America 1919-Chapter 944 - 322, The New York Times Predicament_2
Paul Warburg looked at Adolf Ochs with dissatisfaction, "This was your business in the first place. I only agreed to step in on your behalf as a friend to speak to Donnie. If you have any objections, I can back out right now. How does that sound?"
Adolf Ochs, seeing Paul Warburg’s anger, dared not show further discontent. "I just hope to retain my control over ’The New York Times.’ I can agree to all of Donnie’s other conditions!"
Paul Warburg saw Adolf Ochs finally behaving and contentedly nodded. "I understand. Don’t worry about it!"
. frёeωebɳovel.com
Inside Atlantic City’s stadium, the noise was deafening.
Thirteen racehorses galloped across the track, with countless voices cheering for the horses they had bet on.
In a VIP suite on the third floor, Donnie stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, binoculars in hand, watching the horses race. As the race concluded, Donnie happily pumped his fist in the air.
"Mr. Warburg, I told you that ’Atlantic City’s Light’ would win this race!"
Donnie said to Paul Warburg with a smile.
Paul Warburg responded helplessly, "The odds on that horse were 1:33, a complete long shot. Who would have thought it would win!"
Donnie burst out laughing. "That’s because people only rely on so-called data to judge it, without knowing the horse’s actual training progress!"
Paul Warburg waved his hand dismissively. "Let’s not talk about the racehorses anymore. Block, we need to discuss ’The New York Times.’ Adolf Ochs can’t hold on any longer and told me that as long as he can retain his control over ’The New York Times,’ he is willing to apologize to you however you want!"
Donnie chuckled. "He wants to end it just like that? Do you know how much money I’ve spent on this issue recently? A full $8 million. If I had invested that $8 million in Florida, it would’ve turned into $16 million by now!"
Paul Warburg pondered and said, "Block, I understand your losses are greater in this matter. But if we continue like this, your losses will only keep increasing. Even if Adolf Ochs ultimately loses ’The New York Times,’ what do you gain in return? Why suffer such heavy losses over a moment of pride?"
Donnie waved his hand, showing no intention of letting Adolf Ochs off. "I won’t quit halfway on this. Even if I don’t gain anything on the surface, I want every journalist in America to know not to challenge the Venus Consortium’s authority. Otherwise, Adolf Ochs will be their fate. From this perspective, I’d say my actions will be quite rewarding."
Paul Warburg grew increasingly helpless. He had never thought Donnie would be this invested in the matter!
Yet, after a moment’s thought, an ominous idea crept into Paul Warburg’s mind.
"Block, you’re pursuing Adolf Ochs so relentlessly—are you planning to acquire ’The New York Times’?"
Currently, the ’Atlantic City Post’ is already one of the top newspapers in nationwide circulation. If Donnie also acquired ’The New York Times,’ it would make him the largest newspaper tycoon in the United States.
He could even control public opinion across the Northeastern United States!
If true, this would perfectly explain why Donnie was willing to suffer losses to go after Adolf Ochs!
Donnie laughed heartily. "That’s not a bad suggestion. Warburg, if you can convince Adolf Ochs to sell me his shares in ’The New York Times,’ I’ll drop this lawsuit!"
Paul Warburg froze. At that moment, he couldn’t discern Donnie’s true intentions.
"Block, is there really no room for negotiation in this matter?"
With no way to read Donnie, Paul Warburg could only continue trying to persuade him!
Donnie shook his head firmly. "There is no room for negotiation!"
Faced with Donnie’s unyielding determination, Paul Warburg could only concede helplessly.
.
"What?!" Adolf Ochs erupted in fury upon learning of Donnie’s demands from Paul Warburg. "This is impossible! Asking me to give up ’The New York Times’ is like asking Europe to give up Jerusalem!"
"Adolf!" Paul Warburg raised his voice in displeasure.
At this point, Adolf Ochs was already livid. "Warburg, I understand. Rest assured, I will never let Donnie get his way!"
With that, Adolf Ochs hung up on Paul Warburg.
Shortly after, Adolf Ochs convened a board meeting of ’The New York Times,’ delivering an impassioned speech asserting their position as the righteous side and refusing to compromise the paper’s integrity for temporary losses.
At the same time, Adolf Ochs subtly insinuated that he had repeatedly approached Donnie, but it was Donnie who adamantly refused to let ’The New York Times’ go!
"Gentlemen, ’The New York Times’ is facing its darkest hour. The dragon has come to our doorstep, spewing fire before our castle, demanding that we kneel and offer everything we hold dear.
But we are the proud ’The New York Times.’ We will never bow to any enemy. We will draw our swords, raise our lances, and bravely resist these dragons!"
Adolf Ochs’s voice was sonorous and powerful, but the stockholders seated below him did not share his sentiment.
