Unfortunately, I was not a businesswoman nor did I have the intention to collaborate with her.
After a moment of silence, I smiled and made an outrageous quote, “Thirty billion, then.”
Thora immediately lowered her head and chuckled. “You’re so funny, Ms. Stovall. Fuller Corporation’s assets don’t even exceed a billion. It doesn’t seem appropriate that you’d quote such a price.”
“Is that so…” I placed my arms on the table and propped my chin up. After pretending to rack my brains for a while, I raised my eyes and asked innocently, “Didn’t you say that I can quote any price that I want?”
When Thora heard that, a stunned expression crossed her face and a look of suspicion flashed across her eyes. It was as if she was doubting my intelligence.
Her offer to quote my own price was merely empty words. People who made such an offer were trying to seek a sense of superiority while expressing their sincerity to collaborate. Furthermore, the quoted price had to fall within fifty percent of the reasonable range. This was an unspoken rule in the industry. Although the person that made the offer would have to sacrifice more, both would be willing parties. After all, no one would go against money.
However, I took her words seriously that day.
George had transferred Fuller Corporation’s stocks to me. Although I did not own as much as Ashton, the stocks probably amounted to around five hundred million, considering how much Fuller Corporation had developed. Yet, I quoted a price of thirty billion, which was six times the market price. Thora was polite enough to merely remark that it “doesn’t seem appropriate,” but others who were more hot-headed would have accused me of scamming them.
Thora calmed herself down and asked impatiently, “What about eight billion?”
It was the highest price within the reasonable range. Plus, she even threw in an additional five hundred million. I had to admit that it was quite a tempting offer.
However, the fact that she wanted the stocks at all costs implied that there was an ulterior motive behind her actions.
After thinking about it, I leaned back and spread my hands. “I’m not selling them.”
I paused for a while and looked at Thora’s unreadable gaze. Smiling, I said smugly, “Although my marriage with Ashton ended in failure, I’m not a fool. With his capabilities, Fuller Corporation will only become better and better. I can get far more than eight billion. Why should I pass such an opportune path of success to someone else?”
Thora probably did not expect a spoilt woman like me to be so difficult to deal with.
“Ten billion. And we’ll sign the contract today,” declared Thora, giving it her all. She narrowed her alluring eyes as a sharp look crept into them. “It’s true that Fuller Corporation has great potential to expand, but it’ll need a powerful force to back them up. Ashton can’t do that alone, but I can. Ms. Stovall, nothing in this world can be gain without putting in the effort. If you refuse to sell your stocks, Fuller Corporation might lose its best investor. By then, you might even lose your current five hundred million, let alone the ten billion I’m offering you now. It’s better if you consider it wisely.”
To be honest, her words were quite persuasive. If George hadn’t been the one to entrust them to me, I would have been tempted.
Looking at her sincere expression, I feigned a look of revelation. My ignorant act was quite convincing.
When Thora’s expression relaxed slightly, I smirked and continued with my stubborn insistence. “I’ve thought it through, and I still won’t sell them.”
Afraid that she could not hear me clearly, I deliberately articulated every single word. “Ms. Ziegler, you know very well that with the support of the Stovall and Moore family, I don’t lack money. I don’t need to sell my stocks to sustain myself. In fact, you just reminded me. Although Fuller Corporation is only confined to the national market now, you’re already yearning to buy its stocks at all costs. When Fuller Corporation catches the eye of investors and bankers at Wall Street in the future, I’m afraid that demand for its stocks will exceed its supply significantly. No amount of money can buy them. If that’s the case, why should I sell them?”
Thora’s face clouded over when she heard that. As she stared at me with her intelligent gaze, a look of fury flashed across her eyes. “You’re smarter than I imagined.”
