"Fine," Sovan said at last. "I can do it."
Kiri did not move too quickly.
"How long?"
"One year."
Kenji answered before Kiri could.
"Two years minimum."
Sovan looked at him sharply.
"That is not possible."
"It is possible," Kenji said. "You have the authority for emergency supply protection. You will have to answer upward, yes, but that is already true even if you sign one year."
Sovan pressed his lips together.
He knew the problem now.
They had his weakness, and they knew his company's coming shortage. If he argued too hard, they could push the first issue. If he delayed too long, the second issue would hurt him inside the company.
"Price," he said.
Kiri named a standard unit price for the controller chips, close to what Vesta Vision paid its outside supplier.
Sovan almost laughed.
"For a new local supplier? No."
Kiri did not argue loudly.
