America 1982-Chapter 394 - 46: It’s Up to You_3
The wife rolled her eyes as she analyzed the statement, disagreeing as she said, "That’s totally illogical, okay? Always on guard against your girlfriend or wife as if she were an enemy? What kind of terrible husband would do such a thing?"
"Because men never know which word said wrong can turn their wife into something more terrifying than an enemy, so they have to guard against potential trouble," Wolfe laughed.
"I think he’s harming you, Wolfe," his wife’s smile faded, and she stared at Wolfe seriously.
Wolfe, puzzled, asked, "Why?"
"Because he doesn’t have a wife, he isn’t worried about his wife scolding him, but you’re different. I was considering letting you off since you came back so late today, but now, follow me to the bedroom, I’m going to give you some ’special’ lessons, Now!" His wife leaned against the bedroom doorframe, tilting her head inward, and said with a serious tone.
"Can I make a phone call first, give me the lesson after the call, dear?" Wolfe drained the red wine from his glass and then picked up his mobile phone to show his wife, "At least let me give Tommy a piece of my mind first."
The wife threw him a flirtatious glance, then returned to the bedroom. Wolfe walked out to the balcony, sat down, and quietly stared at the distant lights for a few minutes before he took out his phone to dial Tommy’s number. He didn’t know whether Tommy was asleep, but normally, Tommy would wait for his call.
"I’m guessing you just got home?" The phone connected, and Tommy’s voice sounded, "You’re going to work yourself to death, Wolfe. You don’t need to micromanage everything. For something like drafting contracts, let the legal department handle it. You just need to review it."
"My secretary said you called this afternoon, wanting to once again, suffocate me for the dream," Wolfe said with a smile as he looked at the Washington night.
"Could I take it that it’s time for me and VOX to part ways? Please, can’t I just enjoy the fruits of a victory for once?"
Tommy also started laughing on the other end of the phone, "Pretty much. You’ll keep your seat on the VOX board, but you need to get ready to hand over other responsibilities, because there are more important tasks waiting for you."
"You sound like a boss who’s firing an employee," Wolfe said with a bitter smile.
"I’m not one of those obstinate capitalists who throws subordinates out on a whim; I’m not that person. So I want you to understand that it’s not about being forced out of VOX by me, but besides you, there’s no one else who could take on this task. You helped me set up BT, VOX—frankly, in the whole of America, no one can match your experience in preliminary planning. Wolfe, I’m truly inviting you to join me in the next battlefield, a battlefield that is, for me, more important than VOX," Tommy stated earnestly.
"I’m listening," Wolfe said, his smile gone as he took Tommy seriously.
The next second, he heard Tommy on the phone say, "Wolfe, I’m going to start another news television network."
Even though Wolfe had anticipated that Tommy would come up with some sort of excuse, he didn’t expect that Tommy’s reason would be so casual:
"How high are you, Tommy? You already own BT Television, VOX News Network, and now you tell me you want to start another new television news network? And then have the new network battle it out with VOX? If you like that kind of stunt, you might as well hire me and Er to fight in an octagon cage; it would at least save you a lot of unnecessary expenses."
"This news network is specifically for my black friend, Wolfe Tuck, that idiot has a background in finance channels," Tommy replied earnestly, ignoring the ridicule and anger in Wolfe’s words. "I’ve gone through a lot of trouble to find the perfect spot for you, Wolfe. Don’t you ever think about having another job in your life, this new network will be the only business for the rest of your days."
"America doesn’t lack financial business channels, Tommy," Wolfe said with lackluster enthusiasm.
He thought Tommy was going to put up money to support him in launching a financial business channel. Such business channels are everywhere, and all the major networks have their own financial channels. He had been a vice president at a financial business channel before.
Tommy said, "But what the world lacks is a financial news network like VOX. Just imagine: if I’m an ordinary American wanting to know about the stock market changes in London, how much trouble is it? I’d have to call those brokerage firms on Wall Street in New York, wait for their stockbrokers to help me call their London branch, and then wait for them to fax the stock list back to Wall Street in New York, where my broker would read it to me off the fax."
"I think the advent of satellite television has granted us a much simpler method. For instance, with a simple action like turning on the TV, those interested in the world’s financial markets can stay updated on the latest news from Dow Jones and NASDAQ, with financial data from all around the world scrolling at the bottom of the screen—London, Tokyo, New York, Shanghai, New Delhi, Paris... around the clock. When the Eastern Hemisphere sleeps, we, along with the cash flow, shift our focus to the Western Hemisphere; when the Western Hemisphere sleeps, the financial markets of the Eastern Hemisphere are already open for business, welcoming us. Our channel, just like the world’s money, never sleeps."
Wolfe was gobsmacked.
"Once it’s up and running, those economic experts who’ve turned up their noses at your show invitations will be on their knees, begging for a chance to be on your station. If it operates spectacularly, every broker in the world will want to put their economists on our channel to tout their stocks and coax investors to open their wallets. All the world-renowned economists will become your friends, all the renowned brokerage reporters will want to work for you, and your wife will never have to worry about Wall Street brokerage firms selling her junk stocks because if they do, you can make sure they don’t appear on our channel for a whole year. And I assure you, this time, with the new financial news network, you’ll have a 20% stake; you’re worth that much. I never skimp when it comes to treating my friends right."
Wolfe continued to be speechless.
"Isn’t it breathtaking, once again?" Tommy asked with a smile. "If you don’t find this financial news network interesting, I’ll let the person prepared to take over your job at VOX handle it. He’s actually more eager to be hands-on in the setup..."
"You’ve successfully convinced me, Tommy. You’re like a pimp who can always lure women into jumping into a fire pit!" Wolfe let out a deep breath to regain his composure, then said with a smile,
"The only problem is, do I have to move again? I’ve been in Washington for less than a year."
Tommy said with a laugh, "I’ll personally cover your moving expenses, Wolfe, but this time you need to move faster."
"Why?" Wolfe asked.
Tommy replied, "Because I’ve learnt from the brokerage firm managing my assets on Wall Street that a guy named Mike Bloomberg is planning to launch a Bloomberg financial news television network. I mean, if you step up to compete with him, with your experience of successfully setting up two major television networks, Wall Street would prefer a seasoned pro like you over some guy who’s crossing over from the computer industry. Moreover, you can’t lose, because whether I can topple the FOX network depends entirely on you."
"If I haven’t let you down before, I believe I won’t this time either," Wolfe said nonchalantly. "That’s that, Tommy. Goodnight. I’m going to sleep now, and, by the way, thanks for giving me an excuse."
"What excuse?" Tommy asked curiously.
Wolfe laughed and said, "I’ll go back to the bedroom and tell my wife that Tommy booted me from VOX and that I’m utterly heartbroken, unable to tee off. She probably won’t force me anymore."
"I’m going to phone your home right now and explain things to your wife. No thanks needed. Goodnight, Wolfe." Tommy immediately hung up the phone.
Before Wolfe could even stand up, the landline at his residence began to ring.
Thinking that Wolfe was still on the phone with Tommy, his wife emerged from the bedroom, returning Wolfe’s gaze of despair with a smile as she picked up the phone.
