I heaved a long sigh of relief, feeling grateful that the ball was no longer in my court.
Ashton was unmoved by the flattery and replied flatly, “I prefer not to discuss business during meals.”
I stifled a laugh at his outright rejection.
From the moment Marshall had arranged for Elliot to sit next to me, he was destined to fall on the wrong side of Ashton. It seemed that he would never get his hands on pie for the real estate and properties industry.
Marshall was caught by surprise as his hand was still hanging in mid-air; his smile froze awkwardly on his face.
Coming from a prestigious background himself, he was usually on the receiving end of adulation. It was no wonder that he looked as though he had just swallowed a hard pill.
The air in the room once again turned frosty.
Thora furrowed her brows. She didn’t want to offend Marshall, but she couldn’t go against Ashton too. At last, she decided to just keep her mouth shut.
Just as Marshall seemed like he was about to blow a fuse, Elliot intercepted, “Mr. Tiedemann, I think Mr. Fuller is tipsy. It would be wiser to continue the discussion about the land another time. Why don’t we talk about the financing plan for your company?”
Upon Elliot’s timely rescue, a broad grin crept across Marshall’s face as he turned around and said, “Mr. Jacobson, I appreciate you getting straight to the point. I’m willing to absorb another extra five percent on the prior agreed amount.”
“That’s fine by me, as long as it’s a win-win solution.”
Before long, Elliot seemed to have the situation under control while he cultivated the image of a reliable business partner.
Nonetheless, just as the two men were about to drink to a deal successfully struck, Ashton intervened, “If I may, Fuller Corporation might not be the best in the city, but we have a team of top analysts. Those companies they deem as having no potential to grow may not submit their proposals in the president’s office.”
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