America 1982-Chapter 356 - 33: Goodnight, America_2
All the employees, including Sophia, were so engrossed in the television they didn’t notice Tommy’s departure as he slowly made his way up the stairs to the terrace.
On the terrace, Susan, Jim, and Tommy’s earliest angel investor from Stanford’s SSD, Benjamin Rosen, sat in front of a television set, thoroughly engrossed in the newly launched African American news program on BT Television.
"I’m curious where Tommy found this news. Unless I missed something, it seems none of the newspapers I subscribe to mentioned this today." Jim Manzi, CEO of KeyBank, sat in front of the TV watching the African American host Kevin deliver the news, and with a puzzled look, he asked the others,
"I don’t know if you’re aware, but I understand how the evening news programs on free television networks should be done. When I was at McKinsey, I dealt with consulting services for TV networks. These news departments, before all the staff clock in for the morning, would buy copies of all the mainstream newspapers. Then, once they’re in the office, the entire department would meet to discuss various front-page stories, voting on which news to include in their program. The host has a veto right. Put simply, if the Associated Press and all the major newspapers don’t have the news, then neither does the television network, so the first piece of news Tommy just broadcast was definitely an exclusive. How did he find it?"
"My old man told me that the other day, one of his coworkers named Wilson received a thank-you letter sent by the deceased person. The letter thanked Wilson for once donating five dollars towards his astronomically high bail. Now that he was leaving this world, he wanted to reply to everyone who had helped him before he passed. After chatting with my dad on the phone, I felt it would make a great exclusive story. The African American community would like this kind of exclusive news," Tommy said as he arrived, took a seat next to the three, and with a smile, looked at the screen.
Benjamin looked at Tommy, who had obviously matured a lot in recent years. His net worth had significantly increased due to the EFF Tommy had pulled off. Although he was confident he could make money in the computer industry without the EFF, it wouldn’t have been as easy nor would he have the status he now enjoyed in the industry. Seeing Tommy’s gaze, he smiled,
"In need of a large investment with associated risks, you didn’t want your good friend Stephen to bear that, so you came to me, an old guy with a weaker heart?"
"Benjamin, please, you’re my entrepreneurial mentor. In my heart, my feelings for you are like those of my father towards his uncle. I think of you as family, yet you treat me as if I’m just some materialistic young guy who can’t stop thinking about money? That really hurts," Tommy said with a feigned hurt expression, opening his arms wide to explain.
"Just to remind you, Mr. Benson, there was a time when Tommy mentioned that his father almost sent that uncle to the AIDS Research Center for free treatment in exchange for being infected with HIV," Jim chimed in with a mischievous smile, undermining Tommy.
Tommy looked at Jim, "F*ck you, Jim! Why can’t you be the one who’s hard of hearing?"
"Because I’m not your great uncle." Jim glanced at Susan, then at Benjamin, and said to Tommy with conviction,
"I’m guessing you didn’t invite us three here just to celebrate the successful launch of your African American TV station. You’d better say something interesting, at least something worth the time I’ve spent flying here from New York to Los Angeles."
Before Tommy could speak, Jim hastily added,
"Regardless of how Benjamin or Susan might respond to you, my stance is this: no money, no people, nothing at all."
Susan stood up to open a beer for Tommy, handed it to him, and then spoke, "Jim, don’t be like that, Tommy didn’t ask you for money while preparing the TV station. Why would he start thinking about it now after the launch?"
"Is that what this bastard told you? He didn’t ask me for money before the launch? Do you really think he would take money from his own account to fund an African American TV station? That bastard wouldn’t even sleep with a black woman, and you believe he would spend money on blacks?" Jim took the glass, his face full of anger as he looked at Tommy:
"If it wasn’t for KeyBank, would you have been surviving on money you earned by selling your body, Tommy?"
Tommy took a sip of beer, smiled, and looked back at Jim, "I did earn the money by selling my body, Jim. I am that great. I’ve sold myself to raise funds to provide programs that our black brothers enjoy."
"I’m the one who’s been selling my body, not you. To help you raise money, I’ve sold myself so many times I’ve lost count. Do you know what that feels like? A train could ram into my back, and I wouldn’t feel a thing," Jim said as he clapped his hands together repeatedly, producing a smacking sound:
"If it wasn’t for the fees I earn to compensate for the psychological and physical damage, I would’ve sued you for forcing a partner to sell themselves."
"Jim says he has nothing, but I’m different. I want to hear what you have to say first before I decide whether I have any money to offer you, Tommy," Benjamin said after Jim finished speaking.
He knew Tommy wouldn’t call him over to the TV station just to hang out; if Tommy wanted him to put up money, there had to be a compelling enough reason.
