References:
Tension is the keyword here. Movies: Heat, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Novels/Movies: The Maltese Falcon, No Country for Old Men
Play: Othello is a masterclass in tension.
There are three groups there appealing to three aspects of Hilam's personality. One brings a pile of cash- his greed. Another brings exotic animal(s) or rare works of art- his vanity and need for status, but the cult wins because they appeal to his need for power- they bring a charging station.
For this to work, the reader needs to be acquainted with these aspects of Hilam through his office and other environmental factors since Clarissa will not interact with him directly before the Meet. We learn more about Hilam in Logan's story. Why does he take the charging station? It is dangerous. The Census Office will hunt him to eliminate this threat. Think of a mob boss who acquires tanks and plans to use them.