Chapter 8

The other party was clearly trying to brush off William. If they really didn't want to talk business today, they wouldn't have shown up with such a big entourage.

Victoria sat next to William, eyeing the glass of water she had just poured. The waiter had brought in a jug of water earlier. She'd been injured recently and was still pretty weak. The doctor had told her to avoid alcohol and cold drinks. But today...

Victoria gently picked up the glass, filled it with red wine, and stood up, a perfect smile on her face. "I'm sure everyone knows how strong the Scott Group is. Trust us, we won't let you down," she said.

In a room full of men, a woman's words carried a lot of weight. Sure enough, Rufus and Kirk stopped using the "no work talk during meals" excuse.

Rufus, with his big belly, stared at the elegant Victoria, grinning. He said, "Mr. Gutierrez and I have checked out your company's credentials. We've also heard that Ms. Carter is quite the drinker. It just so happens that we can hold our liquor too. How about a drinking contest?"

Victoria had just been through a lot, her body hadn't fully recovered, and her wounds still ached. She quietly placed one hand near her wound, her delicate makeup making her look quite well, not too haggard.

But Rufus didn't give Victoria a chance to refuse, directly asking the waiter to bring the wine. Soon, the waiter brought an ice bucket with several bottles of wine inside, mixed with ice cubes.

"This wine is best enjoyed cold!" Kirk cheerfully took a chilled bottle from the ice bucket, opened the cap, and first poured wine for Victoria.

The wine glass was filled to the brim, then he poured for himself and Rufus, and raised his glass.

He continued, "Ms. Carter, you must show us some respect."

Victoria looked down at the full glass of wine, her fingertips lightly touching the rim. The cold feeling made her shiver.

William leaned slightly against the back of the chair, one hand casually placed on the table, fingers lightly tapping the surface. While others were clueless about his emotions, Victoria, who knew him well, could tell he was losing his patience.

Victoria's heart tightened a bit. She lifted her head slightly and smiled, "We are gathered here today for better cooperation opportunities. The Scott Group has always been based on integrity and has strong capabilities. I believe in our future cooperation, and we will bring you substantial returns. Let me drink this glass of wine first as a toast to our upcoming cooperation."

After speaking, she raised her glass and drank it all in one go.

The cold liquor felt like a knife slicing down her throat, and a sharp pain surged through her. She almost lost her balance but clenched her teeth to keep from showing any weakness. Her usually delicate face turned slightly pale.

Sensing Victoria's sincere attitude, Kirk and Rufus also drank a glass. With the drinks down, it was time to start discussing the cooperation.

Victoria put down her glass and got to the point. She said, "Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Chapman, since you are willing to meet us, it shows that you recognize our capabilities. We also cherish the opportunity to cooperate with your company. Since both sides have the intention to cooperate, why hesitate? Early cooperation is beneficial for both of us, isn't it?"

Kirk frowned a bit and said, "Ms. Carter, you're right. We know the Scott Group is strong. But the market's tough right now, and we have to think about our company's interests. We've also looked into another company. They not only promised a 10% discount but also offered extra technical support and professional training, which is really appealing to us."

Victoria smiled slightly and said, "I get your concerns. But the Scott Group has the best R&D team in the industry, can provide personalized services for clients, and has a comprehensive after-sales service system. Sure, the other company offers some extras, but can they match us in these areas?"

Rufus nodded and said, "Ms. Carter, you make a good point. But their offer is very tempting."

Victoria calmly replied, "The offer might seem tempting, but it's just short-term benefits. We promise long-term cooperation and mutual benefit. I'm sure you'll make the right choice once you've thought it through."

Hearing this, Kirk and Rufus started to mull it over.

At this moment, William straightened up a bit, his eyes showing unshakable confidence.

He slowly said, "Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Chapman, we will provide your company with comprehensive resource support, including market promotion, talent training, and more. We'll also send a professional team to your company to understand your specific needs and pain points and then create the best development strategy for you. Our goal is to advance together with your company and create a leading enterprise in the industry."

William's words made Kirk and Rufus's eyes light up. They exchanged glances and saw the excitement in each other's eyes.

Victoria immediately understood William's intention. At some point, just one look from him was enough for her to understand his thoughts.

The two glasses of cold wine were already taking their toll; her wound felt like it was being stabbed by thousands of sharp blades, with the pain spreading intensely. Victoria almost couldn't stand, but she managed to avoid an embarrassing fall by gripping the chair firmly as she sat down.

She took a deep breath and stood up again. She first picked up the wine bottle, then took William's wine glass, and poured wine for him.

William took the wine glass from Victoria, stood up, and slightly raised his hand. When he looked at Kirk and Rufus, his face still showed no expression, his voice was not loud, but his words were powerful and convincing.

Victoria also stood up and said, "Mr. Scott rarely makes promises. But now that he's promising to give you full resource support and tailored development strategies, it shows he really values this partnership and has high hopes for it. So, Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Chapman, consider it carefully."

It must be said that William was very good at tempting people.