Chapter 131:
A buyout was impossible. A revenue split, however, opened doors to possibilities worth exploring. She lacked the time to personally produce scented candles in quantity. By forging a partnership with Malcolm, she could contribute her formula while leveraging his resources.
While the Johnson Group would shoulder the burden of production, Elena wouldn’t need to lift a finger and could still watch the income flow steadily into her accounts.
Malcolm’s laughter filled the room, warm and appreciative. “Elena, you are truly sharp. A twenty-eighty split is fair—twenty percent for you is still quite a substantial sum—”
“No. You take twenty, I take eighty,” Elena interrupted calmly.
Malcolm’s smile froze, caught between amusement and disbelief.
Malcolm raised his eyebrow. It was no surprise Wesley had taken an interest in Elena. Her knack for striking deals without compromise was strikingly similar to Wesley’s.
Malcolm regarded Elena with a trace of admiration before speaking casually. “Are you serious? What if I say no?”
Elena remained composed. “You won’t lose out. Even at twenty percent, you’ll still walk away with a ten percent gain.”
Lydia was taken aback. Without the slightest hesitation, Elena had sliced Malcolm’s revenue by sixty percent. Forget an eighty-twenty split—even suggesting seventy-thirty was something she wouldn’t have dared attempt. Elena was truly remarkable.
Lydia inwardly applauded her friend’s boldness—impressive indeed.
Malcolm now saw Elena in an entirely new light. Before she and Lydia arrived, his team had already crunched the numbers. A ten percent margin was just enough to break even. Yet, in a matter of moments, Elena had gauged his costs with startling accuracy. She was far from ordinary.
Malcolm had already made his decision. “Only twenty percent? That’s cutting it too low. I’ve never structured a deal like this before. But I have to admit, I’m impressed, Elena. Just this once, I’ll make an exception. I accept. Twenty for me, eighty for you.”
Extending his hand with a knowing smile, he added, “Looking forward to a successful collaboration.”
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Elena took his hand in a firm shake. “To a successful partnership.”
With business settled, the conversation shifted. Malcolm, curious about her connection to Wesley, asked smoothly, “Elena, mind if I ask something personal?”
Without missing a beat, she declined. “No, you may not.” Since he had already acknowledged it was personal, her rejection was entirely justified.
Her unwavering response caught Malcolm off guard. Elena’s expression remained steady, showing not the slightest discomfort in shutting him down.
Malcolm let out a chuckle. “You really are alike.” Elena’s unshaken demeanor mirrored Wesley’s almost perfectly. Initially, Malcolm’s curiosity stemmed from wondering why Wesley treated Elena differently. Now, he understood.
Elena rose to her feet. “If there’s nothing else, we’ll take our leave.” Malcolm personally walked them out, drawing the attention of the Johnson Group employees.
Once in the elevator, Lydia scoffed. “That Mr. Johnson is a real fox in sheep’s clothing. He tried to swindle us with a 200-million-dollar buyout, thinking we’d fall for it. Did you notice how quickly he changed his tune in the end? He knew the real worth of your scented candles all along—just playing his part. Good thing you stepped in today, or I might have lost my patience.”
