Edward didn't understand what was happening.
But when he saw Richard and Ethan's expressions change so drastically, a bad feeling rose in his chest.
"What happened?" Edward asked sharply. "Ethan, explain."
Ethan's face was dark as he lowered his voice.
"Richard doesn't own this place," he said stiffly."Skyview Pavilion—the entire six-thousand-square-meter property—is leased."
Edward frowned. "So?"
"Jason Carter just bought the property."
Edward's pupils shrank.
"In other words," Ethan continued grimly, "Jason is now Richard's landlord."
"And the lease is about to expire."
Edward's eyes widened.
"Six thousand square meters, in the most prosperous district ?" he said incredulously."That's prime commercial land. That place should be worth tens—maybe hundreds—of millions."
Ethan nodded slowly.
"Commercial properties here go for at least thirty thousand per square meter."
"That's a minimum of one hundred eighty million."
"He personally confirmed the sale."
Edward wasn't stupid.
He instantly realized—
The board had flipped.
Before, Jason Carter had been negotiating from below.
Now, Richard had to look up.
Sure enough, Richard's expression changed immediately.
The arrogance from earlier vanished, replaced by an ingratiating smile.
"Mr. Carter," Richard said quickly, laughing awkwardly,"what a misunderstanding. This is like a family not recognizing their own."
"If I'd known you were planning to buy the property, you would've been our most honored guest at Skyview Pavilion."
"Even if I had to leave myself, I wouldn't have let you leave."
Jason smiled faintly.
"We're just in a landlord-tenant relationship," he said calmly."We're not family."
He tilted his head slightly.
"And honestly, I preferred the way you looked earlier."
"That arrogant, commanding attitude."
"Why don't you go back to that?"
Richard's smile stiffened.
"Mr Carter, I apologize," he said hurriedly."I was blind earlier."
"I'll have my general manager arrange companions, private hot springs, premium wine—anything you want—as an apology."
"Tomorrow, I'll return and personally apologize again."
"And we can discuss the lease renewal."
He swallowed.
"Previously, I had almost finalized it. He wanted to raise the annual rent from six million to eight million."
"I think we can negotiate it down a bit based on market conditions. We can discuss that."
Jason replied indifferently,"You only had a verbal agreement. No contract was signed."
"What does that have to do with me?"
Richard's face twitched, but he forced himself to smile.
"Then… Mr. Carter, what rent do you think is reasonable?"
Jason leaned back slightly.
"I'm not familiar with the local rules," he said lazily."
"Why don't you make an offer, and I'll consider it?"
The sarcasm was unmistakable.
Richard's jaw tightened.
"Even in a prime location, rent can't be too outrageous."
"My business success is what made this place valuable."
"If I stop operating, it might not even rent for five million a year."
"Business is difficult these days."
He paused, then forced generosity into his tone.
"To show sincerity, how about we go with the highest—eight million per year?"
Jason shook his head.
"I'm a petty person," he said calmly.
"You just told me to leave."
"Now, I want you to leave."
"Try again. Think of a more suitable number."
Richard's breathing grew heavier.
Jason continued, as if casually doing mental math.
"Let's calculate."
"If you recover your transfer cost in about two and a half years, that's reasonable."
"A fifty-million transfer fee means about twenty million in annual profit."
"So…"
He looked straight at Richard.
"It's reasonable that rent equals profit, isn't it?"
"What do you think about twenty million per year?"
The room fell silent.
Edward stared.
Ethan's face went pale.
Richard felt his legs weaken.
The tables had turned completely.
Richard's face turned ashen.
"Mr. Carter," he said hoarsely, "you're pushing me into a corner. At this price, I won't just stop making money—I'll lose everything."
"If I strip out all the furniture and equipment and walk away, you won't be able to rent this place at a good price either."
"If no one can operate it properly, your losses will keep piling up. You'll lose just as much as I do."
"Why go for a scorched-earth approach like this?"
Jason Carter smiled faintly.
"I don't care about losing a few million," he said calmly."Or tens of millions. Or even hundreds of millions."
He looked straight at Richard.
"What about you?"
"When the lease expires, I can choose not to rent it to you."
"I can even choose not to rent it to anyone."
"No matter who you try to sell it to, I won't approve a lease."
"Do you believe that under those conditions, you wouldn't even get five million for the transfer?"
Richard's face drained of all color.
For the first time tonight, he truly understood how badly he had misjudged the situation.
Jason continued evenly.
"I'll give you two choices."
"First—give me a reasonable price and transfer Skyview Pavilion to me."
"Second—wait until the lease expires, pack up, and leave."
"You only get one chance."
"So think very carefully before you name a number."
Richard's expression shifted between green and white.
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"Skyview Pavilion was designed, furnished, staffed, and built up by me," he said bitterly."I invested years of effort. Business is excellent."
"If I sell it too cheaply, I'd rather walk away than—"
His words stopped.
Jason was still smiling—calm, relaxed, unhurried.
All the courage Richard had been forcing himself to summon shattered instantly.
He clenched his teeth.
"Twenty-two million," he said."Not a dollar less."
Jason nodded.
"To be honest, I could push it lower," he said."But I believe in stopping when it's enough."
"I'll accept."
"But there's one condition."
"You cooperate fully. Transfer all operations, contacts, and staff cleanly."
"No tricks."
Richard exhaled deeply, as if a mountain had been lifted from his chest.
"Understood," he said quickly."I'll cooperate fully."
His spirit was completely crushed.
Twenty-two million was far below what he had hoped for, but at this point, being able to exit at all felt like mercy.
He was filled with regret.
Why had he provoked Jason Carter?
Ethan and Edward Collins weren't worth paying this price.
Jason waved his hand slightly.
"Secretary Olivia, handle the contract."
Olivia nodded and stepped forward.
Jason then turned his gaze toward Ethan and Edward.
"Alright," he said calmly."Now you can get out of my club."
Ethan's face darkened.
With so many people watching, the humiliation burned.
Edward, still confused, asked angrily what Jason had said.
After Ethan translated, Edward laughed in rage.
"Hah! We rented this venue!" Edward snapped in English."During the rental period, we control it."
"Even if you own the property, the contract gives us usage rights."
"We can make you leave."
Jason smiled faintly.
"No."
"I'm terminating the contract."
"The venue fee for one night is only tens of thousands."
"I'll pay double the penalty."
"Now leave."
The general manager of Skyview Pavilion turned deathly pale.
He didn't wait for instructions.
Immediately, he waved over security.
Ethan and Edward were escorted toward the exit.
Edward struggled, shouting threats in English, but the guards forcibly removed him.
Jason didn't even spare him a glance.
Within moments, Ethan and Edward were gone—humiliated, furious, and powerless.
The entire room fell silent.
Everyone present reevaluated Jason Carter.
In one night, they fully understood the meaning of absolute capital dominance.
The female models looked at Jason with shining eyes.
Favorability surged across the board
The new king of Starlight Fashion had made his position unmistakably clear.
And no one would dare test him again.
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