104: Chapter 104 Negotiating Terms! Ella Offers to Join

Aila arrived at the cafe early in the morning, looking haggard.

There were faint dark circles under her eyes, clearly showing she hadn't slept well all night. Her usually neat long hair was somewhat messy, and she was still wearing the same coat as yesterday. The sharpness she usually carried was gone, replaced by an unmistakable weariness.

The cafe had just opened, and there were very few customers. Soft, soothing music drifted through the air, and the lighting was gentle. The corner table was quiet and private, and the draft agreement that Chen Xi had printed out in advance was already laid out, with neat handwriting and clean pages.

Lin Chen was already seated in his usual spot with a glass of warm water in front of him. Seeing Aila enter, he merely raised his eyes, pointed to the chair opposite him, and said in a flat tone, "Sit."

Aila didn't stand on ceremony. She pulled out the chair and sat down, her back straight. Even in dire straits, she maintained the pride ingrained in her bones. She skipped the small talk and got straight to the point, her tone carrying the seriousness and toughness of a professional.

"I can consider cooperating with you, but I have conditions. They are hard conditions; if they aren't met, I'll walk away immediately."

Lin Chen nodded slightly, signaling her to continue. "Go ahead."

Aila's gaze was sharp as she looked directly at Lin Chen, speaking clearly word by word: "The capital operation for this Microsoft layout must be under my full authority. From connecting acquisition channels and allocating funds to entry timing and position control, I have the final say on everything. No one is allowed to interfere arbitrarily, including you."

These words alone revealed her ambition and the value she placed on professional authority; even in her fallen state, she refused to concede even half a step on core power.

Beside her, Chen Xi's hand holding the pen paused, and she instinctively looked at Lin Chen. Full control meant handing over all core power at the capital level; most people wouldn't agree to such harsh terms.

Yet Lin Chen didn't even hesitate. With a steady gaze, he nodded on the spot.

"Fine."

Two simple words, crisp and decisive, which actually left Aila stunned. She clearly hadn't expected him to agree so readily.

She had originally prepared for a tug-of-war negotiation with Lin Chen and had even thought of countless rebuttals, but since the other party had immediately relented, all her preparations were for naught.

Aila suppressed the surprise in her heart, keeping her face stern, attempting to confirm if he was just brushing her off: "Don't think about going back on your word later. I want true full authority, not just a nominal title. If you interfere even once, the cooperation ends immediately."

Lin Chen's expression didn't change as he calmly put forward his only requirement: "Giving you authority is no problem. I have only one condition—all trading operations must synchronize with the AI's risk warnings. Once a warning is triggered, operations must be paused immediately, and we must re-evaluate the data before deciding whether to continue."

It wasn't that he didn't trust Aila's professional ability; he just didn't want the previous misjudgment to happen again. The AI's objective data was the safest bottom line.

Aila frowned. She had always believed in her own judgment and still held a trace of resistance toward AI deductions. However, after thinking about it, Lin Chen's AI data had already been accurately verified before, so this request wasn't excessive.

She was silent for a few seconds before finally nodding: "Fine. As long as the warnings are reasonable, I will comply."

With the core terms settled, Lin Chen turned to look at Chen Xi and instructed calmly: "Read the preliminary agreement. If there are any issues, we'll change them on the spot."

Chen Xi responded immediately. She was rigorous and professional in her work, with clear logic. Holding the draft agreement, she read it out word for word, clearly. From trading authority and scope of work to compliance requirements and AI warning cooperation, every clause was written clearly without any ambiguous traps.

After finishing, Chen Xi pushed the agreement toward Aila: "Ms. Aila, the terms of the agreement are all here. Please take another look. If you are dissatisfied with anything or need to add anything, feel free to bring it up."

Aila took the agreement, her fingertips gripping the paper as she carefully examined it line by line.

Having worked in investment banking for many years, she was extremely sensitive to contract terms and wouldn't let even a single word slide. But as she read on, the tightness in her face gradually eased significantly.

The agreement not only clearly stated her full authority over the trading but also added several safeguard clauses she hadn't even mentioned—such as compliance indemnification during the trading process, coverage for reasonable decision-making errors, and even performance-based bonus clauses. Everything was written from her perspective to protect her interests.

These clauses were things she hadn't even thought of.

Aila looked up at Lin Chen, the wariness in her eyes diminishing. This man's vision was far greater than she had imagined; he was by no means the kind of small-time entrepreneur she had previously despised.

She suppressed the turmoil in her heart and pointed to one of the clauses in the agreement, her tone much calmer, devoid of its previous sharpness: "This clause is fine. The rights and responsibilities are clear, and the safeguards are in place. No need to change it; let's settle it like this."

Chen Xi immediately took out a pen and handed it to Aila: "If there are no problems, you can sign this preliminary cooperation agreement first. We can refine the details of the formal contract later."

Aila took the pen, her fingertips pausing slightly.

At this moment of signing, it meant she was completely letting go of her previous pride and choosing to cooperate with someone she once looked down upon. It also meant she was leaving her investment banking job and standing at a new starting point.

But she didn't hesitate for too long. Thinking of the embarrassment of being suspended, the unwillingness in her heart, and the opportunity Lin Chen had given her, she gripped the pen tightly and signed her name at the end of the agreement with neat, forceful strokes.

With every stroke, she wasn't just signing her name; she was making a new choice for her future.

Lin Chen looked at the signed agreement, a faint arc appearing at the corner of his mouth. He reached out to take the agreement and handed it to Chen Xi to keep safe. With this, the preliminary cooperation between the two sides was officially reached.

Chen Xi organized the agreement and carefully placed it into a folder, her expression serious, knowing that this meant the Microsoft layout had taken another critical step forward.

Aila put down the pen and leaned back in her chair, letting out a long sigh of relief. The nerves that had been tense all night finally relaxed a little.

Just then, the phone she had placed on the table rang urgently. A familiar landline number was flashing on the screen—it was from the investment bank where she had previously worked.

Aila's expression changed slightly in an instant, a bad premonition washing over her.

She hesitated for a moment before pressing the answer button. The cold, harsh voice of a debt collector immediately came from the other end of the line.

Aila signed the agreement, only to receive a debt collection call from the investment bank.