Leo Pg shuddered at his own imagination. No matter who James was, it was clear he shouldn't make any move against him. "Stop the investigation immediately and make sure no one finds out," Leo Pg ordered quickly.
People in power generally don't like being investigated. It's considered a sign of disrespect.
At that moment, James and Amanda came up hand in hand.
Leo Pg quickly adjusted his expression into a bootlicking smile and approached them.
"Congratulations, Mr. King! From the look on your face, I can tell you've succeeded! Hahaha!"
James, amused by Leo's enthusiasm, replied with a smile, "My sister graciously agreed to accept my gift."
He lifted Amanda's hand slightly to show it off.
Hearing James refer to Amanda as his "sister," Leo Pg was momentarily taken aback but quickly recovered with a hearty laugh, "
"Mr. King's sister is my sister too. Amanda, we'll be relying on you from now on, haha!"
He even clasped his hands in a respectful gesture, showing a great attitude.
Amanda wasn't surprised by his shamelessness and replied politely, "Leo, please don't tease me. James and I are only siblings in name, nothing official. I'll still need your support in the future."
James didn't bother with pleasantries and got straight to the point: "We were just discussing it. What's the lowest price you'll offer for this bar? If it's reasonable, let's sign the contract."
Leo Pg felt conflicted.
If James really had the means to alter bank records...
He couldn't just throw any price out there.
Biting the bullet, Leo Pg offered a bottom price of 40 million.
Below that, he had no intention of selling.
Though bars are in high-turnover industries and lose appeal over time, this one could last a couple more years given its current reputation in New York City.
40 million was already pretty sincere.
James kept silent, since he wasn't good at negotiations, hoping that Amanda would discuss the price with Mr. Pg.
Unexpectedly, Amanda also stayed quiet, simply pouring James a drink as they both slowly savored it.
Leo Pg thought the price might be too high, assuming James was ignoring him on purpose.
Frustrated yet hesitant, he painfully reduced the price by another 2 million.
He dramatically declared that he couldn't go any lower, saying he'd rather give the bar to Mr. King as a gesture of friendship if the price couldn't be agreed upon.
Amanda whispered a brief consultation with James, and finally, he nodded in agreement at the offered price.
After all, they'd still need Leo Pg to oversee the place.
Leo Pg and Amanda worked out a few details concerning the transfer and called a lawyer to draft the contract in the office.
James, realizing that he couldn't contribute much after learning Amanda's bank account had no withdrawal limit, first loaded $5,000 into the system.
Then he transferred 60 million to Amanda, letting her handle the rest.
Meanwhile, he headed outside to see if any attractive women were entering the bar.
The transfer at Standard Chartered was swift, taking mere minutes.
Amanda stared blankly at the vast amount in her account, lost in thought before regaining her senses after quite a while.
Watching James admire the girls below from the balcony, her eyes softened.
Only now did she completely drop her defenses and place her trust in this man.
ãSystem Prompt: Amanda's favorability +8ã
James paused in his chair-shuffling moment when he received the notification.
He checked Amanda's profile.
Favorability: 79.
Expense: 60.03 million yuan.
Darn it, always just short by a little.
Could it be that 80 points is a crucial threshold requiring some grand gesture to push through?
James thought back to his wonderful evenings with Tailsa.
One point per night.
Maybe tonight he should find a way to get Amanda drunk, then carry her to a hotel. He could endure a bit and see if he could earn one more point.
Turning back, James leaned against the railing with his elbows on the wooden banister, his eyes focused on Amanda.
He pondered the success rate of his plan.
He also wondered which style of judo Amanda had practiced.
Under flashing bar lights, with spotlights swirling, the dimming and brightening gave his intensely focused expression an almost wicked charm.
Amanda inadvertently met James's gaze.
His penetrating stare startled her.
She quickly looked away, realizing he was addressing her as "sis" while daring to look at her this way.
Anger surged; she stood up abruptly and stormed toward James.
Every step exuded confrontation.
"Little brother, you've got some nerve, looking at your sister like that?"
James was taken aback, immediately discarding all improper thoughts as he straightened up and adopted an appeasing posture.
"Hehe, it's too dark, and I just wanted a better look."
Amanda reached out and pinched James's cheeks, pulling them playfully back and forth.
"Don't think you can bully your sister just because you gave her money."
James muttered, his cheeks half-stretched, "Ouch... Sis..."
Finding amusement in pinching his cheeks, Amanda manipulated his face, making his lips pout like fish lips.
"What were you thinking just now?"
"I was thinking sis is really beautiful," James mumbled inarticulately.
Praising a woman's beauty is a universal panacea; it fits any situation like a template.
Amanda's anger dissipated by more than half.
She genuinely intended to treat him as a brother now, but James's gaze had made her doubt if he'd been truthful before.
Was his goal merely to sleep with her?
Seeing his sincerity, her anger subsided, and she calmed herself with reflection.
Who would spend 60 million just to sleep with someone?
"What a smooth-talker. Don't think a few sweet words can smooth things over. Disrespect your sister again, and I'll not let you call me sis anymore," Amanda warned.
Then what would he call her? Wife?
James dared not verbalize such thoughts, instead laughing sheepishly.
"I wouldn't dare. You'll be my sister for life!"
Amanda, eyes narrowing, retorted, "'Real sister'âdo you know what that means?"
"Uh, real sister, big sister, are any of those okay?"
James held onto her hands, stopping her face-pulling antics.
"Remember what you said. I have a bit of a temper. If I lose my cool, you'll need to put up with it and help me save face. Understood?" Amanda said with serious demeanor.
Her serious look belied the amusement in her eyes, her fox-like gaze smiling.
James felt puzzled. "Are you acting as the sister or the younger sibling? Isn't it supposed to be the brother causing trouble, while you worry like a concerned mother?"
Amanda felt a bit embarrassed, and to cover it up, she returned her attention to his face with playful squeezes.
"I'm the older sister, so what I say goes."
"Uh... fine, you're bigger, you're right."
As soon as James said this, Amanda tugged on his ear, prompting him to plead hurriedly.
"Ouch, ouch, okay, okay, whatever you say, sis!"
"Let's see if you dare act up again."
Amanda didn't apply much force, seeing him fake grimaces, she released, tenderly rubbing his red ear, even blowing on it to soothe the sting.
Over at the side, Leo Pg watched the two of them bicker lightly, red-eyed with envy.
He'd known Amanda for two or three years nowâa cold, reserved sort who stuck to business.
Someone congenitally cold on the inside, warm on the outside.
No matter how much money you threw her way, she might smile, but her feelings largely remained untouched.
He'd never seen her treat a man with such tender care, such affection.
He wondered what special tactic this man had used.
He was offering the same bar, yet the outcomes were worlds apart.