Writing Web Novels In America-Chapter 187 - 185: Barely Achieved

The next morning, inside the Merrill Investment office building.

Upon hanging up the phone, the new CEO Moritz looked helplessly at his colleagues from Lehman and Bertelsmann, who also belonged to the Wall Street Jewish forces.

"Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley agreed to share the payment tool PayPal with us, but they take a different stance towards Twitter," he explained.

"Henry Paulson reiterated that in this media tool, the other three major financial groups do not wish to see new institutional investors."

"Then..." Lehman’s vice president pondered for a moment, "What about directly contacting that Asian author?"

"After all, their valuation of Twitter is a whole two hundred million US Dollar less than ours."

Moritz pointed in the direction of Washington, "Gore has stated that, in an election year, he does not want to see us getting involved in the battle for Twitter."

"Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley have already communicated with our vice president through George Bush, the representative of the moderate faction of the Republican Party."

"Damn politicians!" a Bertelsmann representative muttered under his breath, "and these anti-Semitic financial groups!"

"Should we get in touch with our fellows on the West Coast and make some moves?"

"As far as I know, that Asian author had a history of theft, and having such a person control a media tool..."

"It might be a good scandal."

"Viacom’s Redstone, Disney’s Eisner?" Lehman’s vice president pondered for a moment and then shook his head, "Except for issues concerning Israel, I prefer not to have any communication with them."

Merrill’s CEO coughed lightly, "Netscape’s Jim Clark has already contacted me, saying he plans to emulate Twitter’s model to aggressively launch a blog business."

"Moreover, he’s also invited well-known authors like Stephen King and A-list celebrities like Julia Roberts to open Netscape blogs."

"So, we fully support Netscape then," Lehman’s vice president declared. "We won’t deliberately sabotage Wall Street’s and Hollywood’s efforts to compete for influence, but that doesn’t mean we won’t support our affiliated enterprises to grow and expand."

"Also, we need to actively look for emerging media similar to Twitter," Bertelsmann’s vice president added. "After all, there are still many smart people in Silicon Valley."

...

Meanwhile, Wang Jian was sitting in his office, recalling the events of the previous night.

He could secure fifteen percent of PayPal’s shares, but there was a condition.

The website had to exchange twenty percent of Twitter’s shares for three percent of the equity controlled by Sequoia Capital, which mainly conducted venture capital investments in Silicon Valley.

"Wang, the accountant from PricewaterhouseCoopers is here," Tom pushed open the door of the office and reminded him.

"Oh, let them in."

"Mr. Wang," a young Caucasian man walked into the office and took out a stack of documents from his briefcase.

"If Twitter is valued at six hundred million US Dollars, then twenty percent equals one hundred twenty million US Dollars."

"Sequoia Capital has investments in companies like Hewlett-Packard and Yahoo, and three percent of the equity is also valued at around one hundred twenty million US Dollars."

Wang Jian took the documents, looked them over for a while, then set them down on the desk.

Although the exchange was similar in pricing, the contract from Sequoia Capital stipulated that the shareholders had to provide additional capital under certain conditions.

That would make him a shareholder in stock trading, wouldn’t it?

While he could simply sell twenty percent of Twitter’s shares for cash, he felt somewhat reluctant.

After all, Twitter was about to go public.

"Thank you, PricewaterhouseCoopers, for calculating this while also handling our taxation."

"It’s no problem," the young man handed him a bill, "We charge by the workload."

Seventy thousand US Dollars?

Wang Jian glanced at the bill and then looked up at the young man.

The young Caucasian’s face bore a gentle smile, resembling a British gentleman.

Wang Jian exhaled, picked up a pen, and signed his name.

"Then I wish us a pleasant cooperation next time."

Watching the young man leave, Wang Jian picked up the PayPal information again.

PayPal’s investors included Lehman and Merrill, but why weren’t they approaching Twitter for investments?

Even if Twitter were to operate at a loss, it would just be for... ten or twenty years at most.

"Tom, hand the contract to the lawyer for review," Wang Jian sighed, "and then fax it to Lehman."

"Uh..." Tom hesitated for a moment before speaking up, "So, do Dorsey and I not need to prepare the funds?"

"Morgan Stanley promised to underwrite one hundred twenty million US Dollars, so Twitter’s valuation stands at six hundred million US Dollars."

"Congratulations, Tom," Wang Jian shrugged casually, "You’re about to become a millionaire."

"A millionaire?" Tom was momentarily stunned, seemingly just realizing this point.

He set the documents down and rushed over, "Wang, you are literally my lottery ticket!"

Wang Jian was suddenly embraced by a burly man, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

He desperately patted the other’s shoulder, "Tom, calm down, it can’t be unsealed for three years."

"You’re still broke right now!"

"Wang, can we test PayPal now?" Chen Shijun opened the door, only to see two disheveled men embracing each other.

"It’s ready," Wang Jian answered.

"Oh," Chen Shijun nodded, quickly closing the door.

"They say artists lead messy private lives, not that there’s anything wrong with homosexuality,"

"But Tom..." he shook his head softly, murmuring, "that aesthetic is quite bizarre."

"Uh..." he touched his own cheek, "Am I also in danger then?"

...

In Manhattan, inside the Goldman Sachs office building.

Lehman rushed in with a contract, hurrying into the president’s office.

"Mr. Paulson, Wang has agreed."

Paul Paulson nodded calmly, picking up the document to read.

"They are starting trials of PayPal on mobile tomorrow? Then we also need to expedite integrating the VISA payment channel."

"And, to hold a roadshow for Twitter,"

Paulson set down the document, offhandedly stating, "You, get a fashion designer for that young Asian."

"Considering his age, status as a bestselling author, and as a technology elite, they need to design an image that leaves a lasting impression."

"Hugo, Hemingway?" Lehman ventured.

"After Twitter goes public, he’ll be the wealthiest author in the United States," Paulson shook his head, "Mozart?"

"A musical genius?" Lehman thought of Wang Jian’s unyielding attitude in financial matters and was momentarily speechless.

"Heh, Bill Gates still prefers technology over profits. Heh, Netscape..."

"Right," Lehman’s expression turned serious, "Real estate tycoon Donald sent a fax, claiming that an Asian controlling the media does not align with American interests."

"He wants to join us in making a bid for Twitter."

"Donald?" Paulson took the document, tugging at the corner of his mouth.

He picked up the phone and dialed a number.

"Giuliani... talk to your friend. You know why George Bush came to New York last night."

"He wants to compete with Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Citibank for interests?"

"Or, does he want to go bankrupt for the fourth time?"

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by (f)reew𝒆b(n)ov𝒆l.com