The LX570 SUV

Austin continued, "Recently, five car dealerships approached you. However, three of them had less than ideal offers and required a relatively large amount of work. Considering your schedule and other commitments, I've turned those three down. Right now, there are two good options left. One is Chevrolet. The manager, Alston, gave us a preliminary offer of seven million dollars for one year. We might be able to negotiate a higher price, but I estimate it'll be around this figure. And from what I've gathered, LeBron's car deal is somewhere between six to eight million, so the price is in the same ballpark. The other is Lexus. They didn't mention a specific price but are very keen on having you endorse their brand. I think the offer won't be too far off. Of course, we'll know more after the meeting. The most important thing right now is which car you like, so we can choose the best endorsement deal."

"Uh..."

Carlos thought for a moment, then said, "Either is fine, as long as it's comfortable. You know, neither Chevrolet nor Lexus are that high-profile brands."

"That's true, so let's go and check them out first."

Soon...

They arrived at the Lexus dealership, and almost right after they got out of the car, a smartly dressed man approached Carlos with a smile. "Hello, Mr. Carlos. My name is Stefan, one of the managers at Lexus, and I'll be taking care of you today. Please, follow me..."

"Hmm..."

Carlos nodded and followed Stefan straight to the showroom. Stefan pointed to all the cars in the showroom and said, "Mr. Carlos, these are all our latest models. You can test drive any of them to see which one feels the most comfortable for you." While doing so, he explained the features of each vehicle and let Carlos test drive them. Austin, who was following along, was quietly impressed.

"Lexus is smart; they don't talk contract first but let Carlos test drive and choose a car he likes to establish a first impression. When it's time to discuss the contract, the likelihood of success is undoubtedly higher. This method of testing the vehicle before negotiating the contract, even though it's more time-consuming, is indeed much more effective than the Trailblazers' approach of discussing price before test-driving," Austin thought to himself, nodding slightly as he learned from Stefan's approach.

And indeed...

Stefan's strategy was quite good, especially for a customer like Carlos, who only cared about comfort. Chevrolet also definitely had comfortable cars for Carlos, but their approach, even if they called first, did not give them the advantage.

Finally...

Carlos settled on a Lexus LX570, a full-size luxury SUV with a market price of 1.8 million dollars. It was moderately priced, but Carlos found it comfortable to drive and liked its appearance. It was his preferred style.

Then Stefan invited Carlos and Austin into the conference room, presented the contract, and said with a smile, "We sincerely hope Carlos will endorse our brand. Therefore...

We are willing to offer a one-year contract of 10 million dollars. Cars, being the most common means of transport, tend to be upgraded very frequently. We are aware of this.

So the contract is only for one year, which won't hold Carlos back. Next year, if he still likes it, we can sign a new deal and continue our collaboration.

Also...

The LX570 SUV you have chosen will be upgraded to the top configuration, which could bring its value up to 3 million. It's also one of the luxury cars in our dealership.

Mr. Carlos, what do you think?!"

One year at 10 million dollars plus a year's worth of free use of a luxury car valued at 3 million.

Excellent!

"Uh..."

Carlos thought briefly, exchanged a confirming glance with Austin, and happily agreed.

...

The next day...

The three days of rest were coming to an end, and tonight the Suns were set to challenge the Bucks away. In the morning, the team took a private jet to Milwaukee, heading to the Bradley Center.

On the plane...

As soon as Carlos sat down, he sank into deep thought.

"I only knew about Cindy's most successful times. It wasn't until my mom talked to me the day before yesterday that I began to understand her earlier struggles. No wonder she's been under the radar. It's the lack of opportunities, good roles, and scripts that have delayed her fame.

Hmm...

Cindy doesn't lack talent or beauty; she lacks opportunity, or rather... good resources. She doesn't have connections, but what about me? If my fame grows, might I enter the entertainment industry? Could I meet some renowned directors?

Yeah, I should keep an eye out. If there's a chance, I'll help Cindy find resources to break out. It would be a shame for someone with her looks and talent to remain hidden."

With this in mind...

Carlos felt determined.

At that moment, Coach Gentry came into the cabin and addressed the players:

"Tonight's opponent is the Bucks. They're not a very strong team, but this is our third away game. Even with three days of rest, the continuous travel can affect your performance, so don't underestimate them.

The Bucks have Brandon Jennings. Before you, Carlos, he was the youngest player in NBA history to score 50 points in a game, a combustible combo guard and the core of the team. Even though he's only a sophomore, he's a player who shouldn't be taken lightly, just like Curry.

Also...

The Bucks have Andrew Bogut, the first pick from the '05 draft. He's a tough player who isn't afraid of physicality and has a bit of a dirty style, which can be a headache.

Be concerned!"

Bogut?!

The instant Carlos heard the name Bogut, his brain buzzed, and a strong look of disgust flashed in his dark eyes.

"Huh?"

Curry, seated next to Carlos, noticed the look of aversion in his eyes and said, "You also think Bogut plays dirty?"

"Mhm..."

Carlos responded quietly.

But for Carlos, Bogut wasn't just a player with a dirty style; it was his future actions that were truly disgusting and repulsive.

As Coach Gentry continued introducing the Bucks players, Carlos narrowed his eyes and made a decision. Tonight... he would dominate Bogut on the court.