Ex-wife, Please Come Back

Chapter 429 Negotiation

Jacob watched the employees as they went about their businesses. As he did that, he tried to calm his nerves. He didn't want his anxiety to show during the meeting with his acquaintance. With a bold look on his face, Jacob walked to the door. The receptionist looked at him and said coldly, "Mr. Jacob, here we are. You can go in now." The receptionist was frowning at him. Deep down in her heart, she disliked his behavior. Whenever she remembered what she had read in the news previously, her blood boiled. 'Why am I obsessed with this playboy? I need to get a grip of myself!' she thought.

Regardless of the receptionist's glare, Jacob still flashed a smile at her. After all, he wasn't there to pick a fight.

"Oh, okay. Thank you." He politely thanked her. Then, he knocked on the door gently.

"Come in, please." Jacob heard a gentle and magnetic voice from the other side of the door.

With that, he pushed the door gently and walked into the office. A man was sitting comfortably on a chair with a calm expression on his face. His features were impeccable. The man had very fair skin and he was dressed decently. Grey hairs were on the temple of his ears. To crown it all, he looked like an experienced fellow. This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

"Mr. Shawn, I am so sorry to bother you today," Jacob apologized sincerely. He also smiled at the man which showed that it wasn't his intention to bring any disturbance. Actually, he wouldn't be there if he wasn't in dire need of assistance.

Sensing Jacob's calmness, Shawn Ho was slightly surprised. To him, people couldn't be so unperturbed when they encountered such misfortune. 'Hmm. This man never ceases to amaze me. Why is he so relaxed even when he is suffering?' As he thought about this, Shawn Ho realized that Jacob wasn't an ordinary man. His ability to stay calm was commendable.

Although Jacob was still a little nervous, he still walked over steadily and calmly. He was there to discuss an important matter. So, he had to show that he was confident if he wanted to win Shawn Ho over.

"Please have a seat, Mr. Jacob." Shawn Ho spoke to him politely. Despite the news that went round that Jacob was a bad person, he didn't quite believe them. 'This fellow might not even be as bad as the tabloids claim.

Perhaps he was set up by some of his enemies. People can do the unthinkable just to destroy a person they hated. Well, I better see for myself.' As Shawn Ho looked at his visitor, he didn't feel disgusted. In fact, he saw that Jacob was the opposite of what the tabloids described him as. To him, he didn't seem like a scumbag.

Unfortunately, most of the businessmen didn't think so. They just swallowed the rumors hook, line, and sinker.

At that point when Jacob was standing on the edge of a cliff, Shawn Ho was practically the only one in the business circle who had a positive opinion of him.

Honestly, he was a little surprised by his visit. He had thought that Jacob would bow his head in shame and quietly exit the business world. After all, that was what he would have done if he was in Jacob's shoes.

"To what do I owe this surprise visit, Mr. Jacob?" Shawn Ho asked in a polite tone. His eyes also glinted with pleasure.

"I came here today to discuss a deal with you." Jacob folded his hands and stared at him with confidence in his eyes.

Hearing this, Shawn Ho smiled again.

He kept mute for some seconds before he finally said, "You must be joking. I heard that you resigned from your company. Are the rumors true? By the way, where do you work now?"

Although Shawn Ho was smiling as he spoke, he kept looking at Jacob straight in the eyes. He was interested to know what would be his response. All the stories he had heard before didn't prove anything to him. So, it was better to hear from the horse's mouth.

In fact, he was elated when his assistant called him to say that Jacob was looking for him.

"To be honest with you, Mr. Shawn. I joined a small company after my resignation," Jacob said with a determined expression on his face.

Yes, he didn't regret making that decision. No matter what would happen in the future, he would never regret resigning from the Shi Group. Jacob had followed his heart and he was ready to stick to it.

"I see. But why did you come here? And what gave you so much confidence to come discuss business with me?"

Shawn Ho queried. He didn't even bother to beat about the bush. There was no time for that.

Jacob remained unruffled by the questions. Even though he felt like he was in an interrogation room, he still smiled.

"You are disappointed because our company is small, right? Well, I want to say that everything in this world starts small. Neither does anything mature overnight. This is to say that success is a step-by-step process."

Jacob mentioned a key point. Even though he didn't have any bargaining chips that would aid this negotiation, his confidence still intimidated his acquaintance.

Instead of responding to this point, Shawn Ho just grinned.

'So, the almighty CEO of the Shi Group is now just a lobbyist, isn't he? I don't care about all these motivational talks about growth. This doesn't change the fact that he has nothing now, ' Shawn Ho pondered as he continued to stare at the man in front of him.

Standing up from his chair, Shawn Ho said, "It is already too late Mr. Jacob. You should take your leave now. I don't think we can be partners in the future."

Jacob's eyes widened slightly. He was a little shocked that Shawn Ho refused his proposal. But within a split second, he understood what the problem was.

People who have been in the business world for a long time, like Shawn Ho, disliked clichés. Even though he wanted to be partners with Jacob, he couldn't because of what he said. Mere motivational quotes didn't prove anything to him. Shawn Ho was a man who was more concerned about how something would be of benefit to him. And not just words that sounded reasonable.

"I think you misunderstood what I said. Please listen to me. Let me explain what I meant. If after my explanation and you are still not convinced, then I would leave immediately." Jacob stood up and reached out his hand to stop him from walking out.

Shawn Ho sighed and checked his watch. After a few seconds, he said, "Okay, fine. You have ten minutes. If you don't convince me enough, then you would have to leave. I'm sorry."

Jacob breathed a sigh of relief. Although the time was short, it was still better than nothing. He could turn the situation in his favor within those ten minutes.

"Okay." Jacob nodded in agreement. Adjusting his sitting posture, he said, "Presently, the Shi Group is the biggest partner of the Ho Group. More so, both companies have benefited from this cooperation. And you know better than anyone else how it has helped boost your company. Even more than I do.

When I was still the CEO of the Shi Group, I always considered the interests of both businesses. I made sure that no company was given preferential treatment at the expense of the other. That's why both companies continued to prosper at the same pace. But now, the Shi Group is facing a serious crisis that I can't solve. In fact, things have gotten out of hand."

Jacob coughed slightly. At that moment, Shawn Ho frowned. He was displeased to hear the word "crisis". Noticing this, Jacob felt that his words were effective.

"Even so, I can just terminate the partnership with the Shi Group. I don't need to bother myself with all these hassles. Cooperating with you isn't by force, right?" Shawn Ho asked with his eyebrows furrowed.

Of course, he knew the current situation of things. His informants had already told him about all that happened when Jacob stepped down. The Shi Group had already banned Jacob from the business circle. It would be unwise for the Ho Group to partner with him now. It would spell doom for his company!

Even though the Shi Group was going through difficult times, it was still the top player in the game. The company stood at the top of the food chain. And controlled all that happened in the business world.

Notwithstanding the fact that the group's stocks seemed to be plunging, it was still very powerful. After all, a lean camel was bigger than a horse.

'How can I believe this man without proofs? All he has are just a few sweet words. Empty words can't build a successful business.' Shawn Ho's mind was filled with doubts. He would never trust a businessman completely.

Because of this, he didn't bother to question Jacob any further. Even though this was a negotiation, Shawn Ho didn't want to offend the others at that time.

"Yes, you are right. It isn't by force. But I have the technology and contact information of a foreign- funded company. And I can also persuade them to provide me with exclusive technology. What do you think of these conditions?"

Jacob smiled. Although he knew that his words weren't very effective, he felt that he had achieved half of the success. Visiting Shawn Ho wasn't in vain after all.