(Chapter 72) A Deal Is Made

Astrid sat back down at her desk and poured herself another glass of wine. While she also started to do some work on her computer.

After a while, Lewis came back to the office, only to see Astrid writing on some paper, and for her to be looking at the computer screen at the same time.

"Was that satisfactory?" Astrid asked without making eye contact.

Lewis cracked a smile. "It's not my place to judge anyway, I could guess the reason you would show me this. So I won't ask." Lewis went to take a seat on the side.

"No need, we will be going now." Astrid then stopped writing and turned off her computer, quickly standing up and putting the papers into her desk.

Lewis raised his eyebrows but didn't ask any questions. He followed Astrid's lead, which led to the exit of the secret base...

"You wouldn't have a jet would you?" Astrid suddenly asked as she took her seat in her car.

"I do, where are we going?" Lewis easily replied, a private jet was nothing for him.

"Paris, I heard you established control in France. So I thought I would take a wonder." Astrid replied emotionlessly, as she started her car.

Lewis blinked, then again... "Alright... I'll lead the way." Lewis didn't know what to expect, he had expanded into France within the past few years. But why was Astrid wanting to go there suddenly?

Astrid drove according to Lewis's directions. Leading them to a private airfield owned by the Guilliano family. Lewis led Astrid to his jet. Which was accompanied by his own personal crew...

They were wondering who the handsome man beside their master was. But didn't dare ask. When the destination was set for Paris. They quickly took their positions and took off.

Astrid glanced around the jet and noticed how spacious it was. She then took a seat by the window, and pulled out her phone.

Lewis tried his luck and sat opposite Astrid. The attendant on board was visibly shocked, as he saw his stoic boss even give the handsome man a few smiles and even talked to him!

'Who is that man? I have never heard of someone like him in the family? Maybe a friend?' The attendant wobbled back to the cockpit, relaying the mind-blowing news to the pilots.

"So, what is there you want to see in Paris?" Lewis spent a few minutes being quiet, as Astrid was just typing on her phone.

But he couldn't keep his curiosity clean. He knew that Astrid had her own business. But he wanted her to be more open to him so he could get to know her better.

Astrid momentarily put down her phone and looked at Lewis. "There were rumors that the President of the country had fallen ill. I wanted to confirm this personally, since you were invited to a banquet led by the President's son earlier this month. I took liberty of putting myself on the invitation list."

Lewis put his hand to his mouth. "I see, you are expecting a power shift. The President's son wanted to garner some support from his father's supporters while he could. I'm not interested in these power struggles in politics, that's why I wasn't planning to attend." Lewis was not stupid. He could accurately understand Astrid's real reason for going to the banquet.

Astrid nodded. "The power shift could be huge, it was only a small rumor, but apparently the President's son was actively trying to garner support from the army to prepare an attack on to Russia." Astrid continued to explain the reason why she wished to go to the banquet.

Lewis nodded. "I heard that too. But the rumor was short-lived and was apparently fabricated from nothing, so are you saying this is true?" Lewis was now quite interested in this banquet which he would be attending now. After all, Astrid was also taking personal interest in it.

Astrid shook her head. "I feel the rumor was fabricated as well. France and Russia has had a good relationship for decades, also, how and why would he attack Russia? Logistics for the war would make no sense and would be too costly, also, the people wouldn't accept such a thing, let alone the army, who routinely go on parades with the various militaries of their allies... Such as Russia." Astrid then subtly smiled, Lewis could imagine the glint in her eyes if she weren't wearing contacts...

"So someone was trying to damage his reputation? Or trying to divert his attention." Lewis immediately concluded.

In response, Astrid smiled even wider. Then making Lewis narrow his eyes. "That 'someone' wouldn't be you right?" He decided to ask outright. The look Astrid was giving him was giving her away.

Astrid then took out her phone and sent a message. At the same time, Lewis received an email through Astrid's contact in his phone.

He took a look, and then realized a lot. "A mining operation huh? The company is endorsed by Kuye Miners, a company situated in central Africa? How did they manage to find a diamond mine in Eastern France then?" Lewis was quite interested by this. He wasn't in the mining business but paid enough attention to others to remember such an event happening.

"I want that company, they control a wide span of control in central Africa, and have several bases within France as well. But aren't these events all so coincidental?" Astrid couldn't help but looking down in thought. Something that Lewis quickly learned was a small quirk of hers.

Lewis took some time to think of it. The world was extremely rich of natural resources, in fact, a lot of mines hadn't been extracted since the governments of the past used the resources sparingly. So these mining companies of the modern era could become extremely powerful and wealthy.

Astrid had learned this when over in England and even in the books she read years ago. This world she was in was much richer in resources than her previous one. Not only in ores and minerals, but also oil, coal, and uranium. A surplus of these resources and conservative government, left a lot of resources either undiscovered, or not utilized.

But that didn't influence the price of such resources, oil was still an extremely rich resource in the world used by most countries. Without it, they would collapse.

And minerals even simple as diamond and gold were plentiful, leading to much larger projects using those minerals. So those projects, were all sold at extremely high amounts...

An example would be that in this world, the Eiffel Tower was laced with light refracting diamonds. Meaning, in the night, instead of using lights, diamonds would make it shine.

Such a business couldn't be left untouched by Astrid. But the mining companies were all well established and had clean and powerful connections. While the oil and energy industries, were worth too much to sale without some serious foul play by Astrid.

She wouldn't hesitate to do such things. But she needed to have some patience for now. Especially when she had just gained a powerful ally...

"An 80/20 split." Astrid then suddenly announced as Lewis looked at her in her eyes.

"You get 20% of any profits by this mine in the future, I get 80%. Astrid bodly proclaimed, as Lewis put down his phone.

"20% for me? You seem to be paying me quite highly." Lewis was a businessman, a mere banquet wouldn't warrant 20% of a mining companies profits.

Astrid then tapped the table in front of her. "You will take operations into your own hands. Including any staff and management. It will be in your control." Astrid then gave him quite the shock.

'What is she thinking?' Lewis lost his carefree attitude he normally had around Astrid. The offer was quite strange. He would fully control a mining company in the middle of Africa and take away 20% profits for doing nothing? Sure he would need to run the mine, but something like that wasn't an issue, he had capable people underneath him to do that...

"Before I accept, why?" Lewis asked, this didn't seem right. It seemed so... Predetermined.

Astrid leaned back into her seat. "You are more suited for it then me. You already have influence in France, while I do not. It would be easier for you to stamp out any issues that arise." Astrid explained, that was her idea.

But Lewis felt like he was walking into a trap. Sure, he had influence in France while Astrid didn't, but he was intelligent enough to know that Astrid could gobble up the company quite easily. So the issues that could arise were the problem?

He then had a thought. As he looked back at Astrid. "The shareholders... They wouldn't be people counted as your enemies right?" Lewis hit the nail on the head.

Hearing silence was Astrid, Lewis knew he was right. "Alright, I accept your offer then." Lewis then pushed out his hand to shake.

Astrid did the same. And they shook hands. As the jet hit the ground at their destination...