Suddenly, I Am Rich

Gray and Mara exchanged a brief glance to each other before following the two staff members across floor.

Their footsteps echoed softly, mixing with the low murmur of conversations that filled the lobby.

Every pair of eyes that went to look at their side was filled with curiousity and wonder.

The staff led them past to the side where there was a row of elevators waiting for them. They stopped at a private one. It was larger and more maintained than the rest. With a smooth swipe of a keycard from the staff, the doors slid open.

"This will take you directly to the executive level, Sir," the staff member explained kindly to them. The tone of his voice was polite but firm.

"Thank you." He and Mara took a step inside. The two staff followed them closely.

Inside, the elevator was quieter. It was different from normal stainless steel elevator. Its wall was lined with polished wood and brass fixtures that gave it an elegant look. As they ride in silence, the numbers began to climb steadily.

Gray clasped his hands in front of him. Against the silence, he could feel the beating of his own heartbeat. When he looked at the side, he saw their reflection in the glossy walls.

On his side, Mara was standing tall and composed. She was hugging her tablet close to her chest as if she was depending on it for her whole life.

By the time the elevator chimed, a strange anxiousness had settled between them.

The doors parted to reveal a long corridor that was carpeted in deep navy blue color. The walls on the side were adorned with abstract paintings that must have cost a fortune. And at the far end of the hallway stood a set of glass double doors.

Two armed men could be seen guarding the door.

"Mr. Everett is waiting for you inside his office. Mr. Owen is inside too." one of staff who led Gray and Mara smiled at them. She stepped inside and motioned for them to follow her even more.

"Please, allow us to show you in."

They continued to walk further. When the guards saw them from the distance, they opened the door. What greeted them made Gray's breathing caught for just a second.

The conference room was vast yet minimalistic. It has floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a sweeping view of the entire city below. On the middle of the room was a sleek black desk that stretched nearly half the size of the room.

In front of it was one more table that was surrounded by chairs. Each chair was made out of leather and their frame was made out of gold.

Gray and Mara were guided toward inside the room. In there, Conrad greeted their view. The old man was behind the black desk. He was wearing a tailored suit that perfectly fit his body.

"Mr. Gray, Ms. Mara," Owen appeared to be standing besides Conrad.

"Welcome to my office, Gray." Conrad offered a smile to the two before gesturing to the chair in front of him.

Their seats had already been prepared. A jar of water and two glasses were neatly placed on the table so they could help themselves when needed.

"Mr. Conrad." Gray returned the smile at Conrad. He slightly bowed himself before he glanced at Mara so they can take their seat.

As they sat, silence surrounded them once again. The atmosphere around was also heavy and filled with seriousness.

The assistants quietly excused themselves, leaving the two of them alone in front of Conrad and Owen.

Gray folded his hands neatly on the table, letting the silence stretch just long enough to show respect without giving away that he was nervous. He really can't seem to get used to being in a serious interaction with Conrad.

Across from him, Conrad leaned back slightly in his chair. There was still a smile on his face.

Owen remained standing at his side, arms loosely crossed as if waiting for Conrad to start.

"So," Conrad began at last, his voice was calm but heavy. "I've asked you to meet me today so we can talk about my investment. Owen has given me the brief outline, but I prefer to hear it from you directly. Tell me, Gray. What exactly do you need?"

Gray inhaled quietly before leaning forward. He knew that Conrad would be direct with it.

"I've said this before, but I want to expand and make a 2nd location for the store. I already have a land title, and its ready for construction anytime." Gray muttered, his words trailing off.

"The acquisition and construction will require an estimated investment of $3 million. That includes the property cost, materials, equipment, and staff cost. With this, we project a break-even point in twelve to eighteen months, depending on foot traffic growth."

Conrad's brows rose slightly at the number, though his expression remained composed. He tapped a finger once on the desk.

"3 million dollars…" he repeated, almost to himself.

Gray glanced at Conrad. He was reading the faint flicker of reaction in the older man's eyes.

"In return, we are prepared to offer 15% equity stake in the expansion entity. This new branch will operate as a separate store, with its own system and growth metrics. You'll receive quarterly reporting and preferred dividends until full ROI is met."

The room became silent after his words.

"Fifteen percent stake for $3 million. That values your expansion at roughly $450,000." His gaze sharpened at Gray. "That's too little."

Mara cleared her throat and shook her head.

"We based that on comparative analysis with mid-sized chains operating within East districts. The target location is strategically placed along middle incomers."

Conrad's hand lifted slightly, halting Owen from pressing further. The older man's gaze stayed fixed on Gray.

"Tell me, Gray," he muttered. The tone of his voice was filled with genuine curiousity and seriousness.

"Are you truly confident with this plan? Confident enough to stake not just your money, but your reputation?"

Gray's fingers tightened slightly against each other. He gathered his courage and nodded.

"Yes, Sir." His voice was calm and almost firm. "I've reviewed every figure twice, every risk we might face. This expansion isn't just a gamble that we took. It's a calculated step. I believe in it. Enough to risk everything I have."

Conrad studied him for a long moment, his eyes narrowing the slightest bit. Then, suddenly, he leaned back into his chair and chuckled in a low voice.

"Three million…" Conrad muttered again, his fingers drumming once on the desk. "It's not a small request. But it's also not a large one, not for me."

Gray and Mara exchanged a subtle glance.

Conrad's smile returned, but this time it carried something on it.

"I'll do better than that. I can fund you with four million dollars. It's a million more than you're asking. That extra will give you enough room for contingencies, for marketing, for whatever unexpected trouble you might run into."

Gray's brows lifted slightly, though he stayed composed. The offer was too good. It made the anxiousness in his heart slowly disappear.

"But…" Conrad's tone became lower and more commanding. "Instead of fifteen percent, I'll take twenty percent equity in the new branch. And on top of that, I want a quarterly dividend payout on earnings. If I'm putting my money in, I expect my share to flow back regularly."

He leaned forward now, both elbows resting lightly on the desk, eyes locked directly on Gray.

"The choice is yours, Gray. Do we have a deal?"

"…" Gray sat still, but his mind turned fast.

'Four million…'

It was more than enough to cover construction and give them a breathing room just like what Conrad said. It was something he knew would matter once the construction began.

But twenty percent…

His jaw tightened slightly.

On paper, Conrad's terms weren't unreasonable. The man was offering not just money, but his name and connections. Yet he also needed to mind the quarterly dividends that was guaranteed, regardless of their store's performance.

Mara shifted beside him. He didn't have to look to know that she was thinking about the same thing as him. When he finally glanced at her, he saw that her brows were faintly drawn together.

She looked at Gray as if saying it was a good deal, but be careful.

It looked like the two of them were uncertain about this offer.

"Twenty percent," Gray sighed and let the number repeat in his mind. His lips were pressed together in a straight line.

Gray turned his attention back to Conrad, his expression was calm and almost unreadable.

"The offer is generous, I may say," he said quietly as he continued to measure the pros and cons of the offer.

"Can I have a meeting with my people first before deciding?" He knew by then that he will have a hard time deciding on it.

Conrad chuckled and nodded.

"I'll give you 3 days to decide."