Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Ordinary Daily Life (5)
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A lavish office came into view.
Victor was seated at the desk, and standing before him was a white-haired old gentleman.
Spread out on the desk was a contract.
[Victorian Secret Drawer Bureau - Resale Agreement]
The amount field clearly stated $100,000.
Checking the date, it was exactly six days ago.
The very next day after Bill had called Victor.
The white-haired old gentleman was spreading out photos of the drawer cabinet, a satisfied look on his face.
They were the pictures Bill had taken from various angles and sent.
*
'He signed the resale contract the moment he got Bill's photos. Stamping the deal for $100,000 before even having the item in hand... what a guy.'
I gave Victor a strange look.
Catching my gaze, he raised an eyebrow.
"What's wrong? Not gonna sign?"
"Well..."
I carefully set the pen down on the table.
My mind was racing.
"Something wrong?"
Irritation started creeping into Victor's voice.
I apologized to him as politely as I could.
"Sorry, just a moment..."
And shot Bill a quick signal.
"Bill, can I talk to you for a sec?"
"Now? What about?"
Bill looked flustered.
"It's important. Really sorry, but just for a minute."
I grabbed Bill's arm and pulled him to the corner of the shop.
Victor stood there, arms crossed, looking displeased.
"Jake, what's going on? We're almost done here."
"...It just feels off no matter how I think about it. You felt it too, right?"
"Even so, $40,000 isn't bad."
I nodded at Bill's retort.
Honestly, that's what I'd thought up until a moment ago.
But now that I'd confirmed Victor had already signed a resale contract, things had changed.
I knew he had to make this deal succeed.
"What if Victor's already sold this piece to someone else? A guy like him can sell on reputation alone before even seeing it."
"Could be, but... would a veteran like Victor take that kind of risk just to come here in person? Jake, in deals like this, the desperate one loses. Victor knows that better than anyone."
"But he drove a truck all the way here, the contract's got a fixed date... and he's heading to New York today. That's not normal, right?"
Bill paused, deep in thought.
His expression hardened, like he'd had the same suspicions.
"...But why would Victor do that?"
"No idea. Maybe he underestimated us. Some young Asian kid hauling trucks around and an old man running a little antique shop—he probably didn't think we'd blow the deal. Or maybe it's payback for that $100,000 last time?"
Bill let out a chuckle at my half-joking words.
He pondered for a moment before turning back to me.
"But what if you're wrong? Jake, don't you need the money quick?"
"...How'd you know?"
"Sam told me your truck broke down. You've got places to put cash right away, huh?"
"A bit. Still, ending it like this feels like leaving money on the table."
Bill bit his lip.
"So... you wanna hold off on the deal?"
"Yeah. Buy some time first."
After a long talk, we returned to Victor.
He looked thoroughly annoyed as he asked,
"What the hell were you two scheming? I'm on a tight schedule."
"Sorry about that, Victor."
I apologized as politely as possible.
"I've changed my mind. I'd like to hold off on the deal and take some more time."
"Hold off?"
Victor shot to his feet.
"Hey, you messing with me?"
"It's no joke, Victor. We're serious."
Bill spoke up firmly from beside me.
I looked Victor straight in the eye.
"I want to verify the real value of this drawer cabinet. Get more appraisals from other experts, do some deeper market research."
Victor's face started turning red.
"Market research? Appraisals? What the hell are you talking about?"
"You just came here today to see the item, not to lock in the deal."
I said calmly.
"We'd appreciate it if you understood we get to choose whether this deal goes through too."
The warehouse fell silent for a moment.
I could see the muscles in Victor's jaw tighten.
"...Not bad for a young guy haggling. But you messed up this time."
Victor growled in a low voice.
His staff nearby looked tense as well.
"No haggling, Victor. Just stating facts."
"Ha! Fine."
Victor said coldly.
"The $45,000 you first mentioned. Let's end the deal there."
I glanced at Bill at his offer.
He looked shocked, like he hadn't expected Victor to counter back.
"Damn, it's real. Oh man, that changes everything... Victor."
Bill let out a hollow laugh, and Victor scowled.
Silence hung for a bit as his staff eyed him.
Finally, he let out a deep sigh.
"Damn it, Bill... it's just business. A buyer I lined up through my connections, selling with my skills. Nothing for you to worry about."
Victor's point was valid.
But as Bill always said, desperate folks lose these deals.
"Victor."
I said.
"Not asking for anything unreasonable. Like you said, selling this cabinet higher is on your skills. We're just saying pay what it's worth based on how bad you need it. It's business."
Victor thought it over.
His fingers drummed on the desk.
"...Fair enough."
Victor spoke up.
"$50,000. What do you say, Bill?"
"$50,000?"
"Yeah, that's my limit. Push past it, and I walk away fine."
Bill looked at me.
His eyes asking what to do.
'$50,000... $10,000 more than we wanted. And Victor still clears $50,000. Feels like the real ceiling to me.'
"Deal."
I replied.
"We'll take $50,000."
Victor exhaled heavily.
"Hah, finally... Exhausting. Guess my edge is dulling, damn it."
We drew up a new contract, this one for $50,000.
Victor signed first, then handed me the pen—with wary eyes this time.
"Thanks."
"Jake Winch. I'll remember that name."
I greeted him and quickly signed.
As Bill took the pen to sign next,
"Hey, Jake."
Victor said in a serious tone.
"You've got a sharp eye. But watch yourself. Get too greedy in this business, and you make enemies fast. Smart guy like you gets what I mean."
"Got it."
"Good. Today was a close call. You're lucky."
Victor clicked his tongue once and handed us the check.
"Verify it."
"Thanks."
Bill checked the check.
$50,000, spot on.
"Looks good. Exact amount."
Soon his staff came in and began carefully packing the drawer cabinet.
Bill whispered to me softly.
"Jake, you nailed it. $9,000 extra."
"Got lucky."
"Not luck. Guts. And spot-on judgment."
Thirty minutes later, the cabinet was fully packed and loaded onto the truck.
Victor approached us as we watched, the tension gone, replaced by a relaxed businessman's smile.
"Well, deal's done... Mind a quick chat?"
"I'll head to the shop and tidy up."
Bill took the hint and stepped away.
Alone with Victor, he pulled out a cigarette.
"Mind if I smoke?"
"Outside."
We stepped out of the warehouse.
Victor lit up and spoke.
"Sharp eye you got. As you guessed, that cabinet's already got an owner. Sold it to my regular in New York for $100,000."
I widened my eyes in mock surprise.
Victor grinned.
"Think I'm eating you alive right now? That's this business. Info and connections turn into cash."
"$100,000... Impressive."
"Shaved down thanks to you, but still a solid profit."
Victor stubbed out his cigarette and pulled out a business card.
This one had his personal number, unlike last time.
"Not coincidence you caught my eye twice. Let's work together sometime."
"Work?"
"Clients ask for special pieces now and then. With your eye, you might snag just the right one."
I took the card, feigning hesitation.
"I've got Bill too..."
"Keep working with Bill, no issue. I'll just call for special jobs occasionally. And..."
Victor lowered his voice.
"I pay well. Minimum $5,000 for a good find. Sound good?"
Tempting offer, honestly.
No clue how picky the requests might be, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
"I'll think it over."
"Sure. Take your time. But not too long—opportunities like this don't come often."
Victor extended his hand.
I shook it—firm and calloused.
After Victor and his crew left,
Bill and I sat in the shop, sipping tea and recapping the day.
"Lord, Jake. Honestly, it was dicey. Thought he'd walk for sure."
"I was scared too, to be honest. But..."
"But?"
"I was pretty sure he'd locked in a big resale already. Figured he'd bend a little more."
Bill shook his head and split the check in half.
$25,000 each.
"There, split right down the middle."
"Thanks, Bill."
Glancing at the clock, lunchtime was nearing.
Our little princess was surely waiting for me.
"Bill, I gotta head out. Promised Nancy ice cream."
"Haha... yeah, go on. You earned it today."
On the drive back to the trailer park, my heart was still pounding.
What started as just flipping antiques for cash had pulled me deeper in.
A world run on info and connections, fierce competition to survive.
'But that's life. Keep learning and growing.'
At Sam's trailer, I spotted Nancy peering out the window.
She lit up when she saw me and came running out.
"Jake!"
Nancy hugged me tight.
"Did our princess have fun?"
"Yeah! Did puzzles with Grandpa and drew pictures!"
"Good girl. Ready for ice cream?"
"Really? Yay!"
Watching her innocent joy eased my mind.
At the ice cream shop, Nancy ordered a triple chocolate scoop.
She looked adorable, beaming with that massive cone.
"You eat some too, Jake!"
Nancy scooped some and fed it to me.
"Mmm, delicious!"
"Right? Chocolate's the best!"
By 7 p.m., Dorothy got home from work.
She looked beat from another double shift.
"Jake, thanks for watching Nancy."
"No problem. Sam helped today, made it easy."
"Heard you had a good day? Nancy's bragging about her giant ice cream."
"Haha, sold a piece for a nice price."
Sam joined us too, and the family shared dinner and stories.
Dorothy had started studying for her nursing assistant exam, Nancy chattered about her puzzles.
Sam talked about trucks he was eyeing.
Even small talk felt joyful together.
Back in my trailer by 10 p.m., I lay in bed.
Reflecting on the day— so much had happened.
The deal with Victor, $50,000, his offer.
'Victor's more layered than I thought. Probably juggling multiple deals.'
But that was business.
Managing info, keeping options open, chasing max profit.
'Gotta learn it. To survive here.'
Way beyond a newbie like me, sure.
But working with Victor someday might teach me more.
'Think it over slowly. No rush. At least the truck down payment's covered.'
Looking out the window, stars filled the sky.
Texas country nights were always beautiful.
Wonder what tomorrow brings.
Exciting and scary. But that's life.