James leaned back, a wave of satisfaction washing over him. The Beaulah contract was within reach, a testament to their patience, strategy, and a little well-placed bait. Now, all they had to do was wait, and watch the deal swing their way.
"And the McDonald Group?" Angelo inquired. "They want you to marry their daughter and take over the family business."
"I'm already married Angelo, isn't that enough?" James interjected.
Jared raised an eyebrow. This was a first, 'his brother being assertive about his own marriage.
James continued "Marriage doesn't always settle family feuds, Angelo. If they get uppity, Higgins can handle it. He thrives on chaos." Higgins being their Father.
Jared chuckled, a hint of weariness in his voice. "Chaos… maybe that's what he will need to break open a few other deals…
The tone shifted from business to amusement. Jared ribbed Angelo about his meticulous paperwork. Angelo chuckled at a shared inside joke. The tension of the deal momentarily eased, replaced by the camaraderie of a team united in their pursuit of victory.
As the screen went dark after a while, a sense of anticipation hung in the air. The Beaulah contract was just the beginning. James had his sights set on bigger prizes, and he wouldn't hesitate to play his own game, whatever the cost.