Jason extended his hand again. "Pleasure doing business with you."
As Terry left the room to prepare the necessary docunts after giving Henry a severe stare, Jason turned his attention back to Henry. After being ignored and sidelined like this... yup... The younger Kissinger was still fuming, his anger barely contained.
Why was this child even still here?
It was very clear that there was a hierarchy in the Kissinger family and the person who made the decisions was Terry. But Jason thought a bit more and figured this might be a reminder of sothing that had been plaguing him since childhood.
Being sidelined like this because of having an impressive older brother must have inspired an inferiority complex inside him, sothing that made him beco angered at things, and end up spending ti with people who want to constantly make him happy, like gold-digging girlfriends and drinking buddies.
"You really should learn to control your temper, Henry," Jason said, his tone almost pitying. "I understand that you’re living in the shadow of your brother, but you’re no idiot. No… You’re very impressive. I can tell that you have a ton of potential in you that is just waiting to burst out. But this… this is not a good look for soone trying to play in the big leagues."
Henry’s jaw tightened. "You think you’re so clever, don’t you?" Even though he said this, his expression was a bit more relaxed in Jason’s presence after Terry’s presence. Or maybe it was the complint Jason had just afforded him about his hidden potential. Whatever it was, Jason was less annoying in his eyes now.
Whatever it was, Jason was going to capitalise on it.
Jason’s smile didn’t falter. "Cleverness has nothing to do with it. It’s about understanding people. And I am soone who has a good understanding of myself, and a good understanding of others… That’s why I know what you’re going through… After all, I’ve lived it before. Speaking of which... you’re still trying to impress Amanda, aren’t you?"
Henry’s glare intensified. Jason’s smirk widened as he continued, his voice taking on a hypnotic rhythm.
"Let tell you sothing about Amanda," Jason said, his words asured and deliberate as he leaned forward as if to whisper. "She’s a woman who values power above all else. She’ll latch onto anyone who can give her that, but the mont you falter, she’ll move on without a second thought."
Jason sighed. "I didnt want to say it like this because I know you care about her, but I have no choice. You’re just a stepping stone to her. Just like I was, just like the man before you was, just like the man after you will be later on. She always shows her true colours, and she will never be satisfied. Trust ."
Jason’s tone shifted subtly, becoming almost conspiratorial. "But here’s the thing, Henry. You don’t have to be her stepping stone. You could be the one pulling the strings. If you’re willing to play the ga, that is."
Henry’s expression faltered, doubt creeping into his eyes. Jason’s words had struck a nerve in him and it was impossible to deny it. Jason had said how he was soone who understood people. It seed it was true to an extent. This bastard.
anwhile, Jason was watching his words land on the soil of this man’s brain, slipping in there as seeds and then germinating into sothing beautiful. All he had to do now was water the words bit by bit.
Jason’s use of pacing and leading, combined with embedded suggestions, subtly guided Henry’sthoughts. By acknowledging Henry’s feelings and then offering an alternative perspective, Jason planted the idea of empowernt without directly stating it. The most important point is that empowernt can only be reached by allying with him.
Before Henry could respond, Terry returned, a folder in hand. "The preliminary agreent," he said, handing it to Jason. "Take your ti to review it, but I’m confident we can move forward."
Jason stood, taking the folder with a nod. "I look forward to our partnership." After saying that, he turned to Henry and then after a bit of thought, he said, "And Terry, could you make it such that your brother is our liaison? I feel like he and I have a lot in common. If things get resolved we might even turn into good friends."
Terry gazed at Jason weirdly for a mont, turning to Henry, who also had a wide-eyed look for a mont, before giving Jason a grin. "Then I hope you can take care of my annoying little brother. He lacks experience, but I’m sure with soone like you showing him the ropes, he will see a ton of progress."
"Terry!!" Henry said but after a look from the man, he scowled, not even saying anything else. Jason almost wanted to laugh. This was way too good. He could control Henry through Terry from now on. Although, realistically speaking it would not take much to make Henry realise that his girl was not an angel. But this was still useful in the short term. In the long term... Jason would see how he could make both of these brothers useful.
With that, Jason strode out, leaving the Kissinger brothers behind. As he stepped out of the door, his mind was already on his next move. The Kissingers were a useful stepping stone, but Jason’s ambitions stretched far beyond them.
The car pulled away from the mansion, and Jason allowed himself a small smile. This was just the beginning.
Back at the Kissinger estate, Terry turned to his brother with a grim expression. Right before Henry could say anything else, Terry spoke first. "You’ve embarrassed us enough, Henry. Stay out of this. Tell Jason that you want out."
"But you just agreed to his..." Henry began saying only to notice the glint in his brother’s eyes. Ah... he wanted him to go to Jason and say it as a way of apologising. He wanted to also have a connection with Jason Cross. This brother of his... he was going to make it seem like he, Henry, was the coward.
Henry’s hands clenched into fists, his knuckles white. "Brother, you’re cruel. And he embarrassed . How could I let him go? No. I am going to make him pay!"
"Henry-" Terry was about to say sothing when they were interrupted by shouting from outside.
Right then, a woman was entering the estate. It was the woman... Her na was Amanda. Last night she had gotten called back because Henry was a bit lonely, and he wanted to see her. She had gone ho and had so very bland sex with him, putting him to sleep after one round, and thereafter, she had gone to sleep too because what else was there to do?
It was a sha that she had to leave that party so early. It ruined all her plans for humiliating Jason and watching him eat dirt. He along with that other woman he was with! Annoying! Why did it annoy her to see Jason with another woman?!
Well, whatever. She was feeling annoyed but at the sa ti, she was really happy. After all, this morning, Henry had given her his credit card, and she was allowed to go shopping with it.
Of course, there was a limit to the things she could buy, but that limit was aningless to her. It was the act of giving her the credit card itself that was most enjoyable. And what other act did she love? The act of swiping the credit card anywhere and everywhere.
Bags, clothes… designer wear. She loved these things more than anything else in her life. She was going to live a life of luxury where everyone looked up to her. She just knew it.
She had a smile on her face as she humd a tune to herself, but the next mont when she saw Jason walking out of the house, followed by the butler, who had a respectful expression on his face, she frowned.
"Jason what are you doing here?!" she asked. Jason smirked n interest when he saw her. Now that he had implanted a seed in Henry, he would implant a seed in her. After all, if they both started subconsciously expecting the relationship to lead nowhere then things would end that much faster. And with nobody to depend on, she would have nothing and would be nothing. And that was an unacceptable state of being for soone like Amanda.
"Oh, nothing… just talking with your boyfriend. Or should I say your wallet? He is inside, fuming. I managed to calm him down sowhat. But when he sees you doing all this... I don’t know what he might think." After saying that, Jason turned to her bags, looking at them and then smiling.
Amanda frowned. What did those words an?
"What are you trying to say by that?"
"Oh, nothing... It’s just... I hope you can hold on to the things you have before they get away from you. You never know when you might lose it all. Sotis it’s easy to get lost in our perspectives and forget how our actions might affect others. Like when you take a step back and examine the bigger picture, you will start to see how like a pebble thrown in a pond the ripples spread further than we can ever anticipate. Good luck."
Hearing those words from Jason, Amanda’s head buzzed.
What?!
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