Make Him Bleed or Yearn

9

Diana

Despite my efforts, I still arrived late for the meeting.

The company had an important presentation to offer to Mr Golde.

Mr Golde is an international businessman, who occasionally gave visits to local businesses to partner with them, his industry is so big that it makes a company like mine look like a local store.

After a week of reaching out to him and Gaston’s mom pulling the string with a party Favour, a cherished vase from his family line that had been lost a long time ago. He agreed to be available for the presentation.

I pushed open the door to find him and his team already seated, he was as punctual as they said.

Gaston stood waiting in the front as I carried the files he needed for the presentation and got the prompter ready.

Pleasantries were exchanged in a few seconds, I stood by the left corner of the room watching them.

“This is Project L,” Gaston began, “it was collectively thought of by me and my team,

It’s a plan to resolve the issue between the Chinese and Japanese delivery companies while acting as the middle man.

We call it the ILC.” he paused to make sure the whole room was on board with him.

“InterLink Logistics Coordination (ILC) is a neutral third-party logistics facilitator specializing in managing cross-border cooperation between Chinese and Japanese delivery companies. ILC acts as the buffer, intermediary, and information-bridge, enabling efficient package transfers, customs handling, and communication without the two companies ever directly meeting or interacting.

This model reduces friction, increases speed, and lowers operational costs for both sides while providing ILC with multiple revenue streams.” He turned to Mr Golde to see that he was actually listening.

“What is the The Core Problem?

Chinese and Japanese delivery companies often face: Coordination difficulties due to different systems, languages, and operations. Mismatched logistics standards. Cultural or contractual preferences to avoid direct meetings. Lack of trust or desire to protect proprietary processes

ILC solves this by being the trusted neutral middle-layer.”

He pressed the button for the next slide, feeling confident in his presentation.

“What is the Solution we have developed: Middle-Man Coordination:-

ILC’s Key Roles: Hub-to-Hub Handoff Management. ILC sets up or leases shared neutral warehouses in Korea, Taiwan, or Singapore.

Both Chinese and Japanese companies deliver to that hub without meeting each other.

ILC staff handle the sorting, cross-docking, label transfer, and re-dispatch.

Secondly, Communication & Documentation Buffer:

All communication (tracking, delay notices, B2B negotiation) flows through ILC.

ILC translates, formats, and redistributes the information so neither party interacts directly.” With that he concluded his presentation, the whole room exploded in applauds except Mr Golde and his team.

Instead, he stood up from his seat and walked out of the room like the meeting didn’t matter.

“Mr Golde” Gaston called but he didn’t bother to look at him, not even a word was said.

The color dimmed from Gaston’s eyes as a soft smile swept across my face.

I wasn’t going to let him have a deal of a lifetime and make his life better after he ruined mine. It’s not the first time Mr Golde has walked out of this room.

Three years ago, I invited him over to pitch my business idea when I was still the CEO.

I was confident that he would be impressed by my idea but he just walked out, without giving a reason.

I thought about where I had gone wrong for weeks, I tried my possible best to reach out to him but Mr Golde never gave second chances.

He never gives second chances.

I found out weeks later that Gaston had a hand in it, presenting Mr Golde with a made-up record of me, taunting my image, till this day, I have no idea why he did that.

I was pissed and confronted him but he denied it.

I had no evidence to prove that he tampered with my presentation, so I had to let the issue go.

Now he knew what it tastes like to be rejected, he will think about this for weeks, wondering where he went wrong.

When I found out that he was meeting Mr Golde after Rebecca visited, I knew that was the next stage of my plan, to sabotage this meeting. So I researched Mr Golde’s early presentations from when he started his business and twisted some words out of his old projects.

Then I left it on Gaston’s table, letting him think that he had found gold useful enough to persuade him.

For days I joined him and the team to polish the presentation knowing fully well that it would crumble.

“Everybody get out” he demanded and they scurried like flies out of the room.

I just stood there, refusing to leave.

Just then he gets a call, he reaches for his phone and his face was filled with dread.

“Father” his voice shook.

I could hear his father scolding him from the line, reminding him how he wasted time and effort to bring Mr Golde to him, but he wasted the opportunity.

“I have no idea” he replied.

Gaston felt like s**t, his left hand dropped to his side as he listened to every mean word that his father uttered.

His body shivered, he understood the magnitude of what he had just lost, that they would never get such an opportunity and worse of all, they had no idea why he left.

“I will figure something out” he answered slowly.

“Yes Father” he nodded.

Once he was done with the call, he stuffed his phone back into his pocket, taking a few breaths before he turned to find me still in the room.

His eyes were bloodshot red once they landed on me, they were filled with pure rage.

“You” he pointed.

My heart sank.

Did he already figure it out?

Did he find out that I was the one who dropped the files on his desk, after all nothing could get to his office without passing through me.

He moved hastily towards me as I pushed back against the wall.

“Sir”

Now I was the one struck with fear as he walked towards me.

Was he pissed that I didn’t leave the room like the others?

that I listened to his conversation between him and his father?