Chandler had booked Room 908, a 200-square-meter multifunctional suite equipped for drinking, singing, and dancing.
When Darnell followed Chandler inside, it wasn’t the extravagant scene he had imagined. Instead, a tall woman sat in the center of the sofa, holding a glass of red wine and watching the large screen.
Behind her stood five people who appeared to be assistants or bodyguards. They stood straight and solemn, showing great respect for the woman.
She was an exceptional woman with a delicate oval face, almond-shaped eyes, a small cherry mouth, long hair, and a tall, well-proportioned figure.
Her curvaceous body was wrapped in a tight white suit and short skirt, making her even more alluring and sexy.
The curves she displayed while sitting on the sofa were unmatched by younger girls. It was a unique charm of a mature woman.
However, her eyes carried an indescribable sharpness.
Despite being more than ten meters away, Darnell could still sense her dominance.
“Ms. Bedwell,” Chandler greeted warmly as he approached. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“If you knew I was waiting, why didn’t you come earlier? If you were one of my employees, you’d be fired by now.”
The tall woman tapped her expensive watch with her finger. “Ten minutes. Do you know how much money I’ve lost?”
Chandler, usually so boastful, now acted like a lamb, nodding and bowing. “It’s my fault… my fault.”
He didn’t even try to explain but took full responsibility. “Rest assured, Ms. Bedwell. This won’t happen again.”
The tall woman’s expression remained cold. As Chandler and Darnell approached, she didn’t stand up to greet them. Instead, she leaned back on the sofa with an arrogant attitude. “What good is an apology to me? But for my mother’s sake, I’ll let it go this time. Don’t let it happen again.”
“It won’t happen again,” Chandler assured repeatedly before introducing Darnell. “Mr. Halford, this is Ms. Bedwell, the vice president of Pioneer Properties.”
Darnell narrowed his eyes slightly. Although he knew Chandler had close ties with Pioneer Properties, he hadn’t expected to meet such a high-ranking executive tonight.
The tall woman ignored Chandler and turned her gaze to Darnell. “Darnell? I’ve heard you’re quite impressive.”
“In less than a month, you’ve gone from an insignificant assistant to a team leader and then became the head of the sales department and Areli’s confidant. It seems you have some skills.”
“But how come you don’t understand respect? Not only were you late but look at your clothes.”
She criticized Darnell’s attire bluntly. “You knew you were meeting important guests tonight. What’s with your red, tacky outfit?”
Chandler wanted to explain, but seeing her sharp gaze, he could only smile bitterly and remain silent.
Paige Bedwell was twenty-five years old, Theresa Bedwell’s adopted daughter and the Executive Vice President of Pioneer Properties. She was known for her sharp style and decisive actions, a sharp blade for Pioneer Properties and someone Theresa trusted deeply.
Chandler initially respected her because of Theresa, but over time, Paige no longer regarded him highly.
Seeing Paige’s aggressive demeanor, Darnell smiled faintly without speaking. He leisurely poured himself a drink and gulped it down.
Paige’s face turned cold. “Darnell, didn’t you hear me?”
Her assistants and bodyguards also looked at Darnell unfavorably, thinking he was ungrateful.
Darnell ignored them and picked up the microphone to call out to Chandler. “Mr. Gregg, how about we sing a song?”
Sweat appeared on Chandler’s forehead. “Mr. Halford, let’s not rush into singing. Let’s sit down and talk first.”
Darnell opened the song list. “Talk about what? Let’s sing a few songs first to lighten up.”
Paige couldn’t hold back any longer and slapped the coffee table angrily. “Darnell, what do you mean by this?”
Clang!
A cup bounced up and fell back down with a crisp sound. Darnell jumped back several meters as if startled and scanned the room.
“Who? Who?”
He looked at Chandler again and shouted, “Mr. Gregg, how did that cup bounce by itself? I think I heard someone talking.”
He completely ignored Paige and her entourage as if they didn’t exist. “Is this room haunted?”
“Darnell!”
Paige was furious as she sat up straight. “Are you playing tricks?”
“Who? Who’s talking?”
Darnell darted to the door with a frightened look. “Evil spirit! Show yourself!”
Chandler was almost in tears. Stop provoking her, okay?
Paige’s face darkened again as she stood up, pointing at Darnell before saying angrily, “Darnell! Do you find this amusing?”
Darnell dropped his playful demeanor stretched lazily and walked back to the coffee table. “If you’d stood up sooner, I wouldn’t have thought I encountered a ghost.”
Paige’s eyes turned icy. “Darnell, you really are petty. I ask you to respect me, and you only play games.”
“I’m here tonight to have fun. What I wear is my choice. If you don’t want to see me, that’s up to you.”
As Chandler struggled to defuse the tension, Darnell replied indifferently, “Ms. Bedwell even finds my red shirt disrespectful.”
“Let me tell you something. I’m not wearing any underwear. Does that insult you? It’s not that I’m petty. It’s that you think too highly of yourself.”
“By the way, the reason I love wearing red is that there are too many monsters out there, and I need to wear red to ward off evil.”
That was clearly a jab at Paige.
Fuming, Paige nearly lost her temper. “You-”
“Ms. Bedwell, don’t get angry. Darnell just likes to joke around. Don’t take it to heart. He’s all bark and no bite,” Chandler quickly interjected, trying to play peacemaker as he tugged at Darnell’s sleeve. “Come on, Mr. Halford, Ms. Bedwell has pushed aside two meetings to meet with us. She means well.”
“Mr. Gregg, I just don’t get along with Ms. Bedwell, so I won’t be having dinner. Even if I sit down, I won’t have an appetite,” Darnell said flatly.
“Whatever the issue is, just say it. If we can cooperate, great. If not, we can part ways,” he continued.
Chandler forced a smile. “Mr. Halford, please don’t be upset. We’re all friends here. It was my arrangement that was lacking tonight.”
He patted Darnell on the shoulder. “How about I drink three cups as punishment?”
“Mr. Gregg, cut the nonsense,” Paige interrupted, her high heels clicking on the floor as she stood before Darnell. “You have no appetite? I’m even more disgusted! If it weren’t for my mother insisting I meet you, I would never sit here with you. Darnell, the reason I asked to meet with you tonight is quite simple. We need two things from you.”
Darnell asked calmly, “Two things?”
“The formula you gave Mr. Gregg is effective, but it seems to only work for him,” Paige sneered. “Your aphrodisiac doesn’t work for anyone else. Your confidentiality measures are top-notch. I’ll give you that.”
Darnell shrugged. “It’s not about confidentiality. It’s about each person’s body and mind.”
“Regardless of its specificity or your confidentiality measures,” Paige continued directly, “We hope you can provide a formula that is universally effective for the public. Even if it doesn’t achieve the same effect as Mr. Gregg’s, if it reaches seventy percent effectiveness, it’s a success.”
“We want to produce it as an aphrodisiac. You know how big that market is.”
Darnell glanced at Chandler. “And what’s the second thing?”
“Your scar healing ointment.”
Paige didn’t hide her intentions, her eyes burning with passion. “The ointment you gave Tia revitalizes blood flow and heals wounds without leaving scars.”
“We want the formula to dominate the beauty industry.”
Chandler was taken aback, realizing Darnell had not only an aphrodisiac but also a beauty miracle drug. With such products, he could corner the market.
He understood now why Theresa was so interested in Darnell. He was indeed a golden goose.
But would sending Paige to negotiate be a miscalculation? After all, her aggressive demeanor was already turning Darnell off.
“I do have the formulas for both,” Darnell replied casually. “I’m interested in turning them into some quick cash, but it seems you haven’t discussed the most substantial terms with me.”
“Like how much I’d earn from the collaboration each year?”
Paige held up a finger. “If you provide both formulas, you’ll get ten percent of the profits each year.”
“That’s a decent amount, right?”
“With a billion in sales, you’d make a hundred million. With ten billion, a billion.”
“Much better than being the director of the sales department at Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, right?”
She snapped her fingers, and an assistant quickly placed a contract on the table. “Don’t miss out on this opportunity. Just sign.”
“Sorry, but I’m not satisfied with these terms.”
Darnell didn’t even glance at the contract. “I can give you the formulas, but I won’t accept the profit distribution.”
Paige’s expression turned icy. “You’d rather throw away the chance to become a billionaire? What more do you want?”
“More profits,” Darnell said flatly. “I want ninety percent of the profits, and Pioneer Properties can take ten.”
“Don’t tell me you think that’s too much. Just as you said, the market is worth hundreds of billions. A ten percent cut is already generous.”
“And it will help Pioneer Properties quickly dominate the global pharmaceutical market. You’ll be the real winners.”
Hearing this, Paige was furious. “Darnell, have you lost your mind?”
“You give me the two formulas and get ninety percent, and we work ourselves to the bone for just ten percent?”
“Don’t you think that’s excessive?”
Paige glared at Darnell, her face frosty. “Don’t be greedy.”
While she knew Darnell was speaking the truth and that ten percent was an enticing figure, she couldn’t accept his demand for ninety.
“In business, it’s a mutually beneficial agreement. There’s nothing greedy about it.”
Darnell responded nonchalantly, “These are my terms. You can think it over and come back to me when you’re ready.”
Paige snapped, “Are you really going to waste this opportunity?”
“Opportunities come easily. I could just hand the formulas over to Areli.”
Darnell shrugged. “Her offer would definitely be double what you’re giving.”
Paige smirked. “Areli wouldn’t develop this stuff.”
“Maybe in the past, but not now. People change, and she listens to me.”
Darnell smiled as he stepped closer, his hands behind his back.
Paige stood her ground, motioning for her bodyguards and assistants not to approach.
Darnell closed the distance, nearly touching her chest with his own, before stopping.
Paige’s gaze was sharp and cold as if she were staring at a corpse.
Darnell chuckled lightly. “Oh, by the way, send a message to your mother. I might consider giving Pioneer Properties a twenty percent profit share.”
“But you have to agree to one condition.”
Paige snapped, “What condition?”
Darnell’s gaze lingered on her chest. “Serve me for a night.”
Chandler, who was drinking to ease the tension, suddenly sprayed his drink across the room.