Chapter 270: Chapter 200: A Big News Sensation
Translator: 549690339
In Harrison Clark’s study, the two men sat facing each other.
The atmosphere wasn’t warm; on the contrary, it was rather bizarre.
Chris Owen’s right hand rested on his teacup, his fingers lightly tapping the cup’s rim as his eyes continued to roam over Harrison Clark’s face.
From the moment Harrison Clark greeted him to when he sat down and the servant brought him a glass of water, neither of them spoke again.
Chris Owen disliked this youngster and wanted to use his seniority to teach him a lesson.
After all, their previous conversation had been very unpleasant.
“Anyway, I just won’t sell! Mr. Owen, it’s no use saying anything!”
Chris Owen still remembered the harsh tone in which Harrison Clark had refused him, and it was natural for him to have a grievance.
Unfortunately, although Harrison Clark’s influence and assets were far from those of Chris Owen today, he was becoming a figure in his own right at home.
Chris Owen could no longer consider himself a elder figure, let alone insult the other party.
So he just watched and waited for the unwelcome visitor to take the initiative to state the purpose of his visit today.
By letting Harrison Clark speak first, Ward Owen had to lower his head.
Last time you brushed me off, now it’s my turn to humble you; consider it even.
Harrison Clark didn’t cross his legs, he just sat there, quietly watching his opponent with his hands folded in front of him.
Since the other party wouldn’t speak, he didn’t want to initiate the conversation.
Time ticked slowly by.
Chris Owen took a deep breath, deciding to speak first.
The suppression had failed.
“I heard that Summit Ventures has been doing very well lately. I’d like to congratulate you, Mr. Clark.”
Harrison Clark nodded and bowed, “Thank you, Mr. Owen. However, my little accomplishment pales in comparison to the Whale Group. I’m not worthy of sharing the stage with you. By the way, please don’t call me Mr. Clark, it’s too formal. I’m the same age as your son, Ward Owen, just call me Harrison.” “Harrison? I don’t dare,” Chris Owen shook his head slightly, then said, “Your nearly 8-billion-dollar company is small compared to others, I’m afraid people will think you’re being too humble.”
Harrison Clark was first stunned, thinking that his company was worth only sixty billion. When did it become eighty billion?
But he quickly realized that he had released a new song, and Katie Swift’s English version of “Self-Combustion” had won a Grammy, so it was only natural for Summit Ventures’ value to rise.
Although he understood this, he remained humble, “Mr. Owen, you’re really overpraising me. You know the entertainment industry. The so-called market value goes up and down quickly. There’s a lot of bubble and water, and even insiders like me can’t guarantee anything. What’s more important for a company is what it can do for society. Summit Ventures may have been praised by outsiders, but all in all, we employ only about a thousand people. To compare it with your Whale Group, which employs hundreds of thousands of people, or even those debt-ridden factories that employ thousands, would be unfair.”
While saying this, Harrison Clark himself felt a bit embarrassed.
What he described was more applicable to entertainment companies that purely focus on speculation and cash flow, not those like his, that held high-quality, tangible assets.
But Harrison Clark had an ulterior motive, deliberately belittling the value of the entertainment industry in front of Chris Owen, to prevent the old man from eyeing the meat in his bowl and refusing to look away.
As expected, Chris Owen didn’t fall for it, grew suspicious, and said decisively, “Mr. Clark, if you have something to say, just say it. My good-for-nothing son spy for you, it can’t just be for small talk, right?”
Harrison Clark nodded, “I’m here, of course, for a serious matter. I want to discuss a cooperation with you.”
“Cooperation?” Chris Owen frowned, his face instantly clouded.
Harrison Clark had declined his initial offer so resolutely, not giving him any face or respect.
Since then, Ward Owen’s singing career had taken off, and even at home, he dared to hum a few ballads. Even his loyal ally, Madam Owen, had turned against him, often enjoying her son’s singing and taking pride in it.
Each repost in Madam Owen’s circle of friends in support of Ward Owen felt like a knife in Chris Owen’s heart; the word “resentment” didn’t even begin to cover it.
What’s even more annoying is that in just a month, Summit Ventures’ value had soared from over ten billion to over eighty billion.
Back then, Chris Owen offered one billion for 51% of the shares.
If he wanted to buy now, the price would have changed to forty billion.
The difference between the two was a loss of thirty billion.
Facing such a huge amount of money, even Chris Owen couldn’t help but regret.
Although it should have been Harrison Clark’s money, Chris Owen’s judgment at the time wasn’t wrong, and his decision was timely, but he had not been successful, which bothered him greatly.
Not making money nor reclaiming his son, the reason for all this was the seemingly young man in front of him.
His tone when refusing the merger seemed frivolous, showing the arrogance of young people.
At first, Chris Owen really thought Harrison Clark was young and ignorant, but after reflecting on it, he found that the young man’s thinking was quite clear, and he had a precise judgment of his self-value and potential. To lower his guard, he employed childish tactics, using his youthful exuberance to play off the communication.
At this thought, Chris Owen suddenly felt that Harrison Clark was a deeply unfathomable person, a master of strategy who had even outsmarted him..