Chapter 23
Carson’s Pov
I went to Abnor’s restaurant for a business meeting, I told Benson to cancel the meeting but he didn’t, I had no other option but to attend the meeting and be professional, It was about an investment in the restaurant, I was about to invest millions of my money and they weren’t offering a good share.
The car was ready and Benson was by my side. Benson and I have been friends for a long time but we never let our friendship interfere in our business matters. We always used to say not to mix business matters with our personal lives. But somehow I felt the reason why he pushed me to have a meeting with the owner of the restaurant was because he was connected to the restaurant, When I asked him about him he denied and refused to acknowledge any connection he had with that restaurant, I didn’t want to continue to pry so I let it be.
We arrived at the restaurant after a long drive, Benson was already rubbing his thighs in nervousness
“We are here sir,” Benson said, Even though I could see that we had arrived already
“Let’s get this done” I fastened up my button as we stepped out of the car, I could see it was a busy day as it was packed with people and I couldn’t care less but Benson stopped me.
“You might get recognized, let’s use the VIP entrance” Benson suggested. That was a good idea, it would save me from meeting a lot of annoying humans I didn’t have time to meet.
We stepped into the restaurant and we saw a group of men ready to accept us. They walked us to the place where the meeting was going to be held. Benson’s nervousness became apparent. He avoided eye contact and he was fidgeting. I didn’t want to pry as I felt it wasn’t my place to ask too many questions.
I placed my hands on his shoulders, I had to do something to at least calm him down
“You good?” I asked him looking directly into his eyes
“Yeah, don’t worry about me, let’s get this deal,” He said as I removed my hands from his shoulder. We nodded and walked into the meeting place
“Welcome welcome” Mr Abnor welcomed us with a wide smile, He was a man well into his 60s, He was Mexican, He had a pot belly, and wouldn’t be caught dead without a cigarette in his mouth
“Let’s get into it now, shall we ?” I said with seriousness which killed the smile Mr Abnor had stitched on his face when I had walked into the door.
“Very well then, have your seats,” Mr Abnor said, We sat down and immediately kicked off on the reason why we were gathered there.
“I could see your business has boomed ever since my marketing got involved,” I said
“Yes that is true” Mr Abnor responded with a smile
“I wasn’t asking for a confirmation, I know it is true,” I said back not willing to drag any of this out for too long
“Yes which is why I am offering a thirty percent share of this restaurant to your firm,” Mr Abnor said
“Our initial share was twenty percent and that was because we were willing to invest in your dying business,” I saidText property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
“I wouldn’t call it dying-” Mr Abnor said before I cut him off
“But it was dying, I am asking for a fifty percent share or withdraw myself from your restaurant,” I said, laying out my wants
“Fifty percent is rather too much, let’s make it forty percent,” Mr Abnor said, trying to bargain with me.
“Fifty percent or I leave you stranded like the way you were before I took pity on you,” I said. I didn’t care how I came off as long as I was making my point clear. Mr Abnor sighed and asked to be excused. He and his lawyer with other shareholders knew the restaurant would’ve fallen apart if not for I had stepped in. I wanted to ask for more than fifty percent but I didn’t want more than what I offered. As they continued to talk, Benson and I ran through the pros and cons of accepting more shares. Fortunately, the only con was that I would have more people on the marketing team to bring in more profits.
After what seemed like hours, They walked back in looking defeated.
“Deal” Mr Abnor said
“There you have it,” I said. Mr. Abnor walked over to shake my hand firmly.
We signed the needed documents and we decided to have dinner as I didn’t have anywhere else to go, Benson and I quietly discussed other plans before he got a message from Mr Longe asking for an impromptu meeting. The way the message was being passed across was showcased as a state of emergency.
“Can’t it be canceled?” I asked, Hoping it would be canceled so I wouldn’t have to be anywhere else except my room.
“I am afraid it can’t be canceled, Sir,” Benson said as it was a state of emergency. If it wasn’t something worth my peaceful and beautiful sleep, He is surely going to hear from me.
We finished up with our meals and we got up to leave. We shook hands with Mr Abnor who was sitting at the same table with us.
As we walked out of the door I looked down at my watch to check for the time, and I wasn’t paying attention to the person headed towards me, I didn’t realize I had bumped into someone, I heard a male voice calling out to me
“Common man you could’ve least watched where you were going” The man yelled at me. I stopped and turned but I didn’t see a face from where I was, I could only see two figures, a tall figure and a short one, and walked close to see who had the guts to yell at me, As I went closer and the light revealed my face, I was left star struck at the beautiful person before me.