June 25, 2015, 08:45 AM.

We stepped out of the cab, Bellalux headquarters towering above us. The sleek, glass facade reflected the morning light, casting a cool glow over the street. Mr. Erik, our driver, gave me a nod as I handed him a 2000 kroner bill.

"Park outside and wait for us, Erik," I said, adjusting my cuff. He gave a curt nod and drove off as I turned to Ray and Lars. Both of them looked tense, fiddling with their collars and ties. It was their first real business meeting, and I could see the nerves creeping up.

"Relax, guys," Mr. Onio said smoothly, his calm demeanor cutting through their jitters. "Just follow my lead."

I could feel the unease rolling off Ray and Lars as we approached the doors, but I wasn't worried. This wasn't just any meeting, but one with Celine Mørk herself—Bellalux's soon-to-be head. I brought Ray and Lars along for the experience. They needed to see firsthand how deals were made, especially now that we were playing in bigger arenas.

Inside, the cool air hit us as the doors glided open, and a young brunette in a crisp blazer approached. Her heels clicked against the marble floor, and I could practically hear Ray and Lars' jaws drop behind me.

"Mr. Onio, Dio, I presume?" she asked, her voice professional but with a hint of warmth. We shook hands, and her grip was firm.

"That's us," I replied, offering a polite smile, while Ray and Lars tried not to make it too obvious that their eyes were glued to her. They exchanged awkward glances, shifting on their feet like schoolboys caught staring.

"If you'll follow me, gentlemen," she said, gesturing toward the sleek couches across the room. "Mrs. Mørk will meet with you shortly."

We took our seats, and I leaned back, scanning the room. The place was pristine, elegant, with an air of quiet power. I could feel Ray and Lars fidgeting beside me, but I stayed composed. This meeting was just the beginning—Bellalux, Celine, everything was falling into place.

We waited patiently, the quiet hum of the office and the soft ticking of a nearby clock the only sounds filling the room. Ray and Lars shifted in their seats, their unease barely hidden, but I remained calm, knowing this was the start of something big.

After a few minutes, the brunette from earlier returned, her professional smile unchanged. "Mrs. Mørk will see you now," she said, gesturing for us to follow.

As we entered Celine's office, the atmosphere shifted. Her presence was commanding, and her smile was warm, yet behind it lay a sharpness that only those in power carry. She stood up, her movements fluid, like someone completely in control of the situation.

"Good to see you again, Dio," Celine greeted me with a charm that was both disarming and calculated. Her eyes flicked over to the others. "And you must be Mr. Onio," she continued, nodding at him. "And these two?"

"This is Lars," I introduced him, "Nova Enterprise's team leader." Lars, for once, didn't falter. He stepped forward, his handshake strong, meeting Celine's eyes with confidence.

"And Ray," I added. "Our top-notch salesman."

Ray followed suit, greeting her with a smile, clearly more at ease now.

Beside Celine stood a tall man with a well-groomed beard and a calm demeanor. He extended his hand to each of us in turn. "I'm Haakon Evensen," he said, his accent thick and undeniably Norwegian. "Mrs. Mørk's assistant."

Celine gestured toward the seats in front of her desk. "Please, make yourselves comfortable," she said smoothly. "We're very glad to have you here. Let's get started, shall we?"

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As we all took our places, the weight of the moment settled in. I could feel the significance of what was about to happen—Bellalux and Nova Enterprise, two giants about to move forward together.

The meeting had just begun, but there was an unspoken sense that the stakes were higher than we'd ever anticipated.

As we settled into our seats, Celine leaned forward, her fingers lightly drumming on the polished desk. "Let's cut to the chase," she said, her smile poised but her tone sharp. "We're planning to launch our new skincare line next week—Flawless Skin by Bellalux. The competition, Hydratique, has been dominating, but we're ready to push them out. The question is, how are we going to sell this over the phone?"

Lars jumped in without missing a beat, his usual unease gone. "A big commercial campaign on social media and TV would make all the difference. If we build enough hype before the launch, it'll be easy for us to sell over the phone. Mentioning Bellalux will immediately resonate with potential buyers."

Ray nodded enthusiastically, chiming in. "Exactly! If we're cold calling and drop the Bellalux name after they've already seen the ads, it'll add legitimacy. No one's going to think we're a scam, and the product will practically sell itself."

Mr. Onio, sitting back in his chair, stroked his chin thoughtfully before speaking. "Here's where we come in. We'll buy a bulk order from you at a discounted rate, no upfront risk on your part. We'll handle the sales for a week, and if we fail, the loss is on us. But if it works, you've got guaranteed volume sales with no downside."

Celine glanced at her assistant, Haakon, who gave a subtle nod of approval. "That sounds promising," she said, her voice smooth. Then, turning to me, she raised an eyebrow. "What do you think, Dio?"

I smirked, leaning forward slightly. "Let's raise the stakes. Selling individually is fine, but a subscription model would lock customers in long-term and boost profits on both sides. Give us two million kroner worth of stock to start. We package it, sell it as a monthly skincare regimen, and watch the profits roll in."

Celine's expression faltered, just for a split second. She had clearly planned to test me, but now, she was intrigued. Regaining her composure, she smiled, this time with more genuine interest. "A subscription model, huh? That's bold. But I like bold. Two million worth of supplies... fine, we have a deal."

She motioned to Haakon. "He'll handle the paperwork and final details."

As I stood to leave, she opened a drawer, pulling out a thin stack of papers. "Oh, Dio, before I forget…" She slid the document across the desk. My eyes narrowed as I realized what it was—the contract Lars Mørk had used to scam the orphanage. "Consider this a gesture of goodwill. I hope this can be the start of a fruitful collaboration."

I smiled, nodding in thanks. "You won't regret it, Mrs. Mørk."

Her lips curled into a knowing smile. "I know I won't."

As I handed the contract to Ray, his hands trembled, eyes wide with disbelief. "Is this… really happening?"

I nodded. "It is. We'll burn it later."

I turned to Celine, ready to close the conversation on a high note. But she wasn't done.

With a calm smile, she tapped her fingers on the table. "Dio, there's one more thing we need to discuss."

I raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

She leaned forward slightly, her eyes sharper now. "Two million? Bold move, but let's raise the stakes. I propose we double that to four million in product, under one condition."

Lars and Ray froze, exchanging nervous glances. I remained still, curious. "What condition?"

She smiled, leaning back with a knowing look. "If you hit your target in the first month, we'll raise your distribution rights across Europe. If you miss... Well, you'll have to pay for the full shipment. No returns."

The room went dead silent. Lars shot me a glance, and Ray's expression tightened, waiting for my response. The weight of her words hung in the air, a challenge she clearly didn't expect me to take.

I smirked, feeling the adrenaline pulse through me. "Four million it is."

Celine's smile widened. "Bold choice, Dio. I'll have my assistant draw up the paperwork."

As we left the room, my mind raced with possibilities—and risks. Four million wasn't a small number, but it could mean something much bigger.

But if this didn't work out, I'd have a whole lot more to lose.

Dio Stat's Info:

Lvl: 15

Skill Count: 3 (Key selling point analyze) (Analyze) (Global Monitoring System)

Strength:35

Agility:24

Intelligence:28

Endurance:21

Charm:23

Dio influence, power & riches:

Money - 1million kroner.

Associate - 8

Asset - 0

Digital Asset - 250 BTC

Goons - 10

Car - 1

Guard - 0

Employers -25

Company - 1