Chapter 361 Slip Of Tongue
Although Hera didn’t want to come across as boasting about her academic background, she struggled to find a reason or excuse to persuade the manager to let her review the business plan without drawing Gael’s attention or raising suspicions.
The manager quickly grasped Hera’s intent and decided to play along. He feigned surprise and responded with a pleased nod, "Oh! I didn’t realize Miss Hera was so capable. Please, feel free to review this business plan and see if it meets our standards." Without hesitation, he handed the folder to Hera.
Hera smiled as she noticed Gael growing increasingly nervous when she took hold of the folder. He began fidgeting and rubbing his thumb anxiously. Hera then opened the folder and carefully reviewed each page. Like the manager, she found herself rereading the profit distribution several times to ensure she wasn’t misinterpreting it.
Hera thought, ’What does he mean by an 85% to 15% split? Is he planning to work for free? That 15% profit won’t be enough to sustain his operations. Is he really offering his services at such a low rate?’ As she looked at Gael with concern, she noted that aside from the unusual profit distribution, his overall plan and distribution line was clear and well-organized.
Gael planned to distribute the coffee beans exclusively to aristocratic families through a small auction. While this approach could potentially yield higher profits compared to traditional distribution methods, the cost of managing the auction would still be significant. Gael’s goal was to establish a Treasure Pavilion, showcasing the finest items and running an auction house to highlight his collection. However, this ambition meant competing against the established Lakeside Pavilion Auction House, a well-known and formidable competitor.
This is not what Gael had achieved in the novel. In the story, he was more of a secondary character, an aide rather than a central figure. However, Gael’s current ambitions show a significant shift. He now seeks to build his own identity and power outside the Harrison legacy, aiming to establish himself as a force independent of the Harrison name.
Perhaps it was because, unlike in the novel where Rafael helped him bring the Harrisons down, Gael felt a deep sense of indebtedness and chose to become their aide rather than pursue his own power. This realization made sense to Hera once she considered the possibility.
Reading his business proposal sparked an idea in Hera’s mind. If the Avery could partner with an auction house that has the potential to rival Lakeside Pavilion, it could be a strategic investment rather than a missed opportunity. It would provide an initial foothold in a promising venture. It seemed that Gael intended to feature their coffee beans as the centerpiece of the auction house for now, given his current lack of valuable treasures to auction.
Since the Black Ivory and other coffee beans were just as rare, they would attract considerable interest due to their limited availability. Hera could see the potential success of this plan. The only remaining concern was the profit distribution.