Alex gave a small nod at Claremont's proposal, then went quiet, his expression unreadable as he seemed to weigh something carefully in his mind.
Claremont watched him for a moment, then sighed inwardly.
'This kid didn't waste time with flattery or small talk, he was all business. Probably waiting for him to make the first real move. Fine, then. If that's how he wanted to play it...'
"Mr. Wilson," Claremont said evenly, "why don't you hear me out before you go looking at other firms? If my offer sounds fair, you might save yourself the trouble of shopping around."
He knew negotiations were starting, and he was ready to make a few compromises. 'Hopefully, this little fox wouldn't get too greedy.'
"Alright," Alex replied calmly. "Let's see what you've got, Mr. Claremont."
Claremont met Alex's eyes directly, all traces of formality gone.
"At Claremont Magic Supplies, we're prepared to offer you a one-time agency fee of 1,000 Galleons for an initial order worth 3,000 Galleons. We'll also pay a 20% deposit upfront. On top of that, we guarantee to import at least 2,000 Galleons worth of products from Wilson's Arcane Alchemica Company every year for the next three years."
He spoke clearly, sincerely. It was a decent deal, steady orders for three years, no strings beyond that.
After all, no one could guarantee how the market would shift two years down the line. There could be copycats, cheaper knock-offs, or other competitors driving down profits. From a business standpoint, this was a safe bet for both sides.
Alex listened quietly, nodding every now and then, but his expression gave nothing away. Claremont was confident, but Alex wasn't about to let the older man take the upper hand.
"Your offer is sincere," Alex finally said with a polite smile, though there was a glint of challenge in his eyes.
"But let's be honest, Germany's a huge market. Selling just 3,000 Galleons worth of goods isn't difficult, especially not for us. And that's before we even get into your yearly minimums or the one-time agency fee."
Claremont's smile tightened ever so slightly. This boy was bold. Still, he kept his tone light. "Alright then, what would you suggest?"
Alex let out a soft chuckle. His tone shifted, friendly but firm.
"Sir Claremont, I think you already know, our products have made waves in Egypt. Even the local alchemists can't stop talking about them.
And despite their best efforts, no one's managed to replicate our designs. That speaks for itself."
Then, with a more serious tone, he continued, "First off, three years isn't long enough for something like this, and the numbers don't quite reflect the value we're offering. I'm thinking a five-year contract makes more sense.
For the first year, I want a minimum order of 5,000 Galleons. And the same goes for the next four years, no less than 5,000 annually."
He leaned in just slightly. "As for the agency fee, a one-time payment doesn't cut it. I'm fine with the 1,000 Galleons upfront, but after that, we'll need an annual agency fee of 500 Galleons. That's just basic good faith if you want to call this a serious partnership."
Claremont's calm mask slipped for a second, his eyes widening. He hadn't expected Alex to push this hard.
This wasn't some naive youngster, this was someone who knew exactly what he was doing. Honestly, he was starting to remember of the more cutthroat business types he'd dealt with before.
Just as Claremont opened his mouth to counter, Alex raised a hand slightly, not to interrupt, but to press the final point.
"And there's one more thing," he said, his tone cool and even. "I've heard good things about your business, but I still have to make sure everything's above board.
So if we're going to do this, I'll need you to deposit 5,000 Galleons in cash as a security reserve. It'll be held at Wilson Alchemica Commercial Bank as a guarantee. That way, if anything goes wrong or you can't cover the final payment, we're protected."
After hearing Alex's demands, Claremont's face darkened instantly. He wasn't just annoyed, he was furious enough to consider drawing his wand and casting Avada Kedavra right then and there.
The terms were outrageous. His head throbbed with frustration just thinking about it. If he agreed, he'd have to hand over 5,000 Galleons in cash before even starting any business. That kind of upfront payment was insane.
The annual agency fee was one thing, but the real kicker was the so-called "reserve", a jaw-dropping 5,000 Galleons. Alex had the nerve to treat it like some kind of security deposit. Once paid, he'd lock it away for five whole years.
And the best Claremont could hope for was maybe five Galleons in interest? Worst case, Alex could just accuse his shop of breaching some clause and keep the whole lot.
"Impossible!" Claremont snapped, finally letting his frustration show. "Your terms are far too harsh. There's no way I can accept this."
"Oh?" Alex replied calmly, completely unfazed. "Then I suppose there's no deal. I'll just go ahead and open bidding for the contract.
I'm sure other shops will offer better terms. To be honest, I thought someone with your reputation would handle this easily."
With that, he stood up, brushed off his trousers, and gave Claremont a polite nod. "Thanks for your hospitality, Mr. Claremont. But I've also invited Mr. Gregorovitch, the wandmaker from Germany.
He's been looking to branch out into alchemy. Maybe he'll be more willing to accept my proposal."
Claremont felt his heart drop the moment he heard that name. Gregorovitch. Not the elder wandmaker whose famous wand had once been stolen by Grindelwald, but his son, who had inherited the same craftsmanship and now ran the prestigious Gregorovitch Wand Shop. The man was Germany's most respected wandmaker.
Claremont hadn't heard a word about Gregorovitch looking to expand, but Alex's calm, matter-of-fact tone made it seem real. And if Gregorovitch was the competition, then he might actually be able to meet these absurd conditions.
He had deep ties, too, not just reputation, but close ties with Ollivander in Britain. Alex could easily be leveraging that connection. As Claremont's mind raced through the possibilities, anxiety gnawed at his gut.
"Wait, Mr. Wilson!" he called out quickly, just as Alex was taking his first steps toward the door. "Maybe we can revisit this... Please, don't leave just yet."
Without thinking, Claremont stood and reached out, giving Alex a quick, awkward hug, completely out of place for a formal business meeting. It was a clear sign of desperation, and he knew it, but he couldn't stop himself.