When they reached their destination, a deserted street near an abandoned warehouse, the man quickly left, leaving a generous note on the bank. Aiden watched him disappear between the buildings and decided it was best not to ask questions.
Tired from his busy day, Aiden drove back home, already imagining the hot shower and dinner that awaited him. But as he approached a busy intersection, a loud honking caught his attention. He glanced in the rearview mirror and saw an out-of-control truck speeding toward him.
"What the hell..." he muttered, accelerating to get out of the way.
The truck scraped past his Lamborghini, nearly pushing him onto the sidewalk. Aiden steered the wheel skillfully, dodging pedestrians and other cars as the truck zigzagged down the street.
He pulled over to the side of the road, his heart pounding.
"That was close," he thought, watching the truck disappear into the distance. Something seemed off. It wasn't common for a vehicle of that size to lose control in the middle of the city.
Aiden picked up his cell phone and made a quick call.
"I want you to investigate a truck that almost ran me over a little while ago. It could be a coincidence, but I'm not willing to risk it."
"Leave it to me, sir. I'll track the license plate and find out what happened." The team answered.
Aiden hung up, took a deep breath, and headed back home, but he couldn't help but think that this could be related to recent events.
When he got home, Aiden went straight to the shower, trying to relieve the stress of the day. As the hot water ran down his body, he mentally analyzed everything that had happened: Ivan's interrogation, the ambush, and now the truck.
"If this is an attempt at intimidation, they're going to need something better," he thought with a cold smile.
After dinner, he reviewed some reports from Star Corp. before finally throwing himself into bed.
The next morning, Aiden woke up early, the sound of his alarm replaced by notifications from the AI. As he brushed his teeth, the AI's calm and precise voice reported:
"Sir, meeting scheduled for 9:00 AM with the strategic planning department. Project updates in Argentina, the US, Asia and Africa await your review."
Aiden wiped his face and muttered, "Looks like it's going to be a long day again."
After dressing in an impeccable navy blue suit with subtle details and adjusting his tie, he climbed into his Lamborghini and drove to Star Corp. headquarters.
Aiden was met by Arthur and Ada at the entrance to the conference room. Arthur, relaxed, greeted.
"You look refreshed, kid. Did you sleep well?"
"I tried, but my rest never lasts long." Aiden smiled wryly, following the two into the room.
Inside, a team of planners, analysts and directors were already waiting. Holographic screens floated around the space, displaying detailed charts, maps, and reports. Orion was already present, talking to one of the team leaders.
Arthur began the meeting:
"Let's get straight to the point. We'll start with the Asian projects."
A young analyst took the floor, projecting a map of Asia.
"We're facing delays in implementing logistics hubs in Japan and South Korea. While progress in Singapore and Hong Kong is on schedule, we need more flexibility in political negotiations to avoid tariff barriers."
Aiden interrupted
"What about the land we offered to Myt Industrial in Japan? Any response?"
Ada replied
"Not yet. It seems their CEO, Naka, is considering other proposals before closing with us."
Aiden frowned.
"We don't have time to play on Naka's pride. Arthur, submit another proposal, but include a five-year exclusivity clause. That should convince him."
Arthur quickly wrote it down, nodding.
The next presentation focused on projects in Africa. A more experienced analyst presented the data.
"Infrastructure investments in Lagos and Johannesburg are facing resistance from local governments. They are demanding larger counterparts than expected."
"How much are we talking about?" Aiden asked, looking at the projected numbers.
"About 15% above the initial budget."
Aiden sighed, running his hand over his chin.
"Cancel the lower priority projects in other regions and redirect the funds. We can't afford to lose the African market."
Ada added,
"This could delay our plans in Latin America."
Aiden shook his head.
"Don't worry. I have a plan for that. We'll talk about Argentina soon."
After going through some obstacles on other continents, the team finally had some good news.
"In the US, the partnership with Atlas Tech is paying off. The launch of joint products next quarter should increase our revenues by 12%."
Arthur joked,
"Finally something that won't give me a headache."
Aiden laughed.
"Enjoy it while it lasts. Nothing stays stable for long."
When it was time to talk about expansion in Argentina, Aiden took the floor.
"We need to prioritize entering the Argentine market. I want a detailed analysis of the most promising areas for investment, especially in Buenos Aires and Rosario."
Ada raised an eyebrow.
"Are you thinking of anything specific?"
"Yes. Let's start with the technology and renewable energy sector. The current government's environmental policies are an excellent entry point for us to establish our presence."