Chapter 200 - The Negotiation
Chapter 200 - The Negotiation
Don Benedicto was sitting across the table with his baston. His expression was unreliable and he was silent since the meeting had started which made everyone nervous. The Mara Ballet Company's executive was around him explaining all the things related to the incident that happened as well as Simione's injury.
"It was negligence on the part of the props team. We greatly apologize for this Don Benedicto. Rest assured that everyone from the props team will be fired and new competent staff will be set. As for Miss Simione, Mara Ballet will pay for everything as well as ten million compensation," The lawyer of Mara Ballet narrated to them. They had made sure to offer a good compensation so as not to upset the Don and were praying hard that he would just let them off.
"And the missing CCTV's?" Don Benedicto's associate, Mr. Teng asked on behalf of him. The Don had initiated his own investigation and learned that there were no CCTV footage for it.
"The cameras got damaged during the incident because of the fall of such big props," The lawyer explained. "But there had been no signs of a sabotage,"
"No CCTV's and no witnesses?"
"There are witnesses, it was Lyndon Tang and Feather Han," The lawyer explained, though Don Benedicto's camp already knew such details. Don Benedicto even summoned Lyndon and Feather to ask about it but both swore it was an accident.
The Don refused to believe Feather's words but when Lynon Tang affirmed it, he believed it was true. The boy had always liked Simione and so there was no reason for him not to hide something about her granddaughter's accident, especially if it would help Simione's case.
Don Benedictor's associate did not anymore reply with that and so Mara Ballet Company was relieved a little later. They reached out some papers to his lawyer then, wanting him to recheck about the compensation contract and hoped for him or Benedicto to sign it but the Don unexpectedly opened his mouth.
"Ten million compensation…..we are talking about an amount in euro's night?" The Don asked.
"Ahm Don, we are not talking about euro—"
"I won't make a deal if it's not euros. Simione was one of a kind ballerina and so her future in Ballet is very promising. You all witnessed that. So why in the world would you just give her ten million dollars for your negligence? Is that how you think her skill is worth?"
"The doctor said she might not be able to ballet dance again and so I think ten million is not enough unless it is in euros," The Don splattered to everyone's faces making all their jaws drop. Ten Million euros? How are they going to give something like that to the Han's? Such an amount that the Don mentioned will leave Mara Ballet with nothing.
"So you think ten million towards is what her talents are worth?" Mr. Fend was terribly disappointed by it. "Besides, the people in Devon City were waiting for the Han heiress' debut in show business. How are you going to compensate for the shame that the Han's were going to receive because of this?"
"Mr. Feng, Don Benedicto…." The lawyer was already sweating hard. "We could not anymore change the rumours that had already spread before Simione's ballet but they had already found a solution for it. "The company had agreed to pursue such a plan of debuting the Han's heiress…"
"How could make it possible with Simione's injury," Mr. Feng raised his voice above everyone. He could not believe how Mara Ballet was treating this like they do not care much of Simione.
"The Don had two granddaughters with us," The lawyer started on his point, trying to relay what the executives have agreed about to make sure all their future productions would go off without much inconvenience even with Simione's accident. "We can push through with Han's heiress debut. Although this time, we'll debut Feather Han insead. Afterall, she was Simione's understudy,"
"But their skills are incomparable and you can't just immediately replace Simione…" Mr. Feng was surprised by such a blatant attempt. Does Mara Ballet Company think they can escape liability by replacing their top ballerina with the second?
"However as of right now, Feather Han is the only choice we have," The Lawyer informed them. "The doctor said Simion may not be able to dance ballet again and so we are willing to compensate for it. As per the Han's reputation, we think having Feather to continue with where Simione left at was the good alternative,"
"It's a win-win situation," The Mara Ballet's company representative added, oblivious of the fact that the Don had gone too angry with their shamelessness.
Mr. Feng only shocked his head. "But you are trying to lie over a big audience,"
"It's not a lie, Feather is Han's heiress too." The Lawyer pressed on hoping to make the other party agree on it. "She might not be not the initial choice but she's good and capable. She can be a good choice for a replacement,"
"You are so impossible!" Mr. Feng was fuming and before things would go worse, the Don stopped the conversation, hitting his baston off the ground twice.
"Enough!" His strong loud voice filled the room enough to silence everyone and make them all afraid. The Don then stood from his feet and looked at each of Mara Ballet's executives one by one. "Ten million dollars for my granddaughter as compensation. We don't have anything lower than that. I don't fucking care if Mara Ballet gets bankcrupt out of it, you would be able to continue business after this anyway,"
"Don Benedicto please…we are only trying to negotiate,"
"There is no room for negotiation when it comes to my granddaughter's future," Don Benedicto replied, giving everyone some serious chills. "Even if you promised to give my other granddaughter her place, don't think I would let you off just as easy as this,"
With that said, Don Benedicto left the room with nothing but a smirk. When he was completely out of the room, he glanced at Mr. Feng's side who left the room with him and instructed. "Make sure Mara Ballet will be erased from the show business,"
"Yes Don Benedicto," Mr.. Feng replied, already predicting such an instruction.