A consterned face greets Erik back. "Mr. Cathay" seems like he does not want to hold the meeting, but that he must.
"Weren't you leaving, Mr. Fjordson? You know, before, when I haven't met you yet, I thought this 'solution' to your problems was worth a try. Now, I really can't understand why my associates give a damn."
Fractal makes a pause before going on.
"I have advised you before, but you seems like a hard listener: if you intende this meeting to go on, one of us will change it's attitude. You will find it a lot more pleasant this one being you, Mr. Fjordson."
And just then, setting his rules, he goes back to the point in question: "The money you're talking about is just a potential thing. It may or may not exist: depending on how things goes. Even if it really is an existing thing, it is just a plus. The real reward for the situation at hand is an strengthening in the relations of the parts to which we are representatives, and an easier time for your part in negotiations. It's not health for a man in your position to clink too dearly to the cash part of the talk. Shall we proceed?"