His Secret Desire by Alana Davis Page A

could not decipher. It was as though they were communicating telepathically. Both of their faces were perfect poker faces, giving away nothing. I searched for the slightest sign of acceptance or outrage, anything, and I could discern nothing.
    “One twenty-five per unit,” Lei Sun said. His voice was flat, his face calm and placid.
    “One hundred,” I said. I knew it was a low offer. I kept my face of stone, trying to judge their reactions. I tried to exude confidence from every pore. I wanted them to believe that I didn’t need their BR36 prototype. I wanted them to know that Strauss Engines could build an entire fucking company just to manufacture an identical prototype that would blow theirs out of the water. I wanted them to know this without having to say a single word to suggest it.
    I could see myself standing at the orientation event in college, watching everything I had worked for come to fruition. I had realized then that it was a small feat, it was no international manufacturing deal, but it had still taken effort and creativity to make happen. I had known then that I had the ability to make things happen. It was the first little scrap of belief in myself. I could feel that same feeling now growing exponentially.
    “One hundred is much too low, Miss Dubois. Insultingly low,” Delun said. His voice had taken on a gravelly edge when he said “insultingly low”. His eyebrows narrowed down at me. His sharp eyes had seemed a little blacker. The unnamed man remained a statue, but I could almost swear that I saw an evil smile spread across his lips.
    They were trying to intimidate me. I felt a flash of anger and embarrassment. I would not be pushed around. My offer had not been insulting, it couldn’t have been. They were both shrewd businessmen, that much I could tell. They must have known I would try to get the lowest rate.
    “My offer was by no means meant to be insulting,” I said, offering no further apology. “It’s meant to be a beginning.”
    “A beginning? What do you mean, Miss Dubois?” Delun asked.
    “I know that you have all seen the press announcement that Mr. Strauss made yesterday,” I said. They must have seen it. And since they had seen the press conference, that means that they had seen me. Alexander’s idea of bringing me up there had been brilliant. Now I was recognizable to these men. I had clout. “Strauss Engines is taking an entirely new direction for the future. Water filtration systems are going to their primary focus now. A billion dollar company moving forward with revolutionizing water filters for the world could prove a very powerful ally for your company.”
    Their eyes finally gave me something I could work with. Both of the men gave looks of understanding. Their eyes softened, looking at me with something new. Wonderment.
    “If you supply Strauss Engines with the BR36 prototype at a flat rate of one hundred and ten dollars per unit, a very fair price, for the first order of ten thousand units, you will have entered into a business venture with a company that has a significant interest in your product developments. The BR36 is still a prototype. When it becomes fully developed, Strauss Engines is going to need more units as they expand operations even outside of India,” I said. I paused to look over Delun and Lei. I looked over to Joyce and smiled. “Your company could be supplying parts for water filters used over the entire world. You could be responsible for clean water for billions of people.”
    I turned to Joyce. “Actually, I will take that water,” I said. “Gentlemen, do you still feel insulted?”
    We signed the deal five minutes later, a bottle of ice cold water in front of me. I drank it all at once as I walked out of the building. Mr. Chen was smiling from ear to ear, and when we boarded the elevator, he laughed out loud. The security guards made no sound.
    “That was phenomenal!” He exclaimed. “You’re a hell of a negotiator.”
    I had made the