Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 129: Negotiating Deals

Chapter 129: Negotiating Deals

As Talia followed the President through the hall, they were introduced to various other important figures in politics and some dignitaries for other nations.

As they were passing through the crowd, Talia was pleasantly surprised to see a familiar redhead.

"The Esterian Minister of External Affairs is to your left and Pharmacy Minister is to your right" Talia was introduced.

"Your Highness!" Roderick Sinclair and the other Minister bowed since she was introduced as a Princess. If they were in Esteria, they need not bow to her since she held no title of the higher ranks.

"I’m surprised seeing you here, Mr. Sinclair," Talia was really pleased and greeted him with a kiss. He really is the External Affairs Minister! How cool is that!

Lambert raised his eyebrows wondering how she is this close with a Sinclair and the President and his people were trying to hide their astonishment.

From the reports they received, Princess Mary Ann’s relationship with the Esterian Government was non-existent. The recent debacle of visa is well known in the intelligence community. But they seemed to be in close terms...?

Isn’t there a feud between Sinclair and Brunton families for a while in Esteria?

"Lambert did you know? Minister Roderick here saved my life once. He’s a brave and intelligent man," Talia’s eyes were filled with mirth. She always liked this big brother of Fred.

She turned to Rebecca who was stunned to see another hunk Talia knows and smiled." He is Arthur’s big brother, "she introduced him to her. And Rebecca couldn’t even close her mouth.

Lambert although confused a bit, smiled heartily at Roderick and shook his hands once again.

"Please don’t flatter me, Your Highness. I just did what was right," Roderick looked at Talia with his smile reaching his eyes. "Catherine really loved the gift you sent for her birthday. She rarely parts with it," Roderick said even though he already sent a handwritten thank you note to her.

He had his agenda too. He needed to mend the relationship between Esteria and Rosandale. It would be hugely beneficial if two neighbouring countries get along.

"That’s good to know," Talia smiled back and Lambert realised what was happening here. He knows that Talia desires to be part of both countries and that means the diplomatic relationships between the two countries should be good. His brother talks about it too.

"Why don’t we have meal together sometime?" Prince Lambert gave the invitation first and Talia could see the Pharmacy Minister visibly surprised.

The Rosandale Royalty really wants to have a talk with our country?

Roderick accepted the invitation heartily. This is the first step. And as far as the success of these talks, only time will tell.

But he was pretty hopeful as his heart was filled with happiness seeing the little girl he once carried in his arms, walking with a diplomatic smile in her face. She was not nervous as she met with various people from the upper echelons.

She’d be the bridge between two nations! She built the bridge over the wailing willows creek ending the feud between the Boswells and Brunton families! And she will bring our two nations closer too.

And soon they passed through everyone and reached the room nearby. Talia who was basically an introvert felt all her energy getting depleted socialising for half an hour. She wanted to run and wrap herself in her duvet with a cup of hot chocolate, but she knew she had to push through a bit more.

Only the President, Talia and Lambert were inside that lavishly furnished room with a gas fireplace. Rebecca was with Mr. Ed avoiding her father-in-law who tried to interact with her.

Talia took a comfortable seat opposite the President and even helped herself with a cup of warm tea to sooth her nerves.

Lambert lingered by the door like a tall pine tree with a contemplative glance. He knew if he followed his emotions, he’d just throw the deal away and walk out for insulting his family member and both nations will feel the brunt of that failure.

If he followed logic, this trade deal is too good for their nation and will help in the further prosperity of their nation for decades to come.

His brother talked about dilemmas he faces on a daily basis, being the decisive authority of the land. In the end one has to choose the lesser of the two evils and that is the only way moving forward.

What is the lesser evil? Not minding the insult thrown at a family member or the prosperity of the whole nation? The answer seems so simple...

But why does it make him so mad? If it is just a personal business, he’d never swallow his pride and let go of someone who insults his family... But he is not in the private business, is he? He works for the public and should prioritise his citizens first.

But that doesn’t mean anyone can insult them, right?

"My cousin here..." Prince Lambert walked closer and looked straight at the president now sipping scotch from his glass. He seemed nervous too. Good!

"She lived in this country known to the world for it’s liberty, freedom and equality. She, very much impressed by these ideals, carved her life in her own way and worked hard and succeeded. In the nine years she lived here, she never once broke the laws of this nation and paid taxes for every cent she earned. We thought she was living a good life here - "

" Prince Lambert,let us-"

" What do we see during our stay here? Her being hunted like a prey! Fine, she has her enemies and let’s give a pass for that. What happened today? Just in one day, she was harassed at her office lobby for no reason and she was called names right in front of us! All by the same family members just because they belong in your Senate! Freedom, liberty and equality... These are the qualities we loved too as we tried to bring out nations together in a deal. On what premise should we continue with our collaboration, Mr. President now it is apparent that the very foundation of your nation is a farce? "

Talia was surprised Lambert will be this crude with the President and continued sipping tea.

Although this kind of long talks are common with people in politics, Lambert forgot he is talking to a businessman. He doesn’t need these long speech for him to understand the bind he is in.

" What Peter Campbell did was wrong and I condone his behaviour vehemently. I will take necessary steps to make sure he is punished. I will disavow Senator Campbell -"

"He’ll just write a book and earn millions! I want to sue," Talia knew what her words meant for the President.

If someone of her stature, sues a member of their party, that too in the harassment category, it will be a hard blow for them, considering the election. If she sues, there will be a horde of lawsuits following Peter as other women who were bullied by him will come forward. It will be a blood bath as all Peter’s deeds and the deeds of his father to protect his son will come out. Who knows how many people in higher powers are involved in this issue? Their Party’s chance will be ruined.

Talia smiled seeing the stress vein popping in the President’s forehead. He knew he is in a least favourable position in this negotiation now. The other party is a monarchy and even if the deal didn’t pass, they still will be rulers. But for him... The deal is important. And he cannot let a lawsuit happen too.

"Make the trade deal more bilateral," Talia sat crossing her legs and took another sip of tea.

Now will be her time to make demands.

For now, the President understands Senator Campbell is a liability and his own party members will throw him out.

The President looked at her after downing the entire glass of scotch. His look said it all, ’Daylight extortion!’. He had already gave a lot of concessions to Rosandale as they discussed it all with Prince Lambert. Now she casually asks for more?

But he couldn’t help but admire her.

That little girl who was so little has grown to this beautiful lady and she sure has the blood of Jerome Brunton in her to negotiate this well. Genes... It seems like she inherited all the good genes from both sides.

"I heard there are restrictions on how much Wallace pharmaceuticals can export," Talia added as she took another sip of tea.

Wallace pharmaceuticals is the company of Lord Wallace a member of Esterian High Council. The Council didn’t allow for Lord Wallace to build a company in Esteria and he built one in A country.

It happened when she was in high school and Talia remembered how her grandpa was against the council’s decision of not allowing a pharma company built in Esteria fearing "pollution".

Talia even though her grandpa didn’t elaborate, figured out it was because the council benefitted more by allowing another company from their Southern neighbouring country to supply the medicines.

But when Wallace pharmaceuticals was invested in A-country, there were strict restrictions compelling the company to sell seventy percentage of the medicines only in A-Country and only thirty percentage was allowed to be exported to Esteria even though the investments are one hundred percentage from Esteria.

Talia heard there is a epidemic in the Southern part of Esteria and now their neighbours fearing the spread of the epidemic to their country are withholding the specific medications required for the epidemic.

Esteria has public healthcare and using the epidemic as an opportunity, some other companies are trying to sell the medicines for higher prices. Lord Wallace tried to import medicines from his company for a much cheaper price, but A country still isn’t allowing it.

How stupid was the council to not allow a pharma company to be built in Esteria? Why did they depend on another country for medicines.?

The disease isn’t that fatal but it has crippled the economy a bit. If they have to pay more for the required medicines, that will cause the economy of Esteria to fall.

That’s not good!

Talia knew this sudden visit of the External Affairs Minister and Pharmacy Minister should be regarding this issue. By the looks of it, they seemed to have failed in their negotiations.

And so she decided to chime in. Esteria is her homeland after all!

Prince Lambert, now seated beside her looked at her with complicated emotions. He was pleasantly surprised when she blatantly stated her condition to the President for the benefit of Rosandale and now she is talking for Esteria?

Talia looked at the President, now silent and slightly uninterested in the conversation. He casually stood up, removed his suit and walked to the bar to pour himself another glass of scotch. He is a businessman and he knew he is asked a lot for one issue. It is not his private business; he is running a country and he will be held accountable for his actions by the people who elected him.

He cannot just give away favours.

Talia could understand his side well.

"Grandpa is going to start a shipbuilding company..." she dangled the carrot in front of the President.

As far as how she knows the future plans of Northern Star, well...let’s say she knows Fred’s official email addresss and password and she signs into his account, only when she is bored.

And she knows the projects of Northern Star.

The president placed the glass on the bar counter and leaned on it as he rolled his sleeves. He was intrigued. He knew Jerome wanted to start the company in A country.

It will bring thousands of jobs in their country. And there are already informations passed to him that they had already chose the state. Since it was a state with their Party majority, if the paper work and deals are finalised, it would be another plus for their party.

But what is this smart girl suggesting now?

"I wonder whose quotation will be accepted," Talia shrugged.

"Quotation?" The president who was casually leaning, stood straight.

So it was not a final decision and Northern Star is looking for other places too?

Huh! This slimy girl! Is she suggesting for me to nullify the restrictions on Wallace pharmaceuticals for the shipyard to be built in here? I thought I could squeeze more tax from that foreign company for their much needed medicine but now I might lose a new company for a few more percentage of tax?

F*ck! This girl is too slimy just like her grandfather!

Prince Lambert sitting by her side was really awed by her. She talked few sentences and have successfully negotiated two big deals benefitting her sides!

Amazing! This potential... No wonder great grandmother wanted her to take the throne! She saw through that tanned, skinny girl who threw up a lot. She knew the great potential and strength within her, didn’t she?

"I thought you will take over Northern Star," The President lit up a cigarette for himself. He couldn’t believe it when an outsider got the Northern Star no matter how talented the one they call ’The King’ is. He still doesn’t believe Jerome isn’t part of the decision making and left everything with Arthur Sinclair as everyone else claims.

"Eh!" Talia shrugged, "Arthur’s more talented."

She believed it and she felt proud saying it too.