Chapter 285 - 283: The Game Has Only Just Begun

While speaking, Eugene Jacobs took a business card from his pocket and offered it to Cecilia Sterling with both hands. "Miss Sterling, this is my card."

Cecilia Sterling gracefully accepted it, her eyebrow arching as she glanced at the details on the card.

’Except for the name, everything on it is a lie!’

’Although she didn’t know Eugene Jacobs’s exact role at Walter Lane’s side, he was clearly just a lapdog for the Lane Group.’

"To be so accomplished at such a young age is truly admirable, Mr. Jacobs." Cecilia Sterling offered him a slightly apologetic look. "I’m afraid I don’t have a card with me."

"Not to worry. A woman as outstanding and beautiful as you, Miss Sterling... I assure you, I won’t need a card to remember you."

To someone who didn’t know him, such slick words might actually sound pleasant and flattering, thanks to his deceptively handsome appearance.

But right now, just looking at his face made Cecilia Sterling feel sick.

"How did you find my information, Mr. Jacobs?" Cecilia Sterling asked, sitting up a little straighter. She then picked up the hot Americano from the table and took a sip.

’This tastes awful!’

But it was enough to suppress the wave of disgust rising within her.

Eugene Jacobs offered a refined smile, his voice slow and deliberate. "I was actually keeping an eye on that plot of land even before the auction. It’s just that our company’s project was still in its nascent stages and hadn’t been finalized. Then I heard that a young, beautiful woman had won the bid. I must admit, I was both curious and surprised."

"The day your name was publicly announced, Miss Sterling, I looked it up immediately. Of course, the public notice only contained your name; finding anything else required some... less-than-conventional methods. This may seem presumptuous, I know, but I’m sure I wasn’t the only one looking into you. I just happened to be quicker. And I’m deeply honored that you were willing to take the time to meet with me."

Cecilia Sterling nodded slowly. "So, you went to all this trouble to find me, Mr. Jacobs, because your company’s project has been finalized and now you want my plot of land in Genesis Park?"

"That’s right."

"That land wasn’t cheap. Sounds like you have a pretty big project on your hands, Mr. Jacobs."

Eugene Jacobs gave a knowing smile. "It’s a major project, of course. But as for the specifics, I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to disclose those to you, Miss Sterling."

Cecilia Sterling simply offered an understanding smile, but inwardly, she thought, ’This Eugene Jacobs really is meticulous. He doesn’t just lie; he constructs an entire narrative, starting all the way back before the land was even auctioned.’

"Miss Sterling." Eugene Jacobs leaned forward slightly. The pleasant, woody scent of his cologne sharpened at the tip of her nose. Then, he spoke in a low voice. "As far as I know, the industrial park is still operating under its old model. A large area with few tenants has always been the main drawback of Genesis Park. You haven’t optimized the business model or made any other moves. So, I presume your initial intention was simply to flip this land for a profit, wasn’t it?"

Through the lenses of his glasses, Cecilia Sterling could see the smug satisfaction hidden in his eyes.

Cecilia Sterling could only scoff inwardly at his smug cleverness.

"Your research is quite thorough, Mr. Jacobs, and your analysis is very reasonable." Cecilia Sterling decided to play along, gently stroking his ego. "It seems I have nowhere left to hide."

’Sure enough, men are just like balloons. One little puff of air and they float away.’

Eugene Jacobs was clearly pleased by Cecilia Sterling’s reaction. He slowly sat up straight, the smile on his face growing more genuine. "Don’t be nervous, Miss Sterling. Land is a straightforward commodity. You won it at a fair price, so if I want to buy it, my offer will naturally be higher than what you paid. I won’t let you walk away empty-handed. There’s definitely a profit to be made."

Cecilia Sterling nodded, raising an eyebrow. "Since you know my situation so well, Mr. Jacobs, why don’t you tell me what you’re willing to pay?"

She had originally won the bid for the land at 226,000 Dollar.

Eugene Jacobs had, of course, come prepared. The chairman had given him negotiating power, with free rein to operate as long as he stayed under a certain price ceiling. If he could secure the land for the lowest possible price, it would certainly please the chairman.

He was banking on Cecilia Sterling’s youth and inexperience, so instead of rushing to make an offer, he tossed the problem back to her. "Miss Sterling, in any transaction, the seller is always the one to name their price. It wouldn’t be right for me to make the first offer."

"Don’t play these kinds of logic games with me, Mr. Jacobs," Cecilia Sterling said softly. "You came here with a plan, which means you came with a price in mind. If you make me name a number first, I’m obviously going to shoot for the moon."

Eugene Jacobs laughed freely. "By all means," he said casually. "Name your price, Miss Sterling. Who knows? I might just agree."

’What an old fox.’

The warmth in Cecilia Sterling’s eyes cooled. "Five hundred thousand Dollar," she said plainly. "Can you afford that, Mr. Jacobs?"

Eugene Jacobs’s smile froze on his face. He quickly replaced it with a short laugh. "Are you joking with me, Miss Sterling? Five hundred thousand? That’s more than double the price! If everyone speculated like you, flipping land would be the easiest way in the world to get rich!"

Cecilia Sterling shrugged nonchalantly. "And now it’s your turn, Mr. Jacobs. Your turn to make a counteroffer."

Eugene Jacobs fell silent.

’Was he just played by this young woman?’

Seeing him fall silent, Cecilia Sterling picked up her phone and began to scroll through it, all while watching him with a leisurely expression.

Eugene Jacobs was indeed thinking, weighing the reasonableness of his opening offer.

After a long moment, he finally spoke. "233,000 Dollar!"

Upon hearing this, Cecilia Sterling put down her phone and looked at Eugene Jacobs. "Is that your best and most sincere offer, Mr. Jacobs?"

"’Miss Sterling, just by flipping this land, you’d be making a profit of 7,000 Dollar," Eugene Jacobs said, his expression earnest, his tone sincere. "And all in just a few months. Many small and medium-sized companies don’t see that kind of profit in an entire year."

Cecilia Sterling let out a short laugh. "But I’m not a small or medium-sized company, am I? And don’t forget, Mr. Jacobs, I also had to pay the Stamp Duty on top of the purchase price. At your offer, I wouldn’t even be making 7,000."

"Then what price would you consider appropriate, Miss Sterling? And let’s not mention five hundred thousand again. We both know that was a joke," Eugene Jacobs asked patiently.

Cecilia Sterling could roughly guess the ceiling Walter Lane had set for Eugene Jacobs. The maximum profit margin he was allowed to offer probably didn’t exceed 20,000.

And between seven thousand and twenty thousand, there was plenty of room to maneuver.

Cecilia Sterling wasn’t in a rush. The fish had just taken the bait; there were still several more steps before it was ready for the dinner table. The game had only just begun.

"You’re the first person to approach me about this, Mr. Jacobs, and I’ve always been one to value a good first impression." Cecilia Sterling pretended to consider this for a moment before speaking again. "Add another two thousand. Make it 235,000 Dollar. How does that sound?"