I took a cigarette out and was about to light it up, but then I remembered the no-smoking rule in crowded areas. I could not do anything about it, so I went to a quiet corner beside the hotel across the street just to smoke. Back when I was in prison, losers like Howard were on the lowest rung of the hierarchy. I could beat a few of them at once every day. If that overconfident fool tried to sabotage me, then I would have every reason to destroy his negotiation. I never wanted to sideline him in the talks, and the proposal was not attacking any of the companies back at home, nor was it pushing the Inlanvian companies down. My target had always been the companies at Industrial Canyon. As long as I could magnify their shortcomings and boot them out of the talk, Baytex would only work with We