After hearing from Wayne that Tristan wanted to meet her, a mischievous smile played on Summer's lips. The gears in her mind began turning, and her eyes sparkled with mischief. She sat back in her chair in her suite, enjoying the smooth taste of her coffee, her fingers drumming against the table rhythmically, she called Wayne.
"Give him Dr. Lifeath's personal email," she said with a smirk.
On the other side of the call, Wayne almost dropped his phone. "Sorry, what now?" he stammered, utterly confused. Dr. Lifeath's personal email?
But before Wayne could even think of voicing his concerns, Summer continued, the playful tone in her voice unmistakable. "And ask for 250 million in exchange for the email."
Wayne blinked. "250… million dollars?" He had worked with Summer for a while, but even for her, this level of extortion was a new one. Summer's chuckle on the other end only confirmed that she was completely serious.
"Yes, Wayne. 250 million dollars. I want to see just how much Tristan values Dr. Lifeath and how desperate he is to win against me."
Wayne muttered under his breath, knowing better than to question her. "I pity him already," he sighed. His boss was wicked, and poor Tristan had no idea he was walking straight into her elaborate trap. Still, a job was a job. He relayed the message to Tristan without hesitation.
Tristan's reaction, however, was priceless. Sitting in his luxurious office, he stared at the message, slack-jawed.
"250 million… for an email?" His voice was barely audible as the absurdity of it all washed over him. "Is this Dr. Lifeath… serious?"
He ran a hand through his hair in disbelief. His previous admiration for the famed, mysterious doctor plummeted. So much for the elusive reputation, he thought bitterly. "Dr. Lifeath, you've just gone down several pegs in my book," he mutters, frowning at the audacity of such a demand. Yet, without hesitating too long, Tristan transferred the money. It's not about the money, he reasoned. It's about securing this deal. His desire to win and his curiosity about the legendary doctor outweigh the sting of the outrageous cost.
Fifteen minutes later, Wayne sent Summer the confirmation. Amused, she reclined in her chair, already anticipating her next move.
Once he has the email, Tristan immediately crafts a formal and professional proposal, addressing Dr. Lifeath in neutral terms since he knows nothing about her gender or identity.
"Dear Dr. Lifeath,
I hope this message finds you well. I am reaching out to propose a potential collaboration. I would be honored if we could discuss this in more detail during a meeting at your earliest convenience."
He clicks send, confident that his professionalism and prestige will command the respect the situation deserves. But little does he know, Summer is already grinning as she sees the email pop up.
Her response is swift and biting:
"Do you think you're worthy of meeting me? Maybe I'll read your proposal, but meeting me? First, prove your worth."
When Tristan received the email, his eyes widened in disbelief. The arrogance was off the charts. He wasn't used to this level of condescension — at least, not from anyone other than Summer. He muttered to himself, "Birds of a feather, I suppose."
Despite his growing frustration, he composed himself gritting his teeth, maintaining the professional tone in his response, he replied: "What would you require for me to prove my worth, Dr. Lifeath?"
Meanwhile, Summer was laughing gleefully to herself. She could practically see Tristan's face as he read her responses. With a devilish smile, she sent back a new demand:
"Transfer 300 million to the account."
Tristan slammed his fist on the desk, the vibrations rattling his computer mouse. "Three hundred million?! This is daylight robbery!" he fumed. Does this doctor think money grows on trees?
He quickly typed out a reply, trying to negotiate, but then came another scathing message that hit his ego hard:
"I thought Stark's group was filthy rich. These few million should be a drop in the ocean for you, yet you're haggling. I didn't expect the CEO of Stark's group to be this stingy."
Tristan could feel the heat rising up his neck. Stingy? No one had ever dared insult him like that. The sheer gall of this person left him seething. He muttered, "This Dr. Lifeath is as infuriating as Summer…" , he felt that same infuriating pull—similar to what he feels when Summer provokes him. His family's honor is on the line, and his competitive nature refuses to back down. With a grunt, he transfers another 300 million.
When the notification of the transfer popped up on Summer's phone, she let out an amused snort. He's actually doing it, she thought with a grin. She sipped her coffee, enjoying her little game of teasing her rival to the fullest.
Leaning forward, she typed:
"Alright, send in your proposal. You have an hour — not a second late. But mind you, if the proposal is garbage, don't expect me to engage with you any further. Also, you won't get any refund!"
Wayne, who has access to Dr. Lifeath's email was also reading their chat, the audacity of it all almost made h spit out his water when he saw him e message. This woman is truly terrifying, he thought with both fear and admiration.
Back in his suite, Tristan stared at the email, nearly rolls his eyes. A refund? At this point, I'm expecting nothing but robbery!, completely bewildered. "This doctor's bleeding me dry," he grumbled, shaking his head in disbelief. Despite everything, he respected Dr. Lifeath's talents too much to pull out now. The respect he held for her medical brilliance kept him tethered to this insanity, though his patience was wearing thin. But still, he submits his proposal, ensuring it is meticulously drafted and flawless. He's determined to impress this elusive doctor who seems intent on mocking him.
Exactly at the 59th second, Summer received Tristan's proposal. She skimmed through it, her eyebrows raising with each paragraph. The proposal was concise, meticulous, and well-thought-out. It irked her slightly that Tristan could put together such a polished presentation under pressure. "He's sharp," she muses. "Too sharp." She smirks, feeling a little annoyed that she can't find anything to fault in his plan. She rolled her eyes, slightly frustrated at how good it was. She typed a reply.
Her reply, short and filled with backhanded compliments: "Not bad, I didn't expect too much from you, but you passed my expectations. It's not total garbage, so I'll think about it."
Tristan exhaled a breath of relief, but then smirked. Her reply was an insult in disguise, but it was still an acknowledgment. His irritation waned slightly, and for the first time, he finds himself smiling at Dr. Lifeath's response. Beneath the arrogance, she seems to be honest, he thought. He found himself both frustrated and oddly fascinated by this elusive figure. He's starting to see the charm in her personality, however grating it might be.
In a moment of confidence, he sends another polite request:
"I would be honored if we could meet to discuss the proposal further."
But Summer, ever the trickster, has other plans. Her next reply is nothing short of a taunt:
"Sure! But can you really afford to meet me? From your earlier hesitation, I suggest you reconsider. Or do you want to prove you're not as stingy as you seem?"
Tristan's blood bouted as he read the words. He gritted his teeth in frustration. "She's playing with me. This is extortion, pure and simple!" But he's too deep into the situation now to pull out.
Against his better judgment, and fueled by a desire to outwit this mysterious figure, he replied:
"No matter the cost, I would like to meet you."
Summer's mischievous grin widened, her mischievous side fully entertained. She had him hooked.
Now for the final blow.
"Very well. Transfer 800 million within 20 minutes if you're serious. After the payment, I'll let you know our meeting place".
When Tristan read that message, his jaw clenched. "Eight hundred million?!"