20. Negotiation
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Negotiation Room — Zenith International vs. Maximilian Brooks
The conference room was enormous—
glass walls, a marble table, and screens displaying financial charts.
The directors of Zenith International were already seated.
All of them looked tense, adjusting their suits nervously.
Their CEO, Mr. Alden Kirk, wiped sweat from his palms.
Kyron stood near the door, tablet in hand.
Then—
Maximilian entered.
Silence fell instantly.
His presence hit the room like a silent thunder.
Cold. Sharp. Calculated.
He didn't greet anyone.
He didn't need to.
He simply took his seat at the head of the table, placed the file down, and said:
"Let's begin."
Mr. Kirk cleared his throat.
"Y-Yes, of course, President Brooks…"
The negotiation started.
Zenith's directors spoke first, outlining their proposal, using graphs, numbers, and profit predictions.
Maximilian listened without blinking.
Not a single muscle moved on his face.
When they finished, Mr. Kirk smiled nervously.
"S-So, what do you think of our offer, President Brooks?"
A long silence followed.
Kyron didn't breathe.
The directors shifted uncomfortably.
Maximilian finally closed the file.
And spoke.
"Your numbers are inflated."
The Zenith team froze.
He continued, voice smooth and cold:
"Your projected profits rely on market conditions that don't exist.
Your supply chain cannot support the expansion timeline.
And your overseas branch is carrying a debt that you tried to hide in the secondary statements."
Mr. Kirk's face drained of color.
"H-Hide? N-No, we—"
Maximilian raised a hand.
Silence.
"If you cannot be honest in a negotiation, you don't deserve to sit at this table."
Zenith's finance director stammered.
"H-How did you know about the—?"
Maximilian leaned back in his chair.
"I know everything."
Every director flinched.
Kyron looked proud.
The Zenith CEO tried to recover.
"Mr. Brooks, surely we can—"
Maximilian opened another document.
"Page 14.
Clause 7.
You attempted to shift 12% of the financial risk to my company."
Mr. Kirk's hands shook.
"That— That was a misunderstanding—"
Maximilian's voice cut through the air like a blade.
"No.
It was stupidity."
Dead silence.
He folded his hands on the table, eyes cold and lethal.
"I'll give you ten minutes to rewrite the proposal.
Remove the hidden debts.
Present real numbers.
And eliminate every clause that insults my intelligence."
He stood up.
Kyron immediately followed.
Maximilian paused at the door.
"If the next draft isn't perfect…"
he glanced back over his shoulder,
eyes like a king passing judgment—
"…the deal is dead, and your company will not survive competing with mine."
And he walked out.
The Zenith team collapsed into panic the moment he left.
Kyron smirked.
"President Brooks has spoken."
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