Chapter 01.2. Alli
1065 Words
"How much does this beauty go for?" Jon gruffly demands, his eyes glued to the stunning car before him.
I pause for a moment, considering my response carefully, knowing that in this dance of negotiations, the one who speaks first often loses. "Well, what are you Jon thinking of offering?" I counter, a sly smile playing on my lips. Letting him throw out the first number is like giving him a taste of control, but I'm the one who knows the true worth of this ride.
Jon's brows knit in thought, a brief moment of uncertainty in his eyes, and then he abruptly whirls around to catch the attention of one of his friend c*m soldier. "Hey, Bud," he calls, his voice tinged with curiosity, "what's your estimate on a mean machine like this?"
Bud, a rather unsightly fellow with a face that's seen better days, complete with pockmarks and a scruffy goatee, steps up to the plate. Bud, Jons friend, eyes the car, his gaze shifting to me, and there's a calculating glint in his eyes that screams "shady business" so clearly it's detectable from a mile off. "I'd say this beauty's worth fifty grand," he declares.
I couldn't help but let out a scoff, a smirk playing on my lips. "You've got some nerve, kid. The mods alone are worth more than that," I quip, even though I'm not entirely sure if he's aware of that fact. "This car, my friend, on roads costs well over a hundred grand, and that's long before we decked it out with all these killer upgrades. If you're coming at me with such a lowball offer, just go and f**k yourself. Trust me, I've got a line of folks ready to pay what this baby's truly worth." With a dismissive wave toward the exit, I start to slowly head off, giving off an air of finality that suggests I'm dead serious about calling this deal off.
"Hey," says Jon stopping me on my tracks. "Hold on a second, buddy. We're not here to lowball you," he asserts. Jon shoots to his friend Bud a sharp, irritated look before shifting his gaze back to me. "How about we meet at ninety grand?" he proposes.
To Jon, I say, "Are you not paying attention? I just told you this car's sticker price is north of a hundred grand, but you're still trying to nickel-and-dime me."
As I make my way towards the exit, I can't help but feel a mixture of irritation and disappointment.
I continue to direct Jon by saying, "What you're doing here is not just a lowball, it's an insult to my entire crew and all the hard work they've put into modding this ride. We've got a fresh VIN, a clean title, and absolutely no paper trail leading back to the original owner. If you're not going to approach this with the seriousness it deserves, then you need to hit the road. Frankly, you're just burning my precious time."
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"Hold on, hold on, hold on!" Jon hurries after me, grabbing my arm to stop me in my tracks.
In an instant, guns materialized on both ends, my crew springing into action to shield me, while Jon's gang brandished their firearms in a tense standoff, ready to defend themselves.
"Come on, guys!" Jon snarled, shooting an intense look at his crew. "Lower those God damn weapons, now."
Gradually, his henchmen begin to lower their weapons, and my crew follows suit, tension hanging heavy in the air.
Jon clears his parched throat, a moment of unease before he speaks up. "Alright, man. How about one twenty?"
I keep my expression steady as I slowly pivot to face him, concealing my grin. What a sucker. I put on a show of contemplation for a brief moment.
To finally add a puch line, I say to Jon, "Dude, picture all the attention you'll get, all the ladies lining up their p*****s for your d**k in this ride. You'll be the envy of the town. One hundred fifty grand, cold hard cash, and this beauty is all yours. Right here, right now."
Jon's eyes widen, and he exchanges a quick glance with his friend Bud. "One thirty," he counters eagerly, his excitement for sealing the deal evident in his eyes.
I continue hard but smooth negotiation with Jon saying, "We'd invested around fifteen grand into the car's modifications, but considering we acquired the vehicle through unconventional means, we wouldn't be in the red if I let it go for one thirty. A nice profit would still be on the table."
I want Jon to leave here thinking he's scored the deal of a lifetime, so I release a fake sigh, acting like I'm genuinely contemplating the offer. "One forty."
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Jon's eyes spark with anticipation. He sneaks a quick look at Bud before proposing, "One thirty-five."
I manage to keep a straight face, tapping my chin while tilting my head as if deep in thought. Then, I declare, "You've got yourself a deal, kid."
Jon bursts with excitement, letting out a hearty whoop, and he motions for Bud to come closer, exclaiming, "Hell yes! Pony up the cash, and let's hit the road."
His friend Bud approaches with a bag of cash, and as long as it's genuine money, I couldn't care less about how he came by it. I signal two of my soldiers to step forward, instructing them to count and validate the bills.
Once we've confirmed that the cash is legitimate and the full amount, I shake hands with a beaming Jon. "Enjoy Jon, the mad-king your new ride. And remember to send your buddies my way. We've got a bunch of other beauties up for grabs."
"Sure man, I will," Jon affirms with gusto, snatching the smart key I throw his way. Seconds later, they speed off in their modified newly acquired Range Rover, the thunderous bass from the subwoofers reverberating down the alley.
Yet another delighted client.
And I’ve pocketed more than a hundred and twenty grand.
But for some reason, I'm not feeling as great about this as I should be.
My younger cousin Matt gives me a fist hurrah bump. "That's some crazy s**t, man!. You totally hustled them, man. I always get a kick out of seeing you do your thing."
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- Writer
