Chapter 297 Confused by Love
"Mr. Lowe, there are some documents on the table that need your attention."
Brian sat to the side, opened the files, and handed them to Kurt, who didn't take them. He glanced down at the contents and was stunned. "Mr. Brown, what's the meaning of this?"
"Exactly what you see."
"Equity transfer? Are you kidding me? When did The Lowe Group ever hint to anyone in the industry about a transfer?"
William was exceptionally clear-headed in business.
When interests align, you're friends. When interests diverge, you're enemies.
His tactics in business were never comparable to those of ordinary people.
How could someone skilled at pulling the rug out from under people in the world of fame and fortune be a kind person? Years ago, to establish himself in Emerald City, how many companies had he overthrown?
Kurt just never expected it would be his turn now.
William lit a cigarette, and through the swirling smoke, reached over to pull the ashtray closer, tapping off the ash with a faint smile. "Mr. Lowe, of course, you had no such intention."
"So what's your intention?"
William didn't answer Kurt's question directly, glancing at Brian, who handed him an iPad.
"Recently, Mrs. Lowe hosted a private party at a villa in Emerald City's development zone, which I happened to come across. What you're seeing now is all the evidence from after that day. Tell me, if I submit these materials, what awaits Mrs. Lowe? And what awaits The Lowe Group?"
The man squinted, leaning back in his seat and taking a drag from his cigarette. "The price on the equity transfer agreement in front of you is based on today's market price. Mr. Lowe, do you think that even if I don't make a move, you'll still get this price after the market opens tomorrow?"
"Or how much money will you have to pour in to pull the price back up?"
William was forcing him to choose—either take the money, bring Zephyrine, hand over the company, or fight against him and wait for the company to go bankrupt.
After today's events, it was obvious how low The Lowe Group's opening price would be tomorrow. Losing hundreds of millions of dollars overnight would be the least of it. If William handed over the evidence he had, not only would Zephyrine face prison time, but The Lowe Group would also be investigated.
Then, endless disaster would await them, and at the end of that disaster would still be prison and bankruptcy.
"Mr. Brown, how long have you been planning for this day?"
"Not long. Since June 17th."
Today was June 28th. Eleven days!
That was the date of Zephyrine's last party.
"Mrs. Lowe gave me such a good opportunity. If I didn't seize it, wouldn't I be wasting her kind intentions?"
In the car, smoke filled the air. William's cold tone dissipated in the smoke. Kurt sat across from him, sizing up this younger man, having to admit he had him by the throat.
In 2014, the Celestia Group was already famous, and William's right-hand men were highly skilled. A child from a scholarly family actually had such wolfish ambition, with business tactics no less sharp than those from veteran business families.
He was William, and only William could have such means.
Controlling Emerald City's largest cash flow, standing at the mountain peak, looking down on all living beings.
"Mr. Brown, The Lowe Group is my life's work." Kurt's tone softened. Sitting before William, who held his fate in his hands, he was no longer a business titan, no longer Emerald City's top industrialist, but more like an elder who had aged decades in an instant, struggling desperately before a younger man.
William slowly took a drag from his cigarette. As the thin smoke cleared, his gaze slowly focused. Just sitting there, silent and wordless, he already seemed like a painting of absolute destruction.
When he spoke, it was like the master of all creation. "Mr. Lowe, all things have their time to wither. Struggling is futile."
The implication was clear—The Lowe Group had reached this point and had no need to continue.
The business world changes rapidly, and national development moves at full speed. For a company focused only on the industry and doing one thing, decline was inevitable.
Brian looked at William, and seeing he had no intention of speaking, tried to persuade Kurt. "Mr. Lowe, you don't want to see the company's ten thousand-plus employees lose their jobs because of your bankruptcy, do you? These years, the job market has been tough. If it really comes to that, plenty of people won't be able to stay in this city. If The Lowe Group is acquired by Mr. Brown, at least the livelihoods of those ten thousand people can be preserved. If things continue, the next step is unemployment. Besides, the price Mr. Brown is offering is hundreds of millions of dollars above market value. By tomorrow, you won't get this price."
"Mr. Brown never likes to bully the weak, otherwise you wouldn't have the chance to sit here today."
They could have just waited until tomorrow to make their move, but they didn't. This was the last bit of conscience remaining in William's heart.
"I need time to think."
William lowered his eyelids, glancing at his watch. Brian understood. "Of course you can, but we can't guarantee what the price will be after you've thought it over."
"Mr. Brown, why push things to the extreme?"
"Mr. Lowe, this is a normal business strategy. If we wanted to push things to the extreme, we wouldn't be talking to you today—we'd wait until tomorrow when the investigation team is standing at your company's front door."
"You..." Kurt was left speechless by Brian's retort.
William finished his cigarette and stubbed it out in the ashtray. "You can get out of the car, but when you come back, it won't be this price."
The air conditioning was running in the stretched Lincoln. The late summer weather wasn't so hot anymore—after the rain, it was even a bit cool. The dog days had long passed, and the beginning of autumn had arrived. But even in such weather, Kurt was sweating profusely sitting before William.
"I have a condition."
"You have to ensure my wife gets out safely."
"Based on tomorrow's market price, I can agree. Mr. Lowe, I'm a businessman, not a philanthropist."
Take the money and still want him to save someone?
You can have either the person or the money. Not both.
Brian was startled—he had actually guessed William's approach. This tactic was indeed just like him.
...
"Mr. Brown, where to?" Finn asked.
"The office."
Finn turned the car around and headed toward the office. In the back seat, Brian was organizing documents.
Halfway there, at the intersection leading to Mistwood Hill, Thalia's face flashed through William's mind. "Forget it, go to Mistwood Hill."
Brian's hands paused in organizing the documents. He looked up at William in surprise. Sure enough, William really was love-struck.
So many people at the office were waiting, yet he was going home to find his wife.