The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of dew-covered grass and the soft hum of nature waking up. Martin sat in quiet contemplation, trying to wrap his mind around the unexpected arrival of his business partner and her mother at this early hour.
The head butler, respectful and composed, had just informed him of their presence at the front gate, waiting patiently for permission to enter.
"Lucia and her mother… now?" Martin glanced at his watch — 6:15 AM.
He hadn't expected any visitors, let alone Lucia Cross and Mrs. Cross, her mother, and at such an odd hour. Even though the company was still in its early days, and there was much to discuss, this was an unusual time for a visit.
His mind ran through possibilities, wondering what brought them here so urgently.
After a moment's hesitation, he gave the nod to the butler. "Let them in. Prepare the outdoor gazebo, set up breakfast, and serve them some fresh fruit. I'll be down shortly."
With the head butler gone to carry out his orders, Martin headed back upstairs to freshen up. He quickly showered and dressed in a simple yet elegant outfit — a loose-fitting white linen shirt and wide white pants, ideal for a peaceful morning in the garden.
Slipping into soft slippers, he made his way down to the rear garden, where the summer gazebo stood overlooking the tranquil lake.
By the time Martin reached the limestone path leading to the gazebo, Lucia and her mother, Maria, were already seated under the shade, enjoying an assortment of colorful fruits. The warm, inviting sunlight filtered through the trees, casting a golden glow on the scene.
Lucia was quick to notice his approach and couldn't resist teasing him. "I'm swamped with work, and you're here enjoying imported fruits and living like a secluded monk," she said with a playful smirk.
Her remark made Martin chuckle inwardly, though he did feel a bit embarrassed. He hadn't exactly been idling away, but his recent focus had been on matters far removed from the daily grind of business. Still, Lucia's lighthearted jab wasn't far from the truth.
"You assumed I'd withdrawn from the business world," Martin replied dryly, "but I've just been preparing for what's next."
Ignoring Lucia's playful teasing, Martin greeted Maria Cross with practiced etiquette.
He approached her with a respectful nod, taking her gloved hand and kissing it lightly.
"Maria Cross," she introduced herself with a soft laugh.
"Martin Fox," he responded, returning her smile as he took a seat opposite the two women. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Cross. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company this early morning?"
Lucia leaned back in her chair, taking the lead. "I asked my mother for help reviewing the resumes of potential employees, and after a week of going through them, we've narrowed it down to 108 candidates."
She listed the departments: Human Resources, Legal, Finance, Marketing, Public Affairs, Angel Financing, and Security.
Maria nodded but raised her hand gently to stop her daughter from going on. "Lucia can manage her departments just fine, Mr. Fox," Maria began, her tone polite but direct. "However, before I give my blessing to this business venture, I wanted to meet you in person."
Martin understood immediately. This wasn't just a casual visit. Maria wanted to assess his character, gauge if he was truly the right person to stand alongside her daughter in this ambitious endeavor. Her soft smile and poised demeanor masked her intentions, but Martin wasn't naive. This was a test.
"Of course," Martin replied, maintaining a calm composure. "I completely understand. If I were in your shoes, I'd want to do the same. Please, feel free to ask me anything."
Maria studied him for a moment, her gaze penetrating but not unkind. She smiled, seemingly satisfied with his answer for now, and turned her attention back to the beautiful view of the lake.
Lucia, sensing the tension ease, smiled too. "We've got a lot to discuss, Mr. Fox."
Maria sat gracefully in her chair, hands resting gently on her lap as she gave Lucia an approving nod.
Apparently, she had provided her daughter with a list of inquiries, questions that would test Martin's mettle and determine if he was truly the man capable of guiding this venture forward.
Lucia, ever the pragmatic businesswoman, wasted no time in getting straight to the point.
"Martin," she began, her tone serious, "I understand that you've decided to open our company's account as an international business account with a private bank. While this offers a certain level of security, it also excludes us from receiving local support, subsidies, and government policies that could be highly beneficial in the future. What's your reasoning behind this decision?"
Martin was prepared for this line of questioning, having thought through every aspect of the company's future growth.
"You're right, Lucia," he admitted, "and the taxes are going to be heavy. But there's a bigger picture at play here." He paused briefly before continuing. "I'm not just thinking about the present or the next year. I'm thinking five, ten, maybe even twenty years ahead. My vision is for the company to become a business behemoth, with its reach in every major avenue of trade across the globe. To do that, we need to be free from the political pressures and influence that come with relying on local support."
Lucia frowned slightly, as did Maria.
"But without the backing of the government, how can you hope to penetrate the country's market? We should be focusing on securing our position here, in this city and this province. You're making it much harder than it needs to be," Maria voiced her concerns, her gaze sharp.
"I don't disagree," Martin replied, his voice calm and unwavering. "But let me ask you this: What real support would I get from the government, considering my background? I'm not from a powerful family like you, Maria. I've already experienced how easily they can bend the law to suit their needs. If they can threaten to throw me in jail with no legitimate reason, what's stopping them from freezing the company's assets later on? It's a dangerous game to play."
Lucia and Maria both fell silent as they considered Martin's point. He wasn't wrong. His lack of political or familial connections would always leave him vulnerable.
"I'd rather pay the taxes and secure our cash flow than leave the company's lifeline in the hands of our rivals," Martin continued, his voice growing more resolute. "We'll build overseas, accumulate wealth and assets there while focusing on Lucia's 20% shares here in the country. When the time comes to split the company into branches, the local assets will be absorbed into the system with open arms—especially with the Cross family behind them. That's how we'll play it."
Maria leaned back slightly, her expression thoughtful. The vision Martin laid out was ambitious, far-reaching, and it wasn't something that could be achieved in a year or two.
It might take five, maybe more, just to lay the foundation for such a grand venture. But what impressed her was his patience. He wasn't in a rush, and that spoke volumes about his long-term planning and mindset.
"Your thinking is certainly... unique," Maria finally remarked. "But it's also risky."
"All great things come with risk," Martin replied, a small smile tugging at his lips. "But I'm not blind to the challenges ahead. That's why I'm taking it one step at a time."
Their conversation carried on for nearly three hours. Maria found herself increasingly engaged in the discussion, offering advice on navigating both business and political landscapes. She gave insights into the inner workings of the powerful circles they would need to interact with and offered tips on building alliances that could benefit the company's growth.
Lucia, meanwhile, sat quietly, watching in mild amazement as Martin and her mother dived deep into matters she hadn't even considered. Martin's intellect and strategic thinking were clearly on full display, and Lucia found herself feeling both proud and slightly intimidated by the scope of his vision.
As the conversation shifted from business to a broader discussion about social norms and the evolution of human interactions across civilizations, Lucia finally had to intervene.
"Mom," she cut in, shaking her head with an amused smile, "as much as I'm enjoying this... we need to head back soon. Dad's going to be expecting lunch."
Maria blinked, as though pulled from a trance, and gave a soft laugh. "Yes, of course." She turned to Martin, her eyes gleaming with newfound respect. "This has been an enlightening conversation, Mr. Fox. I look forward to seeing how far you take this venture."
Martin nodded, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction as the two women prepared to leave. As daunting as the future might be, he knew he had just won over one of the most important allies he could have ever hoped for in the world of business.