Chapter 25 He Is More Humble, I Am More Pleased
Jonas has a huge appetite. He doesn't just want to monopolize the Phoenix Blood Balm I have; he also wants to monopolize the regular hemostatic medicine.
"I had medical experts test it, and the regular hemostatic medicine is indeed far superior to most trauma medications on the market. It has great market potential."
Jonas asked me uncertainly, "In the ingredient report, I saw no less than ten expensive materials. If you're only selling me a small jar for $6,800, I'm getting a great deal!"
"Indeed, at this price, the pure profit per jar is less than a thousand dollars. I can give you an even lower price, $6,500, on the condition that you withdraw from Starstream City's basic medicine market and transfer all your market share to me."
Jonas has a big appetite, but so do I!
He stared at me with his mouth open, completely shocked.
"The basic medicines I sell in Starstream City are cheap goods, just high volume with low profit margins. I can still raise the price - how about $8,000 per jar?" Jonas said with a bitter smile.
I shook my head in refusal. He kept raising the price until it reached $11,000, but my attitude remained firm.
Jonas got a bit annoyed. "I thought the ointment was cheap before, but now I realize it's ridiculously expensive - you're asking me to give up an entire city's medicine market!"
I didn't rush to persuade him. Although Jonas seemed reluctant to give up his medicine business in Starstream City, compared to his other businesses, the money from these medicines was just a drop in the bucket.
Jonas performed his solo act for a while, and seeing that I remained calm, he felt somewhat defeated: "You had your eye on me from the start, didn't you? Too bad I only just realized it's a trap, and I still can't bear to jump out of it!"
He asked me curiously: "Platinum Haven Hotel's revenue far exceeds the profit from selling basic medicines by dozens of times. Why are you so fixated on the medicine market?"
I could tell he was softening, so I smiled and said, "Next May, Brian will run in the Starstream City mayoral election."
This wouldn't be a secret for long, so it didn't matter if I told him.
Although Brian's reputation was growing, compared to other candidates, his foundation was too shallow.
The simplest way for gang forces to win votes is through violent suppression - the stronger the force, the more fearful and obedient the people become.
But the Sorelli family only has me and my three brothers, so this path clearly doesn't suit us. Besides, with Lucas around, competing with him in violent methods would be like a mouse roaring at a lion.
You can also win votes with money, power, or emotion. I want to use medicine.
Everyone gets sick and injured - everyone needs medicine.
Basic medicines include cold medicine, insect bite ointment, burn cream, alcohol, and so on. The cheapest cost a few dollars, the expensive ones tens of dollars, and every household has them.
Hospitals need basic medicines too, as do private clinics and pharmacies. If I can control the medicine supply, I can create a threatening situation without actual guns and bullets.
Of course, it doesn't have to be coercion - I can also win people's favor. Either way, my goal is only one thing - votes!
Jonas was stunned. Thinking back on how I lured him in step by step, he finally saw my ambition and grand scheme.
"Does Lucas know? He definitely doesn't know," Jonas muttered to himself. "He also wants to help his own person become mayor. You two are fighting, and you've dragged innocent me into it."
I asked him with a smile: "So, who do you think will win, Lucas or me?"
"You," Jonas answered without hesitation.
He sighed deeply. "I agree to your conditions. I'll fully assist you in entering Starstream City's medicine market, but you have to provide me with a hundred more jars of Phoenix Blood Balm!"
Me: "A hundred jars are too many. Fifty jars."
Jonas: "You cut it in half right away? You're ruthless. Ninety jars!"
Me: "Just fifty jars. No more than that."
Jonas: "Eighty jars!"
I shook my head.
Jonas looked dejected and said without much hope: "Will seventy jars work?"
Seeing how pitiful he looked, I nodded. "Alright."
"I knew you must have understated your production capacity. So cunning!" Jonas, this big businessman, had the nerve to call me crafty.
I negotiated with him for over three hours and finally signed a cooperation contract.
Jonas held the contract, his emotions running high, and suddenly said to me seriously, "Bella, if you really do divorce Lucas, you might want to consider me."
We'd become more familiar, so I asked him what nonsense he was spouting.
"I'm a greedy person. Now, when I look at you, it's like looking at a cash cow - I really want to keep you at my own place," Jonas said, then laughed. "If Lucas really divorces you, he'll definitely regret it to death."
I laughed too: "Just regret isn't enough. I want him to go crazy, break down, beg me on his knees for forgiveness,and use every means to please me. The more humble he is, the happier I'll be."
News of my cooperation with Jonas spread quickly. Everyone at Platinum Haven Hotel, from top to bottom, got busy, with no time to worry about the bad reviews online, so the public opinion storm actually died down faster.
This made Grace, who had been demanding that I apologize, very dissatisfied. She wanted to continue cyberbullying me, but the netizens wouldn't cooperate.
Aside from the previously booked rooms, the remaining rooms and banquet halls all displayed "sold out" labels. Amelia's fans who wanted to repeat the book-and-cancel trick had no loopholes to exploit.
At this time, I released information about Amelia verbally abusing a nurse at a hospital two years ago, causing the nurse to miscarry.
I chose this timing because Gale and Marcus had created some "small trouble" for the Gambino family in Dawnharbor, so Amelia's mother, Michelle, had no time to clean up Amelia's mess.
Sure enough, after being silent online for a day, Amelia couldn't help but respond: "She just lost a baby; she can get pregnant again. What's the big deal? I'm the unlucky one here. She was pregnant and didn't stay home properly; she fell down on her own and miscarried. What does it have to do with me?"
I believe every word Amelia said was her true feelings. I know that's the kind of person she is.
But netizens were confused, and Amelia's fans were shocked. They felt their goddess had fallen from her pedestal!
"So disgusting, I'm going to throw up!"
"She's actually this kind of person."
Amelia's fans dropped by 200,000 within a few hours. When she realized what had happened, she quickly deleted that post, but I'd already had people screenshot it and hired internet trolls to "promote" this matter everywhere.
Her crazy fans attacked her even more fiercely than when they attacked me. I happily watched the drama online for half the day.
Lucas called me, asking about my cooperation with Jonas.
He wanted to talk in person. I thought about it and agreed, going to Lucas's company.
His company was built near the docks. On the surface, it was a legitimate shipping company, but actually, it was one of Lucas's main bases.
I rarely came here, but everyone knew who I was.
People called me "Mrs. Valeri" and bowed to me. I nodded to each of them.
"Mrs. Valeri, it's so wonderful that you could come." Alfred showed me the way, his fierce face with that terrible scar radiating joy.
"So happy? Is there some good news?" I asked curiously.
"No, it's just that Mr. Valeri is in a good mood, so I'm happy." Alfred lowered his voice and, for once, spoke badly of Lucas: "Mr. Valeri is too confused when it comes to feelings. He's hurt you, but please don't be angry."
Not be angry? How is that possible!
In the past, I was too tolerant of Lucas, which is why he treated me so casually.
I'm going to show him that I have quite a temper!