America 1982-Chapter 189 - 71: The Long-Awaited Care_2
"Whether stigmatizing SSD matters here is irrelevant, what’s essential is your image, the image you present must be consistent. The opposition will definitely seize on any discrepancy," Delia said, fixing Tommy with a stern gaze. "The most important thing is that you can’t have this issue."
"So, do you think I considered the problem you’re bringing up when I spoke to the black audience?" Tommy asked with a nonchalant tone.
Delia sighed, "Then tell me, if the opposition exposes you as a member of SSD with alleged racist leanings, how are you going to reverse your image within the black community?"
"Do your job, Delia," Tommy said as he pulled out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, and lit it. He then smiled at Delia, "My joining SSD was not hypocritical, it was very real. My paternal ancestors from Rhode Island really did burn black people wearing white robes—never did wrong before, so why should I start doing the right thing now?"
Seeing the smirk on Tommy’s face, Delia’s expression gradually relaxed, "You’re sure you’ve thought about this issue and already have a solution."
"If the other side gets too high and mighty and tries to use this move to destroy me, let them try. Let’s see who the clown is. I’ve said it many times—don’t take me for a proper gentleman. I’m just a rough-and-tumble yokel from the countryside," Tommy smiled no more, his gaze intent on Delia as he said emphatically, "Whoever helps Lotus, I’ll * them."
With what was originally a serious expression, Tommy suddenly froze, then slapped the table and excitedly said to Delia, "Do you think ’I Should Be Put Down: The Story of Tommy-Hawk’ is a good title for this character manuscript, or is ’Overturning Gods with a Mortal’s Body: The Story of Tommy-Hawk’ better? Overturning gods with a mortal’s body, just thinking about it gets me excited."
"Sophia, remember to give him his medicine. This bastard’s narcissism is flaring up again." Delia packed up files, videotapes, and other materials, while saying,
"Goodbye, I have to go to Stanford Law School to accept their offer first, then rush back to Boston to await the announcement of our loss in court and lead the subsequent series of actions. Also, Tommy, I’m informing you that after we lose, the court will issue an injunction against Actor Corporation, prohibiting the development and sale of OSS software. The only way to challenge the injunction is to burn money. The lobbying firm will help you lobby, coordinate with the legal team’s maneuvering, and make this into a delayed enforcement of the injunction during Actor Corporation’s appeal period. That’s not low-intensity spending like billing by the hour. Of course, you could choose to comply with the injunction, which would save you from having to pay these extra costs."
After listening, Tommy asked just one question, "Have you calculated the estimated cost for this expenditure?"
"Seven hundred thousand, just for the temporary enforcement costs up to the circuit court level. The costs during the appeal to the Supreme Court are separate, but based on past cases, probably triple that." Delia looked at Tommy as she quoted the price.
"What a fine country, telling its citizens directly: ’Poor folks, don’t fucking bother suing unless you’ve got money!’" Tommy remarked sarcastically, then looked at Delia and nodded,
"Of course, of course we’ll burn money. I need to sell the hundred thousand units quickly and then announce it’s free, don’t I? If we comply with the injunction, how can I sell the hundred thousand units quickly? One has to be honest. I’d rather burn money to delay the injunction than make an extra cent from people."
The other party was the employer, and as he wasn’t afraid of burning money, Delia naturally wouldn’t oppose it. She efficiently picked up her briefcase, got up, and signaled to her assistant Kane, waiting outside, to leave together.
In the small conference room at the Four Seasons Hotel, only Tommy and Sophia remained. Since Delia’s remarks, Sophia had fallen into silence, and the harsh criticism from her idol in the industry seemed to have made her feel very guilty.
"Hey~" Tommy greeted Sophia with a ’hey.’
Sophia looked up, somewhat uncomfortable, and asked Tommy, "What’s up?"
"Did Delia shatter your self-confidence?" Tommy asked knowingly.
Sophia nodded without denial, "Yes, I feel like a real echo, it seems I only ever do something when you need me to prepare it for you, I just didn’t think..."
"Girl, if you could think of that, what would I need Chicago for? If you had my brain, I’d have gone back to school by now and left Actor in your hands. Delia is just displeased with me, thinking that if I do something wrong, it’ll increase her workload, but she daren’t complain directly to me—after all, I pay her fee. So, she’s taking out this irritation on you," Tommy met Sophia’s eyes, his tone consoling as he spoke,
"Do you know how to make it harder for others to shatter your heart so easily?"
"Make your heart stronger."
"No, it’s about growing some more flesh on your chest to boost your defenses," Tommy said with a wicked smile,
"You’re doing fine. An eighty-dollar weekly salary yet expecting you to have the brains of Einstein is unrealistic. I don’t need your brain."
However, Sophia didn’t roll her eyes at Tommy like she usually did when teased; instead, she spoke in a downhearted tone, "Then what do you need me for? Just to be disrespected with your chauvinistic banter when you’re bored?"
"Just stay by my side and do some secretarial work. Seeing you reminds me that I can’t afford to do anything wrong," Tommy exhaled a plume of smoke, looking casually at an empty space in the conference room:
