Chapter 183: 12 percent%??

The elevator doors slid shut with a soft hiss, and the faint hum of the cables filled the silence.

Aaron turned slightly, a polite, interested smile on his face. “Do you work at Sterling Enterprises, young man?”

Miles smiled back, his tone even and courteous. “Yes, I do. And you are?”

Aaron extended his hand. “Aaron Knight. I’m the owner of City Swift Cabs. I’m here to meet your boss for an investment pitch.”

Miles’s grip was steady, his expression unreadable. “Right. Nice to meet you, Mr. Knight. I’ve heard a lot about you.” A small pause followed before Miles added casually, “In fact, I just arrived in a City Swift myself.”

Aaron’s brows lifted, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his features. “Really? Well, that’s good to hear. It’s always reassuring when people from Sterling Enterprises use our services. We strive for comfort and reliability.”

Miles chuckled softly. “Small world, isn’t it?”

Aaron smiled back. “You look young. Your family must be proud of you—working for such a giant organization.”

Miles nodded lightly. “They are, definitely.”

The elevator chimed — ding! — signaling the 20th floor. The doors opened, revealing the elegant, glass-walled lobby of the executive wing.

Miles gave a polite nod. “Well, Mr. Knight, good luck with your pitch.”

Aaron adjusted his cuffs. “Thanks, son.”

He and his assistant stepped out, the doors sliding shut behind them as the elevator continued upward.

But Aaron paused mid-step, a faint line appearing between his brows.

“Sir?” his assistant asked.

Aaron tilted his head slightly, still facing the closing elevator. “How did he know I was here for a pitch?”

The assistant frowned. “Maybe he overheard us earlier?”

Aaron said nothing, but a hint of curiosity lingered in his expression.

Before he could dwell on it further, a calm, confident voice greeted him.

“Welcome, Mr. Knight.”

Aaron turned and found June walking toward him — professional yet warm, tablet in hand, her hair neatly tied back.

“I’m June,” she said, offering a handshake. “Mr. Sterling’s assistant.”

Aaron smiled, shaking her hand. “Nice to finally meet you, Miss June. I’ve heard this company runs like clockwork — I guess now I see why.”

June chuckled. “Boss will be ready for your meeting in ten minutes, in the boardroom. Please, have a seat until then. Would you like some coffee?”

“Of course,” Aaron replied. “Thank you for the hospitality.”

He sat down on the modern leather couch beside his assistant. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air as a staff member set two cups before them.

Aaron leaned back slightly, his sharp gaze taking in the office space — the transparent glass walls, the focused faces of employees typing away, the sound of quiet efficiency. Everything about this place felt balanced — modern, powerful, and disciplined.

He glanced toward the large logo on the far wall: Sterling Enterprises.

There were no busy secretaries rushing around, no visible executives giving orders — and yet, the energy of the building ran like a well-oiled machine.

Aaron couldn’t help but murmur, half to himself, “No board members, no visible management… and it still runs this perfectly. The man running this place must be something else.”

The assistant nodded quietly beside him. “They say he owns every division himself. Like he’s everywhere at once.”

Aaron smiled faintly, swirling his coffee cup. “I like men like that. Makes business exciting.”

He didn’t yet realize that the “young man” in the elevator — the one who wished him luck — was the very man he had come to impress.

A few minutes later, June appeared at the waiting area again, calm and poised as ever.”It’s time,” she said with a professional smile. “The boardroom is ready. Please, follow me.”

Aaron and his assistant rose immediately, straightening their suits as they followed her through the polished glass corridor. The faint echo of their footsteps mingled with the hum of distant printers and the soft murmur of office chatter.

They stopped before a private elevator, its golden doors reflecting their faces back at them. June tapped her keycard, and the elevator opened with a soft chime. The ride to the top floor was silent except for the faint mechanical hum.

When the doors opened, Aaron immediately noticed how different this floor felt—quieter, more refined. The walls were lined with abstract art, the lighting warm and deliberate. At the end of the hallway stood a single glass door with the Sterling insignia embossed in silver.

June stepped forward and opened it. “This way.”

Aaron adjusted his tie, his assistant quickly gathering the presentation files. Together, they stepped inside the boardroom.

The moment he entered, Aaron froze.

At the head of the long marble table sat Miles Sterling, composed and confident, a faint smile curving his lips.

“Boss, they’re here,” June announced.

Miles looked up, his voice calm but commanding. “Welcome, Mr. Aaron. Have a seat.”

Aaron blinked, his surprise barely masked. “Greetings, Mr. Sterling,” he said, managing a chuckle as realization dawned. “You played us there.”

Miles smirked. “You only asked if I work here, not what I do

here.”

Aaron laughed lightly, shaking his head. “Still, the fact that you’re so young and have achieved so much… it’s remarkable. At your age, I was still pursuing my professional studies.”

Miles smiled. “Everyone walks a different path, Mr. Knight. Please—don’t stand, have a seat.”

Aaron and his assistant sat down, the assistant already connecting the laptop to the projector.

Miles leaned back. “Well then, the stage is yours, Mr. Knight.”

Aaron nodded, confidence slipping back into his posture. He began his presentation—detailing the City Swift operations across seven cities, its steady financial growth, its market presence, and the ambitious plans for expansion. He highlighted the app’s data-driven system, customer retention rates, and potential growth curves over the next three years.

Throughout the pitch, Miles listened with sharp focus, occasionally exchanging glances with June, who was taking notes beside him. Every now and then, Miles asked a short, precise question—about fuel management, driver onboarding, risk mitigation. His questions were surgical, the kind that only someone who truly understood business at every level could ask.

After an hour, Aaron concluded, “That covers our current structure and future prospects, Mr. Sterling.”

Miles interlocked his fingers thoughtfully. “You’ve built something impressive, Mr. Knight. I have some feedback—if you’re ready to work on it.”

Aaron leaned forward slightly. “I’m all ears.”

Miles spoke clearly, his tone level. “First, the insurance. While City Swift offers basic driver coverage, there’s no passenger insurance. It’s a gap that could cost you reputation and trust.”

Aaron nodded, intrigued.

Miles continued, “Second—penalties on drivers. I spoke with one of your drivers this morning.”

Aaron blinked, surprised. “You did?”

“Yes,” Miles replied casually. “On my way here. He told me how easily drivers get penalized on false complaints. There’s no system to verify their innocence. If a customer lies, they pay the price.”

Aaron’s brow furrowed. “That’s unfortunately true. We rely on reports, but verifying each one…”

Miles leaned forward slightly. “How about dashcams?”

Aaron’s assistant looked up, puzzled. “Dashcams?”

Miles nodded. “Install dashcams in every City Swift vehicle. There are no national restrictions on in-cab recording. It’s cheaper than constant compensation. It protects both the company and the drivers—and builds passenger confidence.”

Aaron’s eyes widened slightly as he turned the idea over in his mind. “Dashcams… That’s actually brilliant. We could start with top-tier drivers and scale it. This could reduce disputes entirely.”

Miles smiled faintly. “Exactly. As for the insurance, I can help.”

Aaron looked at him, surprised again. “You have an insurance firm?”

Miles chuckled softly. “Setting up one isn’t simple, and we haven’t stepped into that territory—yet. But I can arrange something for you through ACE Finances.”

Aaron nearly sat up straighter. “You mean… The ACE Group?”

Miles nodded once. “Yes. They recently acquired a major insurance company. If I make a call, you’ll have a partnership within a week.”

Aaron blinked, genuinely impressed. “Mr. Sterling, I’ve admired you from afar, but I didn’t expect you’d have such reach. You even have ties with ACE.”

Miles’s expression was calm, his words precise. “So, now that you know what I bring to the table—here’s my offer. I’ll give you three times the investment you’re asking for. I’ll fund your nationwide expansion and open every door you need. In return, I want 12% equity in City Swift.”

The boardroom fell silent.

Aaron leaned back slowly, his mind racing.

Miles stood, straightening his jacket. “You don’t have to decide now. Take an hour. Deal or no deal.”

Then he looked toward June. “Let’s give them some space, June.”

“Yes, boss.”

They both left the room quietly.

Aaron exhaled, staring at the glass of water in front of him.

His assistant broke the silence. “What do you think, sir?”

Aaron glanced sideways, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “About him? He’s… extraordinary.”

The assistant leaned forward. “No, sir. About the equity.”

Aaron tapped his fingers against the table thoughtfully. “Twelve percent is steep.”

“Sir,” the assistant said earnestly, “with all due respect—it’s more than fair. For the amount he’s willing to invest, we’d normally have to give up at least thirty percent. And he’s offering connections, coverage, and insurance—things we’ve been struggling with for years. If anything, twelve percent is generous.”

Aaron sat in silence for a moment, then looked up, eyes glinting.

“He’s not just investing in City Swift,” he said quietly. “He’s investing in me. And in our future.”

He took a deep breath, the corners of his mouth lifting. “Prepare the paperwork. We’re taking the deal.”

A few minutes later, Aaron and his assistant stepped out of the boardroom, visibly more composed but carrying the weight of a big decision. June, waiting near the elevator, smiled as she approached them.

“Mr. Sterling is ready for you now,” she said, guiding them down the quiet corridor toward the private cabin.

The door to Miles’s office opened with a soft click — the faint scent of brewed coffee and polished oak filled the air. The view behind Miles stretched endlessly toward the Star Harbor skyline, glass windows catching the late morning light.

Miles looked up from the documents on his desk and gestured toward the seats across from him. “I hope you thought it through.”

Aaron exchanged a quick glance with his assistant before speaking. “Yes, Mr. Sterling,” he said with a steady tone. “We’ve decided to go ahead with the deal. But…” — he hesitated, just for a beat — “there’s a slight problem.”

Miles leaned back in his chair, calm as ever. “Tell me, Mr. Knight.”

Aaron smiled faintly. “Twelve percent is too low.”

Miles raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

Aaron continued, “I’ll give you twenty percent instead. You deserve it. I wish for your long-term support, Mr. Sterling. Having you on the board is a major gain for us — and frankly, it would be my company’s honor.”

June, standing near the desk, couldn’t help the small smile tugging at her lips.

Miles chuckled softly, nodding once. “It’s twenty, then.”

Aaron reached out his hand. “Twenty it is.”

Miles clasped it firmly, the handshake brief but powerful — the kind that sealed more than just a deal.

Two men, two visions, one alliance — and the future of City Swift changed hands that very moment.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep