Chapter 209
It was nearly the end of the year, and Joanna urgently needed money. Employee salaries were due, and her upcoming custody battle with the Everett family required significant legal fees.
They traveled by car. Along the way, Joanna coughed repeatedly. Cora quickly offered her water. "Miss Haynes, are you alright? You look terrible!"
Joanna weakly took a few sips. "I'm fine. I'll feel better after resting." She leaned against the back seat, closed her eyes, and rested. She had recently taken four antipyretic pills, and their effects were setting in, leaving her weak and drowsy. Her heart raced, and her right eyelid twitched incessantly. A sense of foreboding washed over her, but recent setbacks had sapped her energy for worry.
They arrived in Greene Town shortly after eleven o'clock. The meeting with Brother Trumpet, arranged by him, proceeded smoothly.
The meeting took place at a café. Brother Trumpet, dressed casually in the same cap he’d worn previously, greeted Joanna politely. "Hello, sorry to keep you waiting!"
"Hello!" he replied, shaking her hand. "Please have a seat."
"Thank you," Joanna responded, settling opposite him across a coffee table. Cora, Michael, and the others waited outside the private room; only Brother Trumpet, Joanna, and the waiter were present.
"What would you like to drink?" the waiter asked.
"A mocha, please," Joanna replied.
Brother Trumpet was surprised. Mocha was a sweet, strong drink, unexpected from someone he perceived as health-conscious.
"A mocha," he repeated.
"Certainly, please wait a moment," the waiter said, exiting.
Brother Trumpet looked at Joanna again. She wore a white Burberry suit and a classic Hermès platinum bag, her makeup light, her hair impeccably styled. She exuded elegance and grace, without a trace of socialite arrogance. He felt a sudden jolt of nervousness, quickly disguising it by taking a sip of his coffee. While articulate and eloquent on his live streams, he was reserved in person.
"I've seen your business card. Your last name is Tate, isn't it? I'll call you Mr. Tate."
"Yes, yes, of course," Brother Trumpet replied shyly, a stark contrast to his online persona.
"Mr. Tate, I'm here to discuss our collaboration and understand your requirements," Joanna said, smiling. Her dimples deepened, adding to her allure.
Brother Trumpet was momentarily stunned by her beauty. He'd been researching her online and couldn't reconcile the woman before him with the controversial figure he'd read about.
"Did you bring samples?" he asked.
Joanna nodded. "Yes, they're in the car."
"What kind of samples?"
"A smart electric rice cooker and a smart cleaning robot."
"How much stock do you have?"
Joanna opened her bag, producing a folder. "This contains the product information."
"We've previously only collaborated with foreign brands, so our standards are high," she added.
Brother Trumpet reviewed the information. "I have no concerns about your products."
"Excellent. I'm happy to help with the products," he said, looking up at Joanna.
"What about commissions?"
"One percent."
"And the sales timeline?"
Brother Trumpet considered this. "I'm doing a live stream next Saturday. Given your inventory, I estimate it will take at most two streams to sell everything."
Joanna was astonished. With hundreds of millions of inventory, she found this claim hard to believe.
"Alright then, let's discuss the contract."
"Agreed."
Joanna reviewed the contract and procedures, finding them simpler than she anticipated. "Is this the contract?" she asked.
"Yes, if you have no objections, you can sign it now."
Joanna was incredulous. The negotiation had been remarkably smooth. Michael had warned her that collaborations with popular streamers were notoriously difficult to secure, even for large companies. She'd expected a lengthy process, not a same-day agreement. "We're signing the contract today?"
Brother Trumpet chuckled at her surprise. "If you're concerned, you can sign next week."
"No, no! I just didn't expect it to be so easy." Joanna signed, eager to move her excess inventory.