The Former Marine

It was a quiet afternoon at Kris Jenner's house. Derek was in the kitchen with Kylie, preparing a snack, when suddenly the rest of the family started to appear. Kendall, Kim, Kourtney, Khloé and, of course, Kris, were all there. The usual conversations flowed, but there was something different in the air, a sense of curiosity that hovered over the group.

"Derek, can I ask you something?" Kendall began, always the most direct.

Derek stopped what he was doing and looked at her with a curious smile. "Sure, Kendall, go ahead."

The sisters exchanged glances, as if they were about to ask an unusual question. Kim was the next to speak, leaning against the kitchen counter. "We know that you have been trained by the CIA, NSA and other agencies, and that this training involves much more than just combat, right?"

Derek nodded, realizing they were wanting to know more about his past.

"Yes, a lot more. The training includes a series of skills, not only physical, but also mental. Manipulation, negotiation, seduction techniques… it's all part of the job."

Everyone's eyes widened. That was exactly what they wanted to know. Kris, who was sitting at the table, looked at Derek with that look of someone who had a brilliant idea.

"So… could you teach us some of these techniques?" Kris asked, raising an eyebrow. "I mean, not for secret missions, of course, but maybe to help us with our business side."

Derek laughed lightly, understanding their intention. He looked at Kylie, who was just as curious as her sisters, and then at the group.

"Well, yes, I can teach you some things, of course. The persuasion and manipulation techniques we use can be useful in many situations, including in the business world."

Kendall, excited, pulled up a chair and sat at the table. "That would be amazing! Negotiating contracts, dealing with business partners… that can definitely help."

Khloé nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, and some of us also deal with the media and interviews all the time. Knowing how to manipulate certain situations to our advantage would be an advantage."

Derek smiled, surprised at how interested they were in learning. He turned, grabbed a chair, and sat in the middle of the group, ready to begin teaching.

"Okay, so let's start simple," he said, crossing his arms. "The first thing you need to understand about manipulation and persuasion is that it's all about two things: controlling the narrative and controlling emotions. If you can control how the other person feels, you control the situation."

Kim leaned forward, attentive. "So how do we do that?"

"There are a lot of techniques," Derek continued. "But one of the most effective is mirroring. When you want to gain someone's trust, you start to imitate their gestures, posture, and even the pace of their speech, in subtle ways. This creates a subconscious connection, and the person starts to feel like you're on the same page."

Kourtney looked puzzled. "So it's like the person starts to like you because they feel like you're similar?"

"Exactly," Derek said. "It works especially well in negotiations. If the other party feels comfortable with you, they're more likely to accept the terms you're proposing."

Kris smiled, already thinking about how she could use this technique in her business meetings. "That's fascinating. I've heard about mirroring, but I've never thought about using it consciously."

Derek continued. "Another important technique is the use of silence. Often in negotiations or conversations, people feel uncomfortable with silence and end up talking more than they should. If you can be comfortable with silence, the other person can end up revealing information that you can use to your advantage."

Khloé laughed, shaking her head. "I'm terrible at silence. I always feel like I need to fill the space."

"That's normal," Derek said. "But if you practice it, it can be a great weapon in negotiations."

Kendall was visibly excited. "What about seduction? I'm not talking about romantic seduction, but using charm and presence to get what you want."

Derek smiled, thinking about how to respond. "Well, seduction in the broadest sense is just another form of emotional manipulation. When you can capture someone's attention, whether it's with your looks, your confidence, or your charisma, you gain power over the situation. But the key here is control. Being seductive isn't just about how you present yourself, it's about how you make the other person feel."

Kylie watched intently, leaning on Derek's arm. "So if you can make someone feel special or important, they'll be more willing to give you what you want?"

"Exactly," Derek replied. "If the other person feels that you value them, that you understand them, they'll want to please you. That's useful in all situations of life, from business to dealing with the media."

Kim tilted her head, considering. "And do you really believe these techniques can work in a business setting?"

"Absolutely," Derek said seriously. "They're used all the time, even if people don't realize it. Great leaders and negotiators use them to control the situation and get the results they want."

Kris, ever the strategist, was already formulating ways to apply all of this to the family business. "That's really amazing, Derek. Knowing that we can control a negotiation without even saying much… It changes everything."

Derek smiled. "The power of silence and emotional manipulation should not be underestimated."

Kim, who had been a little more skeptical at first, now seemed convinced. "That can really give us an edge. Knowing how to influence people without coming across as manipulative is a skill everyone should have."

Derek nodded. "Yes, and it's something that can be learned. You already have a natural presence and charisma. What I'm teaching you is just how to use it more effectively."

Kendall couldn't hide her excitement. "I think the next meeting I have, I'm going to try this."

"With practice, you'll find it becomes second nature," Derek said with an encouraging smile.

After a few hours of discussion and learning, the sisters and Kris were fascinated by the techniques Derek had shared. While they were successful at what they did, there was always room for learning something new, especially when it could give them an edge in business.

Later that afternoon, as everyone was getting ready to go back to their routines,

Kris looked at Derek and said, "You really taught us something valuable today. It's going to change the way we approach our negotiations."

Derek smiled, pleased to have helped. "I'm glad it was helpful. But remember, the most important thing is to use these techniques responsibly. Manipulation can be a powerful tool, but it must be used with care."

Kylie looked at him with pride. "You're amazing, you know that?"

Derek shrugged, smiling. "Just doing my job."

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