The atmosphere in the sleek, modern conference room felt charged with possibility. The toy company owner, a man clearly accustomed to being in control, had just surprised them by revealing he already knew about Red Fire Refinery, thanks to his friend Mr. Henderson's glowing recommendation.

  He had even proposed a one-year contract, extendable to three, based solely on that recommendation and their professional appearance.

  It was a massive win, a huge step forward for their fledgling company. Adam felt a surge of relief and excitement. This felt almost too easy.

  But Monica, ever the sharp negotiator, knew the most crucial part was yet to come: the price. The owner had mentioned the introductory price Henderson secured – fifty percent below market value.

  But that was for a first paid order, after a free trial. Was that the price the owner expected for a long-term contract? Or was he willing to pay more now that their quality was vouched for?

  In the brief silence following the owner’s contract proposal, Monica spoke up, her voice sharp yet perfectly controlled, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.

  "Thank you for the offer, sir. A one-year contract with a potential extension is definitely something we're very interested in." She paused, meeting his gaze directly. "So, regarding the pricing for this contract… what price are you expecting to pay per barrel?"

  The company owner, who had been leaning back comfortably, perhaps expecting them to simply accept his initial terms gratefully, smiled subtly again.

  He had clearly been observing them closely, gauging their confidence, their desperation level perhaps. Now, he leaned forward slightly, his expression becoming shrewd, business-like.

  "Well, Ms. Monica," he replied smoothly, his tone reasonable but firm, "I appreciate your quality, as recommended by Bob Henderson. And I understand you're a new company trying to establish yourselves." He steepled his fingers.

  "Look, I’m not going to try and squeeze you down to the absolute lowest possible price. I’m not asking for the full fifty percent discount Henderson might have gotten on his first paid order after a free trial." He paused, letting them absorb his apparent generosity.

  "But," he continued, laying out his expectation, "given your position as a new supplier, I’m expecting a price somewhere around 60% of the current market value. That still represents a significant saving for us compared to Green Refinery, while giving you a fair price to start." He then added a sweetener,

  "And, if you're willing to commit to the full potential three-year deal right now, lock it in… perhaps we could even go up to 75% of market value for the entire duration. A sign of our commitment to a long-term partnership."

  Adam felt a jolt of surprise hearing the numbers. Sixty percent? Maybe even seventy-five percent? That was significantly better than the fifty percent they had just agreed to sell to Henderson for! His mind immediately started calculating the potential profit difference.

  At those rates, they wouldn't just be breaking even; they'd be making a decent profit right from their first major contract! He felt a sudden urge to just say "Yes! Deal!" before the owner changed his mind.

  He wanted to nudge Monica, whisper something, but the serious, focused atmosphere of the negotiation made him hold back. He trusted Monica to handle this.

  The owner saw Adam’s flicker of surprise, perhaps misinterpreting it. He continued smoothly, justifying his offer.

  "Besides," he added, adopting a slightly more reasonable tone, "you yourselves are currently offering Henderson half of the market price, from what he told me. What I’m proposing – sixty to seventy-five percent – is already considerably more generous than your own initial offer to him. It seems quite fair, wouldn't you agree?" He looked from Monica to Adam, expecting agreement.

  Adam waited for Monica’s response, curious to see how she would handle this opening offer. Would she accept the 75% for a three-year deal? It seemed like a great offer compared to their 50% sale to Henderson.

  But Monica didn't jump at it. Instead, she leaned forward slightly again, her eyes focused, her expression thoughtful but firm. She wasn't intimidated by the owner or his seemingly generous offer.

  "Sir," Monica began, her voice steady, respectful but unwavering, "we appreciate your willingness to negotiate beyond the initial price point Mr. Henderson received. And we value the potential for a long-term partnership." She paused, choosing her words carefully.

  "However, the introductory price offered to Mr. Henderson was exactly that – an introductory price, designed to encourage a first paid order after our free trial, to build initial trust."

  She met the owner's gaze directly. "That 50% discount is only guaranteed for his current order. I cannot, in good faith, promise that same deep discount – or even the 60% to 75% you're suggesting now – will remain indefinitely, especially not locked in for three years straight." Her tone was firm, drawing a clear line.

  "Think about it from our perspective, sir," Monica continued logically, appealing to his business sense. "We are a new refinery. We have significant startup costs" – Adam mentally thanked her for phrasing it that way, avoiding mention of their non-existent initial costs thanks to his power –

  "and the market for crude oil itself fluctuates. If I commit us to selling our product at such a steep discount for three whole years, regardless of future market conditions or our own rising operational costs… I can't be certain our company will even survive that long."

  She leaned back slightly, her expression serious. "And if I, as the COO, lose faith in my own company's long-term financial stability by making unsustainable promises… how can I possibly expect valued customers like yourself to believe in us, to trust us as a reliable long-term partner?" Her argument was sharp, well-reasoned.

  She wasn't just haggling; she was framing the price negotiation in terms of sustainability and mutual trust.

  Adam listened in silent admiration. Monica was incredible. She hadn't just deflected the owner's offer; she had turned it around, using logic and a long-term perspective to argue for a higher price, framing it as being in the customer's best interest to ensure their supplier remained viable.

  A small, impressed smile tugged at Adam's lips as he glanced at her. 'Wow,' he thought again. 'She's truly capable… incredibly sharp. She didn't just take the first decent offer; she's fighting for the best possible deal for us, while still sounding reasonable.'

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Even the company owner seemed taken aback, and perhaps impressed, by Monica's articulate and firm response.

  His own subtle smile returned, but this time it held less shrewdness and more genuine interest, maybe even respect. He looked at Monica intently for a moment, clearly reassessing her.

  "Hmm," the owner murmured thoughtfully. "You drive a hard bargain, Ms. Monica. And you make a fair point about long-term viability." He paused, then his smile widened slightly, becoming almost playful, though his eyes remained sharp.

  "You're quite an impressive negotiator. A valuable asset to your… founder." He glanced briefly at Adam, then back to Monica.

  "In fact," he continued, leaning forward conspiratorially, "your company, 'Fire Corporation', seems… unconventional. Perhaps even unstable, given its sudden appearance. Are you sure you want to tie your future to such a new, unknown entity?" He paused dramatically. "Why don't I make you a personal offer?"

  Both Adam and Monica were clearly caught completely off guard by this sudden, unexpected turn in the conversation. An offer? For Monica? Personally?

  The owner leaned in slightly further, his voice smooth, persuasive, directed solely at Monica now.

  "Forget this startup. Leave them. Come and work for me. Join my company. We're established, successful, stable. I can see your talent, Ms. Monica. Whatever salary this young man," – he gestured dismissively towards Adam without looking at him –

  "is paying you, he might have promised you in his risky venture… I'll double it. Guaranteed. Double the salary, plus significant stock options in a company that actually makes money. What do you say?"

  The offer hung in the air, bold, direct, and incredibly tempting. It was a classic corporate poaching move, aimed at snatching talented individuals away from rivals or upstarts.

  Adam’s expression instantly turned cold. His eyes narrowed, fixing on the owner with a silent, challenging glare. He felt a surge of anger – this man was trying to steal his COO right in front of him! After they had just started!

  He had to physically restrain himself from saying something sharp, from reacting emotionally. He trusted Monica, but the sheer audacity of the owner's move felt like a personal attack.

  The owner noticed Adam’s glare and quickly held up his hands in a placating gesture, though his smile remained smug. "Whoa there, son," he said condescendingly to Adam.

  "Easy now. Try to understand. This is just business. Nothing personal. Happens all the time. Good talent gets recognized, gets better offers. I haven't broken any rules here. Just making a smart business proposal to a clearly capable individual." He turned back to Monica, his expression expectant.

  But before the tension could escalate further, Monica stepped in smoothly, defusing the situation with a calm smile and quiet confidence. She looked directly at the owner, her expression polite but unwavering.

  "Sir," she began, her voice calm, "that is an extremely generous offer, and I am flattered by your confidence in my abilities." She paused, letting him savor his perceived advantage for a second. Then she delivered her response, shattering his assumption.

  "However," she continued, her smile turning slightly cool, "I must respectfully decline."

  The owner’s confident expression faltered slightly. He clearly hadn’t expected a refusal.

  Monica pressed on, her voice steady.

  "You asked what Mr. Adam is paying me. While the exact details are confidential, I can tell you that his initial offer involved a guaranteed salary commitment far exceeding what even senior executives at your level might typically receive, along with significant equity – shares – in the refinery company itself." She deliberately exaggerated Adam's initial (now retracted) salary offer, using it as leverage.

  "So, with all due respect, sir, I highly doubt doubling even a standard executive salary here would actually top the overall potential value Mr. Adam has already put on the table for his core team."

  She leaned forward slightly again, her gaze direct and sincere. "But more importantly than the money, sir… I believe in what we are building at Fire Corporation. I believe in Adam's vision, even if it's unconventional. I feel like this company is partly my own now, my responsibility to help build. It's a chance to create something new, something better, from the ground up." Her voice held genuine conviction.

  "So, thank you for the offer, but I’m not leaving. I'm committed to Fire Corporation."

  The owner was visibly shocked by her firm refusal and the mention of Adam's supposed massive financial commitment. His jaw tightened slightly.

  Even the two men sitting silently beside him – the CEO and the Resource Manager – looked stunned, their gazes shifting from Monica to Adam with open disbelief and newfound curiosity. Who was this kid, able to command such loyalty and apparently offer such astronomical compensation?

  Just as one of the other executives opened his mouth, perhaps to question Monica's claim, she smoothly cut back in, pivoting instantly back to the original negotiation, regaining control of the conversation.

  "And sir," she stated firmly, her tone all business again, "regarding the price for the long-term contract. As I said, we cannot lock in the deeply discounted rates long-term. Our final offer, for the initial one-year contract, extendable to three based on performance, is 70% of the prevailing market price at the time of each delivery." She stated the number clearly, confidently.

  It was higher than the owner's initial 60%, significantly higher than Henderson's 50%, but still represented a substantial 30% discount compared to Green Refinery's likely prices. It felt like a fair, sustainable compromise. "That is our best and final offer."

  The owner slowly turned his attention away from his failed attempt to poach Monica, back to the business at hand. He looked from Monica's resolute face to Adam's calm, supportive one. He considered the 70% offer.

  It wasn't as low as he'd initially aimed for, but it was still a very significant saving compared to his current supplier. And Henderson's endorsement of the quality was powerful.

  Plus, the sheer confidence and apparent resources of this new company, represented by Adam and Monica, were intriguing, maybe even a little intimidating.

  After a moment of silent consideration, weighing the pros and cons, a slow smile returned to the owner's face – a genuine smile this time, one of decision.

  He stood up from his chair. Adam and Monica quickly stood up as well, anticipating his response. The owner walked around his desk towards them, extending his hand first towards Adam, the founder.

  "Mr. Adam," the owner said, his tone respectful now, acknowledging Adam's position. "Your company drives a hard bargain, thanks to Ms. Monica." He chuckled lightly.

  "But the quality is vouched for, and the price is… acceptable. Your deal for a one-year contract at 70% of market value, with the potential three-year extension, is accepted." He looked genuinely pleased.

  "Let's see what the future holds. I have a feeling working with Fire Corporation might be quite… exciting."

  Adam felt a huge grin spread across his own face as he shook the owner's hand firmly. "Thank you, sir. I guarantee you won't regret it," Adam replied confidently.

  The owner then turned and shook Monica's hand as well. "Ms. Monica, a pleasure doing business with you. I expect we'll be in close contact."

  "Likewise, sir," Monica replied smoothly. "Our team will ensure seamless delivery and consistent quality."

  Later that day, after finalizing the initial contract details with the toy company's legal team, Adam and Monica walked out of the impressive building, stepping back into the late afternoon sunlight.

  A sense of accomplishment, hard-won and exhilarating, buzzed between them. Their first major contract secured! And at a decent price!

  Monica, meanwhile, had been coordinating with Kim via text messages. Kim had been simultaneously meeting with one of the other companies that had expressed interest – a regional food distribution company that used a lot of diesel for its truck fleet.

  Monica had already sent Kim back to the refinery's temporary office to await their return, wanting to debrief and plan next steps together. Now it was time for Adam and Monica to head back as well.

  They got into Monica’s car, the atmosphere lighter now, filled with the satisfaction of success. The drive back towards the refinery site felt different.

  They chatted easily about the meeting, analyzing the owner's tactics, complimenting each other on how they handled the negotiation. Adam felt a growing respect and trust for Monica's sharp mind and calm professionalism.

  As they finally pulled up to the gate of their own Red Fire Refinery late that afternoon, they saw Kim already there, pacing near the entrance, a wide, eager smile plastered across his face. The moment Monica parked the car and they stepped out, Kim practically ran up to them, beaming.

  Ignoring all professional decorum in his excitement, Kim threw his arms around both Adam and Monica in a quick, exuberant hug. "We did it! I did it!" he exclaimed proudly, stepping back, his eyes shining.

  "I signed the deal with the food distributor! They were tough, really tried to push for that 50% price point based on Henderson's deal." He grinned triumphantly.

  "But I held firm! I talked up our quality, our reliability, the benefits of a domestic supplier… and I got them to agree to 65% of market price! Not quite the 70% you aimed for, Monica, but still much better than half! And," – he delivered the best part – "it's a two-year agreement right off the bat!"

  Adam and Monica looked at each other, surprised and delighted, then both broke into wide smiles. Kim had succeeded too! Another contract secured!

  "Kim, that's fantastic! Great job!" Adam said sincerely, clapping his CEO on the back. "Honestly, I expected nothing less from you. Getting 65% on a two-year deal? That's brilliant!"

  Kim beamed under the praise. "Thanks, Adam! I learned from the best," he added, glancing respectfully at Monica. He then asked eagerly, his curiosity bubbling over, "So? How did your meeting go? The toy company?"

  Monica replied, her voice calm but carrying the clear note of success, "We did well too, Kim." A confident smile played on her lips. "We actually signed two deals today, technically. The main one with the toy company owner – secured for one year initially, extendable to three, at 70% of market price." She paused, letting that sink in, then added the results of a quick follow-up call Lisa had patched through while they were finalizing things.

  "And Lisa just confirmed, based on our success, one of the other companies she met with this morning also agreed in principle – a smaller firm, but still significant. They agreed to a year-and-a-half contract, starting at 75% of market price, pending final legal review!"

  Kim's eyes widened dramatically. His jaw dropped. "What?! Seventy percent and seventy-five percent?! And potentially three contracts lined up already?!" He looked utterly stunned, shaking his head in disbelief and amazement. He let out a low whistle. "Wow. Just… wow. Today was… incredible."

  Standing there by the gate of their still-silent refinery, under the setting sun, the three core leaders of Fire Corporation looked at each other, the shared feeling of triumph, of possibility, almost overwhelming.

  They had faced skepticism, rejection, danger, and impossible odds. But today, through teamwork, strategy, boldness, and perhaps just a little bit of luck generated by Adam's secret actions, they had achieved their first major breakthroughs.

  They had secured multiple contracts, gained crucial market validation, and proven that their audacious venture might just have a real chance after all.