Free Web NovelChapter 37: First Wave of Demand
The following morning began before sunrise.
Richard was already awake when the first construction workers arrived.
The property had become strangely alive over the past few weeks. Every day trucks entered through the gate carrying steel, glass panels, electrical materials, and construction equipment. Workers moved everywhere. Welding sparks occasionally illuminated portions of the unfinished structure. Concrete mixers came and went throughout the day.
The future showroom was still far from complete.
Yet it was impossible to deny the progress.
The steel framework had already expanded upward. Portions of the second floor were visible. Several sections of the glass façade had been installed. The reception area could now be identified from the architectural plans alone.
Phoenix Auto Trading was beginning to look expensive.
Exactly as intended.
Richard stood near the unfinished showroom entrance while drinking coffee and reviewing his phone.
Overnight inquiries had exploded.
Not increased.
Exploded.
Forty-seven unread messages.
Twelve missed calls.
Seven separate inquiries regarding the Lexus LM.
Five inquiries for the Land Cruiser ZX.
Three inquiries for the Lexus LX600.
Several questions regarding Alphards, BMW X7s, and Mercedes SUVs.
The inventory hadn’t even been officially listed yet.
That was the crazy part.
The photographs still hadn’t been uploaded.
The advertisements still used older inventory.
Yet people were already asking.
Word was spreading.
Apparently much faster than Richard expected.
His phone vibrated again.
Another inquiry.
This one came from a businessman in Makati asking whether the dealership had an available Lexus LM in white.
Richard smiled.
The same question again.
The luxury van market was insane.
He quickly replied before pocketing the phone.
Today would be busy.
Very busy.
Because today wasn’t about reconstruction.
Today was about presentation.
The inventory needed professional photographs.
The first-generation dealership had survived with photos taken using Richard’s phone.
That approach wouldn’t work anymore.
Nobody spent ten million pesos based on amateur photographs.
Not if he wanted to compete with established dealerships.
At exactly eight in the morning, a professional automotive photographer arrived.
His name was Carlo.
He stepped out of a van loaded with cameras, lighting equipment, drones, and enough gear to film a television commercial.
Richard immediately led him toward the inventory.
The photographer stopped walking.
For several seconds, he simply stared.
Then he slowly turned toward Richard.
"These are all yours?"
Richard nodded.
The photographer looked back toward the rows of luxury vehicles.
The black Lexus LM.
The white Lexus LM.
The Land Cruisers.
The LX600s.
The BMWs.
The Mercedes SUVs.
The inventory looked like something assembled by a dealership that had existed for years.
Not months.
"Damn."
That was all Carlo said.
Richard laughed.
The photographer shook his head.
"I thought you exaggerated over the phone."
"I didn’t."
"No. You definitely didn’t."
The next several hours became a nonstop photography session.
Each vehicle received individual attention.
Exterior shots.
Interior shots.
Detail shots.
Wheel designs.
Engine bays.
Dashboard displays.
Premium features.
Luxury seating.
Everything.
The Lexus LMs attracted the most attention.
Carlo spent nearly forty minutes photographing a single unit.
The rear executive cabin alone looked more expensive than some condominiums Richard had seen online.
Massive reclining seats.
Wood trim.
Premium leather.
Entertainment displays.
Ambient lighting.
It looked more like a private jet than a van.
By noon, hundreds of high-quality photographs had been taken.
Richard immediately moved into the office and began preparing listings.
Only this time, the listings felt different.
The first dealership sold second-hand vehicles.
These vehicles were practically new.
The descriptions reflected that.
2025 Lexus LM350h Executive Lounge.
486 kilometers.
Complete documents.
Like-new condition.
Available immediately.
No waiting period.
That last line became intentional.
Very intentional.
Richard knew exactly what he was selling.
He wasn’t just selling vehicles.
He was selling availability.
Customers could walk into Phoenix Auto Trading today and drive home with a vehicle that might otherwise require months of waiting.
That advantage alone was worth millions.
The first listing went live shortly after lunch.
The second followed ten minutes later.
The third followed shortly afterward.
Within an hour, the dealership’s Facebook page looked completely different.
Luxury vehicles dominated the feed.
Land Cruisers.
Lexus LMs.
BMW X7s.
Mercedes-Benz GLS units.
Premium inventory everywhere.
The transformation was dramatic.
The reactions were immediate.
Comments appeared almost instantly.
"Legit ba ito?"
"Available pa?"
"Location?"
"May white LM pa?"
"Boss reserve."
"Pm sent."
The page notification icon became a permanent red dot.
Messages poured in continuously.
Richard found himself switching between Messenger, phone calls, and email inquiries.
At one point, he received three calls simultaneously.
The dealership wasn’t even finished.
Yet demand was already arriving.
The realization was both exciting and slightly terrifying.
By mid-afternoon, another unexpected development occurred.
A black Toyota Land Cruiser entered the property.
Not a construction vehicle.
Not a supplier.
A customer.
The vehicle slowly rolled through the gate before parking near the unfinished showroom.
A middle-aged man stepped out wearing a polo shirt and slacks.
Richard immediately recognized him.
The man who had messaged him about the Land Cruiser.
The one who had been searching for four months.
Apparently he hadn’t wanted to wait for photographs.
He had simply driven to the dealership himself.
Richard walked forward and greeted him.
"Good afternoon, sir."
The man smiled. freewebnøvel.com
"You’re Richard?"
"Yes, sir."
The customer looked around.
Construction workers moved in the background.
Steel beams stood partially assembled.
The showroom remained unfinished.
Then his gaze shifted toward the inventory.
His expression changed.
Richard had seen that expression before.
Disbelief.
The same expression Vincent had worn months ago when he became Phoenix Auto Trading’s first customer.
The man slowly walked toward the nearest Land Cruiser.
A white ZX.
His pace noticeably slowed.
The vehicle looked immaculate beneath the afternoon sunlight.
After several moments, he turned back toward Richard.
"You actually have them."
Richard smiled.
"Yes, sir."
The customer laughed softly.
"I honestly thought this was too good to be true."
Richard didn’t blame him.
A brand-new luxury dealership under construction selling nearly new high-demand vehicles sounded suspicious.
It sounded suspicious because it was unusual.
Yet the vehicles existed.
The documents existed.
The inventory existed.
And most importantly, customers were starting to notice.
As Richard watched the man inspect the Land Cruiser, another vehicle entered through the gate.
Then another.
His eyes widened slightly.
Two more customers.
On the same day.
Both responding to listings that had been online for only a few hours.
The future showroom remained unfinished.
Construction workers still occupied portions of the property.
The grand opening hadn’t even happened yet.
Yet business was already beginning.
Richard slowly smiled.
Level 2 had taught him how to sell cars.
Level 3, however, was beginning to teach him something completely different.
Scarcity.
Prestige.
Luxury.
And judging by the number of people arriving at the dealership, those things might be even more profitable than ordinary vehicles ever were.
