"Let's cut to the chase," Chef Gustaeu said, sitting down at the table opposite Michael. "I want to establish our new restaurant on your Golden Road."
Michael wasn't surprised. It seemed that the dark-skinned chef was able to see through the potential of a fast-food restaurant.
I guess there is merit to him being one of the top chefs in his company, Michael thought.
"Rejoice!" one of the chefs beside Gustaeu proclaimed. "Having Chef Gustaeu's restaurant established in your territory is a privilege that many people would kill to have."
"Now, shall we talk about the split of profits and the fees. We propose that we will pay a 0.5% fee of profits to the Reborn company in exchange for using your territory as the base of our restaurant—"
But before the other chefs could start the discussions, Michael raised his hand, stopping the conversation dead in its tracks.
"Wait," he said. "I haven't agreed yet."
His words were like an alien language to the three chefs. If a top chef from a 200th ranked company in the world asked to establish a restaurant in your territory, then you should accept it without a second thought! But it seemed that Michael didn't get this memo.
"Are you saying you reject Chef Gusteau?" they asked Michael.
"I didn't say that. I'm simply saying that the negotiations aren't over. I haven't heard much of an offer from you yet."
They were even more flabbergasted upon hearing that. It was supposed to be the other way around! Michael should be the one trying to convince Chef Gustaeu to cook in his territory. Yet, Michael was the one talking like he was the one to be wooed.
"It's not only his name that he carries, but also the brand of the Pyramidic Cuisine," argued one of the chefs.
"Not only that, but all the subsidiaries under the Pyramidic Cuisine will follow suit with his move. Our companies are all ranked in the lower 400th spot, which is, respectfully, higher than Reborn!"
"You should be the one trying to add benefits to this agreement to satisfy Chef Gustaeu's liking!"
Michael remained calm while the three chefs tried to argue with him.
"And why would I do that?" Michael asked, leaning on his chair, relaxed. "I know just how valuable that spot would be in the future. The Truck Stop will be visited by millions of people every month."
Then, Michael gestured for Sheina to come closer and bring the papers she had been holding in her hands.
She spread it around the table, letting Gustaeu and the Chefs see all the different offers Reborn got just today.
"You guys are not the only ones who have noticed the popularity of McTony's. Almost every restaurant in Angora City is begging me to let them have a spot in the Truck Stop. And with what they're offering, I see no reason for you to have a spot over them."
The chefs frantically looked over the contract applications. Their eyes widened when they saw the figures.
"A 20 year locked lease?!"
"Profit sharing?!"
"One is even willing to be your subsidiary?!?!"
They couldn't believe how much these restaurants were willing to offer just to have a spot in the Truck Stop.
"In fact, I shouldn't even be entertaining your offers. Didn't you reject my CEO's offer when she asked you to meet with her? I recall your letter calling it a 'waste of time'."
The other chefs cringed, regretting the words they sent on that letter. They were acting with the pride of a ranked 200th company, so they thought that they could get away with such harsh words without any consequences.
"Chefs, Michael is right," Gustaeu nodded, aware of his own mistakes. "We are the ones who should be begging to be let inside the Truck Stop business. You saw how even this single McTony's is beating even our best restaurants in terms of customers. It will only grow more in the future."
Michael gave him a nod of approval. It seemed that this Chef Gustaeu wasn't as bad as he thought. He was a level-headed thinker who didn't let his pride get in the way of his reasoning.
"I do not apologize for rejecting the meeting with her, but I do apologize for saying that it is a waste of time," Chef Gustaeu said.
"I'm not the one that you should say that to," Michael said. "You guys should talk to her."
He pointed at Castelle, who had been listening to the conversation behind Michael's chair.
"Who is she?" one of the chefs asked.
"She's the one you should be trying to curry favor with. She's my CEO."
Michael got up from his chair and pushed Castelle to sit directly opposite the chefs.
All of them were surprised. Castelle didn't expect to be put in the hot seat, and the chefs were surprised that she held such a high spot in the Reborn company. They didn't think that a CEO would wear a maid's uniform of all things.
"Young Master!" Castelle whispered hurriedly to Michael. "You should be the one negotiating with them! I'm not qualified to do it!"
But instead, Michael just gave her a reassuring pat and a smile.
"She'll be negotiating on my behalf. Don't underestimate her, or you'll find yourself selling even your own left foot without even knowing it!" he said, winking.
Castelle, being put in such a high-stakes position, couldn't help but fiddle her fingers while the four chefs stared at her.
"Okay, we'll relent. Our company will pay a 2-year lease up front and a locked contract for another 3 more years," one of the chefs said, standing up to try and intimidate Castelle.
The CEO of Reborn tapped her fingers anxiously, before she slammed her hands on the table, surprising the chefs.
"Not enough!" Castelle shouted.
Michael smiled as he watched on the sidelines. Castelle's talent in business was finally showing its fruit!
She had only been hindered by her low self-esteem because of her low upbringing, but he knew that she would overcome it in the end and turn into the ruthless businesswoman that he knew she could become.
Her intuition as she navigated through the negotiations were top-notch. The chefs were left completely stunned as she took more than what they were prepared to bargain for.
In the end, the chefs would get a permanent spot in the Truck Stop right now. If they wanted a spot for the future Truck Stops, then they would have to negotiate with Castelle again.
Not only that, but they would have to use Reborn products for their restaurant. They would use concrete, they would use ingredients bought from Reborn, and they would also buy automobiles to transport those ingredients to the restaurant itself.
As for their payment, Castelle perfectly negotiated a very favorable deal for Reborn.
They would pay them in terms of materials and resources!
Even Michael was excited as she gave them this ultimatum. It immediately solved all their problems about their lack of materials!
More automobile construction, more Golden Roads, more Truck Stops, and most importantly, they could finally build the roller coaster that had been stuck in Michael's head for a long time!