Chapter 20

Evening had already settled in, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink as Xavier nervously checked his watch. He had made a reservation in one of the finest restaurants in town for a dinner meeting with Mr. Douglas.

It was a crucial night for Xavier, as he had one last chance to convince Mr. Douglas to sell him the desired pieces of land. The stakes were high, and failure meant losing out to his rival, Alex. He had sworn not to lose to Alex again this time he must get the land for at all cost.

Xavier sat patiently at the restaurant, his mind swirling with anticipation. It had taken time to plan, meticulously research, and countless negotiations to bring him to this moment.

He knew that Mr. Douglas held the key to his success, as the land he owned was critical for Xavier's company to move forward. He needed to secure it, no matter the cost.

Finally, a familiar face caught Xavier's attention. Mr. Douglas walked into the restaurant, his warm smile lighting up the room.

Xavier rose from his seat, extending a hand towards his guest. Pleasantries were exchanged. "Mr Douglas I am really glade you made it".

"Of course, I will always have time".

and they settled down at the table. The ambiance was serene, the perfect setting for an important conversation.

Over their meal, Xavier and Mr. Douglas engaged in small talk, chatting about their families, hobbies, and recent events.

It was a necessary icebreaker, allowing them both to relax before delving into the purpose of their meeting.

The conversations flowed effortlessly, creating an atmosphere of trust and familiarity.

As dessert arrived, Xavier cleared his throat, feeling the weight of the impending discussion. He knew he had to seize the opportunity before him.

Taking a deep breath, Xavier began to open up about his intentions for the land, carefully outlining his plans and assuring Mr. Douglas of the benefits it would bring to both their lives.

To his dismay, Mr. Douglas listened attentively but remained unmoved. He leaned back in his chair and gently shook his head. This alone was enough for Xavier to know what he hadn't convinced him yet.

"Xavier, I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I've already made up my mind," he said, his voice tinged with regret. "Alex offered me something that I truly need, something I cannot collaborate with you on, I am truly sorry." He said with a remorseful voice.

Xavier's heart sank. He had hoped that Mr. Douglas would see reason, that he would consider the potential rewards and promises Xavier had laid out before him.

He was now facing yet another hurdle thrown by his fiercest competitor, Alex. But Xavier was not one to give up easily.

In a last-ditch effort, Xavier frantically searched for alternatives. "Mr. Douglas, please reconsider. I am willing to offer you a bigger amount of money, twice what Alex is offering.

I promise you, this is an unbeatable deal," he pleaded, desperation lacing his voice.

"It's not about the money, Mr Qin it's just something money can't buy, I really appreciate your efforts, I do but there's nothing I can do, I will be signing the contract with Mr Dunbar".

"But Mr Douglas"

Mr. Douglas remained resolute. He raised a hand to stop Xavier's words from flowing any further. "Xavier, it's not about the money," he repeated firmly "I hope you understand, but I can't. We could do more collaboration in the future".

Xavier's heart sank further, realizing that this was a battle he couldn't win with money alone.

He had underestimated the personal connections and rapport that Alex had built, which proved to be stronger than any monetary offering.

It was a harsh reality to accept. He hadn't expected to be rejected so badly by Mr Douglas.

With a heavy heart, Xavier nodded, realizing the futility of his efforts. He thanked Mr. Douglas for his time, their dinner turning into a bittersweet memory of what could have been.

As Mr. Douglas left the restaurant, Xavier stared after him, a mix of anger, disappointment, and determination swirling within him.

He clenched his fists, gritting his teeth, and silently vowed that this setback would not be the end.

He would find a way to overcome this obstacle, to show Alex that he was not defeated so easily.

He took out his phone and called his assistant. The other person picked the call "I want you to find out what Mr Dunbar offered Mr Douglas, I need an answer by tomorrow" he cut the call.

Xavier stood up abruptly, tossing a few bills onto the table to cover the cost of the dinner.

The tension in his shoulders was palpable as he stormed out of the restaurant, his mind already working on a new strategy. The battle for land was far from over, and Xavier would stop at nothing to emerge victorious.

When he arrived home, his mother tried to talk to him but he ignored her and went into his room, after a few minutes his mother came into the room.

"Son, what happened, why are you looking like this? '' she asked with a worried expression.

"I lost to that bastard of a guy, who calls himself Alex," he said with disgust.

"What do you mean by you lost to him".

"There was this piece of land, suited in the busiest part of the cityz I needed it because it is crucial to my company's development and increase of stocks, but Alex had already purchased it, I really don't know if that guy is bent on making my life miserable".

She gritted her teeth in anger, knowing who Alex really was, he was just as worrisome as his mother, she needed to end him soon.

"Son it alright, it's just one piece of land I'll see what I can do about it" she said, patting him gently on his shoulder "don't worry about that Alex of a guy, I will take care of him" she said walking out of the room.

He collapsed in his bed in anger.