Chapter 8 - [8] Dinner

The next day felt like I was being pulled deeper into a world I was still struggling to understand. Vanessa had called me into her office that afternoon, informing me that we'd be going to a private dinner with one of her business partners. This wasn't just another meeting. This was something more personal, more intimate, and I could feel the weight of it as we left the office.The restaurant Vanessa had chosen was upscale, dimly lit with a kind of understated elegance that screamed exclusivity. As we walked in, the host immediately recognized her, guiding us to a private room at the back without even asking for her name. That was the kind of power Vanessa wielded—unspoken but undeniable.Inside, we were greeted by a tall, well-dressed man in his late forties. His dark suit was perfectly tailored, and his hair was slicked back in a way that made him look like he'd just stepped off the cover of Forbes. He stood up when we entered, extending his hand with a practiced smile."Vanessa," he said warmly, "so good to see you again.""James," Vanessa replied smoothly, shaking his hand with the kind of confidence that only she could pull off. "This is Tristan, my new assistant."James turned to me, his eyes assessing for a brief moment before his smile returned. "Ah, the new blood. Nice to meet you, Tristan.""Likewise," I said, shaking his hand, trying to match his composure.We all sat down, and the dinner began. For the first part of the meal, I mostly listened as Vanessa and James exchanged pleasantries, discussing recent business trends and some new acquisitions James' company had made. He talked a lot about growth, using buzzwords like synergy and market penetration. Every now and then, Vanessa would nod, but she was mostly quiet, letting him do the talking.As the appetizers arrived—delicate plates of something that looked expensive but unfamiliar—James shifted gears, clearly moving into the main reason for this meeting."Now," he said, leaning forward slightly, "I wanted to talk to you about the new project we're launching next quarter. I know we've touched on this before, but I really think this could be something massive for both of us."Vanessa raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. "Go on."James smiled, clearly pleased to have her attention. "We've been developing a new AI-driven platform that's designed to streamline supply chain management. We're talking real-time data, predictive analytics, the whole package. It's still in the early stages, but the potential is huge. If we can get this off the ground, we could corner the market on this technology."He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in. I could tell he thought he was selling her on a goldmine."And the best part?" he continued. "We're projecting a 30% cost reduction across the board for any company that implements it. That's a game-changer, Vanessa. Imagine what that could do for Reed Estates."Vanessa nodded thoughtfully, but she still didn't say much. She was waiting, watching, and I could see the subtle way she was reading him, picking apart every word he said.James kept going, his voice gaining more enthusiasm. "I've already got a few key players interested—big names. They're ready to jump on this once we roll it out. All we need is a strong partner, someone with the infrastructure and the reach to scale this thing fast. That's where you come in."Vanessa leaned back slightly, her fingers lightly tapping the edge of her wine glass. "It sounds promising, but I haven't seen any hard data yet. You've mentioned potential, but where's the proof? Have you run any simulations? Do you have any real-world case studies?"James smiled, clearly anticipating the question. "We're still in the testing phase, but the preliminary results are incredibly strong. I've got my best team working on this, and I'm confident we'll have the data to back it up soon. I can send over what we have so far, but trust me, Vanessa—this is the future. If we get in on this now, we'll be ahead of the curve."Vanessa didn't respond immediately. Instead, she turned to me. "What do you think, Tristan?"The question hit me like a ton of bricks. I hadn't expected her to ask my opinion in front of James. I hesitated, feeling a familiar rush of nerves. I wasn't sure if I should speak up, but her eyes were on me, expectant.I cleared my throat, choosing my words carefully. "Honestly... it sounds like a lot of lofty promises with no real evidence to back them up. I mean, everything you've said sounds great in theory," I said, turning to James, "but without concrete data, it's just that—theory."James's smile faltered, just for a second. He wasn't expecting that. I could see the flicker of irritation behind his eyes, though he hid it well.Vanessa's lips curled into a faint smile. "Interesting," she said, looking back at James. "Tristan makes a good point. You're asking for a lot of trust, James. I need more than promises."For a moment, James looked uncomfortable. His smooth, polished demeanor cracked just a little as he scrambled to regain control. "Of course, Vanessa. I completely understand. I'll make sure you get the data as soon as possible. We're still fine-tuning everything, but I can assure you, this is solid."Vanessa didn't say anything for a few long moments, just watched him. I could tell she wasn't fully convinced, but she was giving him a chance to save face."I'll review the data when you have it," she said finally. "Until then, I'll hold off on any commitments."James nodded, his smile back in place, but I could tell he wasn't as confident as before. "Absolutely. I'll get that over to you right away."After a bit more small talk, James excused himself, leaving Vanessa and me alone in the private room. The servers cleared away his plate, and suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. It was just the two of us now, and the weight of that realization made my pulse quicken.Vanessa glanced at me, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Sit down and eat with me," she said, gesturing to the seat across from her.I blinked, caught off guard. "Are... are you sure?"She smiled, a little wider this time. "Yes, Tristan. Sit down."Feeling the heat rise in my face, I nodded quickly and sat down. My hands felt a little shaky as I picked up my fork, trying not to embarrass myself. Vanessa didn't seem bothered, though. She was completely at ease, as if this was the most normal thing in the world.We ate in silence for a few moments, the sound of soft music playing faintly in the background. My mind was still racing from everything that had happened with James, and I could feel the question bubbling up in me."So," Vanessa said after a while, setting her fork down and leaning back slightly. "What did you really think of James?"I swallowed the bite of food I'd been chewing, feeling my throat tighten. "Honestly?" I asked cautiously."Always," she replied, her gaze unwavering.I took a deep breath. "I think he's full of shit. He made a lot of promises, but he didn't back up any of it with real evidence. It felt like he was just trying to impress you with big words and buzzwords. I mean, yeah, it all sounds nice, but without actual data or case studies, I wouldn't trust it."Vanessa's lips curled into a small smile, and for a moment, I felt a rush of relief. But then she leaned forward, her eyes narrowing slightly. "I think he's solid," she said calmly, her voice even. "He's proven himself in the past, and I believe he'll deliver."I felt like someone had just yanked the rug out from under me. I blinked, completely caught off guard. Was she serious? Had I misread the whole situation?For a moment, I panicked, my mind racing for a way to backtrack. But then, something inside me steadied. I'd already given my opinion, and I wasn't about to take it back just because it wasn't what she wanted to hear."With all due respect," I said, trying to keep my voice steady, "I still stand by what I said. He didn't provide any solid evidence, and I think it's risky to make a decision based on promises alone."There was a tense pause, and I braced myself for whatever was about to come next. But instead of being upset, Vanessa's smile widened, her eyes gleaming with something like approval."I was only joking, Tristan," she said, her voice light now, amused. "I wanted to see if you'd stick to your point."I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding, my heart still pounding in my chest. "You—" I started, feeling the embarrassment rise in me. "You were joking?"She nodded, still smiling. "I like to test people. See if they can hold their ground under pressure. You did well."I shook my head, trying to laugh off the tension. "Jeez, you had me going there."Vanessa's eyes sparkled as she leaned back in her chair, taking a sip of her wine. "Get used to it, Tristan. There will be more tests."I couldn't help but smile, even as my nerves slowly started to settle. Working for Vanessa Reed was going to be one hell of a ride.The dinner wasn't over, but I had a feeling the real conversations had only just begun.Q: How can you tell if someone is full of baloney in business?