Chapter 8: Bigger Than Ever
The days following the first batch felt like a blur. The demand was already outpacing supply, and Jesse wasn't about to let anyone get in his way. He and Walter had spent hours refining the process, perfecting their technique. They had a recipe that was truly unbeatable, and now the streets were buzzing about it.
The blue was everywhere. Even the cartel was starting to take notice.
Jesse sat in the dimly lit corner of a small, dingy bar on the outskirts of Albuquerque. He was waiting on his latest contact—someone who'd heard the rumors about the purity of his product.
The door opened, and in walked a tall, heavily tattooed man with a scar running down the left side of his face. Jesse recognized him immediately.
"Eladio," Jesse muttered under his breath.
Eladio was a distributor who worked with the cartel. He'd been moving meth for years, and his reputation was well earned. If anyone was going to get his product into the hands of people who could make real money, it was Eladio.
Eladio spotted Jesse and made his way over, sitting down with a quiet smile. "You're Jesse Pinkman, right?"
Jesse didn't offer his hand. "Who's askin'?"
Eladio chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Let's not waste time. I've heard about your work. They're saying your stuff's better than Heisenberg's."
Jesse smirked. "That's the idea."
Eladio's gaze sharpened. "I want to know more. What's your production capacity?"
Jesse glanced at the half-empty glass of whiskey in front of him. "I can scale up. But it ain't cheap."
Eladio raised an eyebrow. "I didn't come here to negotiate prices."
Jesse leaned in, the grin on his face turning sharp. "No, you came here to get in on the best damn meth in New Mexico."
Eladio's smile faltered for a moment, but he recovered quickly. "I want exclusivity. No middlemen."
Jesse chuckled. "This is the cartel we're talking about. No such thing as exclusivity when it comes to them."
But he was thinking ahead. Eladio was connected, and if he could make the right moves, this could open doors for him—big doors.
"I'm offering you a deal," Eladio said, his voice cold. "You'll get a bigger cut if you bring me the product. I'll handle distribution. But I want first priority."
Jesse eyed him for a long moment. Then, finally, he nodded. "Alright. You got yourself a deal. But one condition: we keep it quiet. I'm not ready to put my name on it just yet."
Eladio's lips curved into a small smile. "Deal. I'll have my people contact you."
The Lab Gets Bigger
The next few days were a blur of activity. Jesse and Walter were working at full speed, each batch bigger than the last. They were getting better at the process, refining it to near perfection. But as the operation expanded, so did the risks.
Walter was becoming more and more agitated. He'd been pushing Jesse harder, questioning every step, and it was starting to get on his nerves.
"Jesse, you need to understand," Walter said one evening, his voice tight with frustration. "This is more than just making meth. It's a business. You can't just rush through everything like it's a hobby."
Jesse looked up from the burner. "And you can't treat it like some high school science project. I got this, man. I know what I'm doing."
Walter clenched his fists. "We need to be careful. The cartel isn't going to sit back and let us operate without consequences."
Jesse shot him a cold look. "Don't worry about the cartel, alright? You just focus on cooking."
The tension between them was growing, but Jesse didn't care. He had his eyes on the bigger picture now. The product was in demand, and with Eladio's connections, things were moving faster than ever.
The Warehouse Move
It didn't take long for the auto-body shop to become too small. The operation was outgrowing its space, and Jesse knew it was time to move.
He'd already scouted a location—a large warehouse on the outskirts of town. It was perfect. Isolated, with enough room to set up a proper lab, and far enough away from prying eyes.
"Alright," Jesse said as he surveyed the warehouse. "This is where we go bigger."
Walter nodded, but there was hesitation in his eyes. "This place isn't as secure as the auto shop. We'll need more security—cameras, locks…"
Jesse smirked. "I got it covered, man. Trust me."
Walter was silent for a moment, then reluctantly nodded. He knew Jesse was right. The operation had outgrown its previous setup, and the time to scale up was now.
They spent the next few days getting the warehouse ready. It was a bigger operation, and with it came more challenges. The equipment was bulkier, the processes more complex. But the blue meth they were producing was already gaining a reputation, and it wouldn't be long before even bigger players took notice.
Gus Fring Takes Notice
It didn't take long for Gus Fring to hear about the new, high-quality product flooding the streets. Gus had an ear to the ground, and he was always watching.
One evening, a sleek black car pulled up to the front of the warehouse. Gus Fring stepped out, his cold, calculating gaze sweeping over the place.
He was followed by his trusted associate, Mike Ehrmantraut, who surveyed the area with a watchful eye.
Jesse was in the back, checking inventory, when he heard the sound of the door opening. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
"Mr. Fring," Jesse said, walking up to meet him. "I assume you've heard of my product."
Gus regarded him with his usual calm demeanor, but there was a sharpness to his eyes that told Jesse he was sizing him up.
"I have," Gus replied evenly. "You've been making quite a name for yourself."
Jesse smiled. "I've been busy."
Gus nodded slowly. "I like to deal with the best. But I don't like surprises. Who's supplying you?"
Jesse met his gaze. "That's not something I share."
Gus's eyes narrowed slightly. "That's a problem."
Jesse didn't flinch. "If you want in, you'll need to offer more than just business talk."
Gus studied him for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he spoke again, his voice colder. "I'm offering you protection, a distribution network, and the resources to scale. You won't find a better deal."
Jesse looked at him carefully. He wasn't about to sell out to Gus, but the offer was tempting.
"We'll see," Jesse said, his smirk never wavering.