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“The man brings death and devastation with him wherever he goes.” Andrade paused and took Valencia’s hand in his. “Hasn’t he caused you enough pain and sorrow? How much more will he do to you before you see that he will be the instrument of your destruction?”
“I know. But in this particular case, it will be to your benefit because—”
“You can help me.” He shook his head. “Business. With you it’s always business,” Andrade said, knowing that it was that mindset that would truly be the instrument of her destruction.
Andrade also knew that if Ezequiel had anything to do with it, the only one that would truly benefit from it was Ezequiel and maybe, his nephew, Pérez Ferreira.
Valencia pressed forward. “Be that as it may, and the fact that it’s true notwithstanding, tell me about the expansion.”
“I’ve been working with a representative from a company called Innerbond. They have a High Speed Cigar Rolling Machine that can produce four hundred to twelve hundred cigars per hour.”
“I see. Have you committed to anything yet?”
“Not as of yet. There were a few modifications that I want to make, and they were going to get back to me with a new proposal.”
“I know somebody who may be able to help you with that,” she said, not knowing whether Shy could do anything to help him or not. “Can you at the very least meet with their representative and give them an opportunity to give you a better price.”
Andrade smiled at Valencia. “As always, I am putty in your hands, my dear. Of course, I will meet with your associate and I will make this commitment to you. If they are competitive with the price that I receive from Innerbond, the contract is theirs.”
“Thank you, Andrade. An opportunity is all they will need,” Valencia smiled because it was happening. Shy would make this deal and she would be that much closer to being free of Ezequiel.
Or at least she hoped to be.
Since he never answered a direct question and when he did, his answers were always vague or he would speak in riddles that lacked any type of commitment, she could never be sure. Valencia knew that there was a chance and a strong one that she would do exactly what he asked, and he would just want something else.
I wish it was him that was dead.
Now that she had all of the information that she needed from Andrade; Valencia put in a call to Shy. Once she told her about him, what he was actually looking for, and she had given Shy all the relevant information she’d needed, she got to work. As soon as she ended the call with Valencia, Shy began researching Innerbond. It didn’t take much for her to find out that they were a subsidiary of a Chinese company and then she called Black. He was in Port Saint Lucie, Florida with Deana Butler and Jaila Bell working on the real estate projects.
“I’ve been working with Valencia DeVerão and she put me in touch with a potential client who is looking to do business with a Chinese company called China Tobacco Machines.”
“I’ll take care of it for you,” Black promised his wife, although he was apprehensive about anything having to do with Valencia. Changpu Zhao, a representative of China Tobacco Machines called her the next morning.
It was a simple matter for Black to call his good friend and business partner, Wei Jiang, who made the necessary calls to make it happen for Shy. When the conversation with Changpu Zhao was over, he had sent her a proposal that both were confident would be pleasing to Andrade Ferreira. An appointment was set for Shy to meet him at the Manhattan office he’d rented the following morning.
“As I look at the cigar market today, there is cause to be optimistic about the factory expansion. But to gain market share, changes to the original production process is imperative.”
“Yes. Many tobacco factories are scrambling to change, thereby improving the operating environment, improving production efficiency and quality of tobacco is critical.”
“Indeed. However, availability of cigar rolling equipment at home is practically nonexistent. So I am interested in hearing what you have for me.”
“Valencia tells me that you’ve been working with a representative of a company called Innerbond about their XJ14 Cigar Rolling Machine and they’ve been keeping you waiting on the proposed cost of the modifications that you need. Is that correct?”
“Yes, Mrs. Black; yes, it is,” Andrade said, even though he had heard from them that morning and wasn’t at all happy with the price they proposed for the modifications. Shy reached in her satchel and took out her proposal. She handed it to him.
“Innerbond is the overseas agent for China Tobacco Machines. I took the liberty of reaching out to them directly and they were kind enough to share with me the modifications that you requested and were able to quote me what I believe is a much better price per unit than Innerbond will be able to offer you.”
Andrade looked over Shy’s proposal and the longer he read, the more the corners of his lips curled into a smile. When he began nodding his head, she knew that this was a deal that she could make.
“I am very impressed, Mrs. Black, and I think that based on this,” he said, holding up the proposal. “this is the beginning of a beautiful, long, and of course, mutually profitable relationship,” Andrade said, then stood up with his hand extended.
Shy stood up and they shook hands to seal their deal. “I agree. And once your product is ready for the market, I am confident you will find a number of opportunities in the international cigar market. I could help you with that as well.”
“Of that I am confident,” he said, sitting down to sign his acceptance of her proposal.
“Excellent. I will have the contracts drawn up and sent over for your review in a few days.”
“Very good.”
