America 1982-Chapter 172 - 65: Honesty is a Virtue
Benjamin Rosen watched Tommy Hawk with a playful smile as he sat back down after finishing his call; although the young man still wore a smile, the increased gestures in his casual conversation betrayed the significant, and decidedly negative, impact the call had made on his mood.
"I guess the call you just took was from another SSD alumnus who read the magazine?" Benjamin asked Tommy.
Charles also looked at Tommy with curious eyes, and Tommy nodded at both of them, "That’s right, the caller identified himself as Robert Miller, an alumnus from the SSD Cornell Chapter. He actually found me through my high school teacher."
"I’ve heard the name, but I don’t know much about him. He and another SSD alumnus, Chuck Finney, started a duty-free shop business that never went public, so their connections to Wall Street are relatively weak. I only know from some news reports that they made very good use of the SSD network, especially those from military academies like West Point," Benjamin shared some information he knew upon hearing the name:
"Though the SSD alumni network is extensive, not everyone knows or understands each other."
Benjamin didn’t continue with what he was saying.
Clearly having some knowledge of the name, Charles gave a brief account of what he knew about Robert Miller and Chuck Finney’s rise, which resembled that of Tommy and Jason: they brazenly thickened their faces, took advantage of the holidays to travel abroad, made a fortune, and then started a duty-free shop business.
"They are somewhat like you in that respect, but after making their money, they returned to being normal people, gentlemen, civilized, polite, whereas I am worried that you and Jason might not undergo a similar evolution."
After listening to Charles’s introduction, Tommy took out his cigarette, placed it between his lips, lit it, and took a deep breath which he then exhaled through his nostrils, looking at the distant scenery in the garden: "I understand, and that’s what worries me too. After your introduction, I worry that such evolution might happen to me."
"You pray for power, but when it truly arrives, you vaguely sense signs of it spiraling out of control, and this concerns you, right? You hope that everything would be as it was in your initial plan, all within your expectations and control," Benjamin shifted his position to make himself more comfortable on the sofa, while also appearing more relaxed from the perspective of the two young men, smilingly addressing Tommy’s expressed worries.
Tommy nodded once more, for there was no need to hide in front of this middle-aged Fraternity alumnus, a vice president at Morgan Stanley.
"Tommy, do you know why you feel like things are spiraling out of control? Because that power has the ability to think independently and is even more voracious. The power you previously gathered for Actor Corporation, you could think on their behalf, and they would act according to your wishes. But the power you have now comes from within, yet it isn’t yours..."
"Master money, don’t be mastered by it," Tommy retracted his gaze and looked toward Benjamin.
Benjamin picked up a cigar, carefully clipped the end off with a cutter, and slowly toasted it with a lighter before handing it to Charles. He then took one for himself, toasting it gently in his hand, and said to Tommy:
"That’s right, I’m glad you understand this principle. Are the SSD brothers truly as close as family? Of course, I don’t question the brotherly bonds of the SSD, and they would certainly be willing to help when you’re in trouble, just like your family, but they are again too similar to family. When your father or brother helps you, they will surely tell you that you need to follow their instructions to resolve your problems. Your SSD brothers will do the same; while accepting their power, be prepared for stronger beings to think for you. And their help isn’t free. Take me, for instance: I hope to use this lawsuit as an opportunity to talk settlement with IBM. It’s not difficult for you to guess why, because you understand the computer industry. You know exactly why I’m putting money in this way. Indeed, I am helping you to turn your shares, previously worthless, into hard cash, making you a multimillionaire before you even graduate from college. But at the same time, my real goal is for the industrial development of Compaq. And at this moment, you can’t guess why an SSD alumnus without any relevant industry experience, who found you through your high school teacher, would want to proactively help you. That is your concern because you understand that no one is a true philanthropist, even if they are your SSD brothers."
"After listening to you and Charles about the founders of DFS, I always feel like they turned from whimsical new money earners into old money so quickly; I don’t think that should be called evolution, but assimilation," Tommy shared his thoughts with Benjamin:
"Or rather, after borrowing strength to succeed, they didn’t become new money but were assimilated by the power into becoming part of old money."
Benjamin exhaled a cloud of smoke, chuckling, "You know, everyone has a different perspective. Some people think there is nothing wrong with it: they possess countless wealth, and though the power is not theirs, it forever surges within them, ready at their call."
"That Mr. Miller even prepared a first-class plane ticket for me," Tommy mentioned the offer Robert Miller had made to him over the phone.
"Go and meet him; it can’t hurt. It’s not negligence on your part, just that the SSD alumni network’s response to you came as more of a surprise than you anticipated. You thought only those alumni keen on the software industry would be interested in you, but how broad is your perspective on the whole lawsuit, Tommy?" Benjamin listened and then laughed happily when he heard that the other party had prepared a plane ticket for Tommy, and was touched by the young man’s response, which stemmed from a fear of the unknown. It seemed Tommy’s naivete made him more endearing to Benjamin, like a true college student:
