Chapter 898

“Alright, since you want to talk business, let’s talk.”

Tyler’s gaze shifted to the proposal. His fingertip paused for a moment on the title, Smart Agriculture Digital Platform, before flipping straight to the budget breakdown.

His finger traced the line for equipment purchases. He then looked up at Rachel with the gaze of a seasoned negotiator.

“The server purchase budget is 15 percent higher than the market average. Are you taking us for fools?"

Rachel was ready for this. Calmly, she opened another appendix.

“This is the supplier’s qualification report. We’re sourcing military-grade encrypted servers. Their data protection rating is well above industry standards. Agricultural data involves farmers’ personal information and land records. If that leaks, the consequences would be disastrous. If your company is willing to lower the security standards, I can switch to civilian-grade suppliers right away, and we’ll cut the budget by 30 percent.”

Tyler raised a brow before tapping lightly on the table.

“Playing the security card, huh? Clever. But let’s talk about maintenance costs. A three-year service fee at 22 percent of total investment. Don’t you think that’s a little too optimistic?”

He circled the number with his pen.

“Based on our experience, platforms like this start showing equipment wear by year two. By year three, you’ll need to replace core modules. This budget needs to go up at least 8 percent.”

Yale, who stood nearby, felt his jaw dropping. Tyler and Rachel were perfectly matched, neither giving an inch.

Now he finally understood why people swooned over power couple novels. Seeing it in real life, he was hooked too.

Even with all her preparation, Rachel still couldn’t budge Tyler. The deal went through, but she had to concede that extra 8 percent. Still, at least the contract was signed.

Rachel stood up and offered her hand. “Here’s to a successful partnership.”

“Partnership,” Tyler echoed before shaking her hand. His thumb pressed just slightly into her palm, making her glance up at him instinctively.

“After closing a deal this big, shouldn’t you be treating me to a meal?”

Rachel agreed without hesitation. His request was perfectly reasonable.

She picked up the file. “Alright. What do you want to eat?”

“You were the one who made the concession. You pick. After all, you’re pregnant now. It’s only fair to respect the baby’s wishes. See what the baby’s craving.”

Rachel thought for a moment. She really did have a craving.

“Something spicy. On my way over, I noticed a place next door that serves spicy seafood, but…”

She instinctively rested her hand on her belly.

“I’m not three months along yet. Would eating spicy food be bad for the baby?”

Tyler grabbed his jacket from the chair. “Let’s get in the car first.”

Once they were inside, he pulled out his phone and started checking restaurant reviews.

“If it’s too spicy, we’ll go somewhere else. Look for a place that can do mild spice with fresh ingredients.”

Scrolling carefully, he even filtered for pregnancy-friendly menus. He handed his phone to Rachel.

“This place serves spicy seafood with customizable spice levels. They also have soup options that are perfect for you.”

Rachel hadn’t expected Tyler to be so thoughtful. He never seemed like the type to sweat the small details. For someone like him, time was money. He only invested effort where he thought it truly mattered.

She felt a warm sensation in her chest.

“Alright then, let’s try this place.”