Chapter 64

Frederick wore a look of amused provocation, like he was waiting to see how far I’d go to beg him.

Ijust smiled and didn’t say a word. I noticed a drink set in front of me, picked it up, took a sip, then cleared my throat and said, “Business, at the end of theday, isalwaysabout mutual benefit. If I had to beg you, that’d meant had nothing valuable to offer. And if I have nothing to offer, then even begging wouldn’t get me anywhere with you”

Frederick clapped slowly, eyes thed on me. “So,allthat was just a roundabout way of saying you’re not gonna beg me. That’s it?”

“You can take in thatway.”

1 smiled back.“Here’s my proposal. It doesn’t interest you, I’ll find another route.”

I’d already thought it through–if Frederick didn’t want in, I’d have to go pitch it in the open market, maybe hit up some angel Investors. I might just be Mrs. Ford In name only, but that title still held some weight. Using it to lickstart my own business was the smartest option I had right now.

“You’re surprisingly practical, “Frederick said, no longer playing hard to get. He casually picked up my proposal and started reading. “Honestly, when you first mentioned working together, I figured you were just pissed at Jonathan. Didn’t expect you to actually be serious.”

As he ripped through a few pages, his expression shitted. The usual unitfaded. Hewasfocusing now,

I watched him closely, knowing that look meant hewastaking it seriously–it told me he’d actually gone through my proposal.

“Yes,” I said, keeping my tone confident. “I know startups are tough right now, but the demand is still there, especially locally. If we can break into this space, I’m confident we can make it work,”

Frederick didn’t immediately shut me down. After flipping through a few pages, he looked up and said, “Do you know how La Doghouse got started?” “I’m listening.”

“When I opened La Doghouse,halfthebarsin town teamed up against me. My drinks were better and cheaper, so they tried to run me out. I was nearly bankrupt at one point ”

He pushed the proposal back across the table. “Ever think about what’s gonna happen if you start a price war? You undercut people’s profits, they’re gonna come for your throat Inbusiness, there’s an unspoken rule–live and let live. You take food off someone’s table,that’sasgoodas going after theirfamily. Sure, it might get you a quickfoothold, but long team? You’ll crash harder.”

**have thought about that.”

I paused, then answered honestly don’t want to rely onaprice wat either. But right now, it’s the only way to grab attention. That’s why I’m thinking—if we toom an alliance with other vendors and share the profits,they won’t see us as a threat.”

Something flickered in Frederick’s eyes. That was the first time he really looked at me like a peer.

“Not bad,” he said. “That’s actuallyhowmy dad did it. But have you ever thought about why he could pull it off? He’s got years of connections, deep pockets, and a Ionel power. He’s also the lumen of the Chamber of Commerce,sopeople listen to him. But you—”

He stopped there, but the scoop in hisvoicewas obvious.

“You’ve got a decent education, sure. But beyond that? No experience. No proven ability.Youworked at Millenia Corporationjustto tag along with your husband, playing the role of his forgettable little secretary. So tell me why should i trust you?”

Ididn’tflinch. Instead, I pulled out a market analysis report and a breakdown of the equity split, sliding them across to h

to him.

“You’r right I don’t have the background. Which is exactly why I’m offering aggressive profit shares upfront–because that’s the only way I’ll ever get this off the

Chapter 65