Xavier walked into the conference room, his steps brisk and purposeful. "Everyone, let's begin."
The senior managers and key department heads straightened in their seats as the last of them closed their files. Xavier didn't waste time on small talk.
"The meeting with Richard Dravin is in two days," Xavier began, resting his hands on the table. "We need to secure this cooperation if we're serious about the southern expansion. Delays are already eating into our margins, and this partnership can lock down the new shipping routes."
Heads nodded, some more anxiously than others. Dravin was a known hardliner, a client who had burned through two major competitors in the past year.
"His negotiation team will be expecting our revised proposal," Xavier continued. "We're offering priority distribution but not full exclusivity. That's the limit."
"Sir," one of the managers spoke up, "he's rejected better offers than ours in the past. We might not even make it to the second round if we don't sweeten the deal."
"Then we need to find something he values beyond numbers," Xavier replied, his tone steady but firm. "What else do we know about him?"
His assistant, seated two seats away, tapped on her tablet and glanced up. "I've gone through his history with previous partnerships. It's not just about the money or control. It's about trust. The people who failed him didn't build personal rapport. They felt too shady to him.
Then we must try a different approach," Xavier said, leaning back in his chair. "We make him comfortable. Make him feel like he can trust us. Find out where his pressure points are."
"I already started looking," the assistant continued. "There's something that came up repeatedly: his wife."
"They're quite close."
The room went quiet.
"He's extremely close to her. She attends almost all of his public events and business trips. From what I gathered, she plays a significant role in his decisions. When she's at ease, deals move faster."
And I'm sure she'll be at our meeting with him.
Xavier's brow lifted slightly. "Interesting. What is her preferences?"
"She's deeply invested in tailored fashion. Custom-designed clothing. She has a particular taste for rare fabrics and personalized pieces. She's known to commission outfits from top designers around the world."
Xavier's mind immediately started connecting dots. "So if we appeal to her…"
"It could shift the tone of the meeting in our favor," the assistant confirmed. "A thoughtful gift could show them we understand what matters to them."
"But it can't be random," Xavier said, his voice calm but decisive. "It has to feel personal, specific. Something that reflects her taste."
"I can get her size, preferred designers, color palette…"
"Do it. I want to present something she can't ignore."
"Should we source from one of our usual designers?"
Xavier paused, weighing the thought carefully. "No. I want something she won't expect. Something with character."
His mind briefly hovered over options, and though he didn't voice it yet, the idea of having something made by a designer who wasn't from the typical circles was beginning to shape in his thoughts.
"Begin arrangements," he said, standing. "I want a shortlist by tomorrow."
"Yes, sir."
That will be all.
The team dispersed, leaving Xavier alone with the quiet weight of the decision pressing against his schedule.
Richard Dravin was a difficult man. The meeting would test his patience and precision. But Xavier wasn't the type to walk away from pressure. This was the field he'd been trained to master. This was where he thrived.
He would secure the deal. One way or another.
His phone buzzed again, a reminder from his assistant about his upcoming commitments. But his thoughts lingered briefly on the woman who could tilt the negotiation in their favor.
A well-designed, perfectly tailored piece might be the key to opening the door.
And I think I have one in mind.