America 1982-Chapter 590 - 128: Someone Should Help Us Save Face_2
"I didn’t know Odelia would discretely pop the balloon, which put me in a passive position. According to my plan, it would probably take another year or two before getting engaged, married, and then starting a family life with children." When Tommy mentioned Odelia’s pregnancy, he rubbed his forehead with his hand, "Let’s change the subject. Dealing with Odelia is even harder than dealing with Murdoch. She actually conspired with Ashley, deliberately choosing a time to simultaneously squeeze me and Tony. Now, both women are successfully carrying the Hawk Family’s babies. Can you imagine the reaction my old man had when he found out about this surprise? Even the stray dogs on Warwick Street were stopped to be notified of this good news."
Odelia’s pregnancy was something of a minor surprise. She and Tony’s wife, Ashley, must have gone crazy—Ashley is pregnant with Tony’s child, and Odelia is pregnant with her own. By this time next year, the Hawk Family is set to welcome new members, but Tommy wasn’t ready to propose to Odelia. He wasn’t afraid of marriage; he just didn’t have the time to focus on it right now. For the next two years, he had to dedicate himself entirely to managing another affair.
Apart from him, everyone in the Hawk Family—Tony, the old man, and Bessie—was overjoyed. It was time for the Hawk Family to welcome new life, which gave him a bit of a headache.
"I saw in the information you brought that Citibank, Murdoch’s Wall Street backer, has started putting pressure on us creditors, hoping the loans due can be extended," Tommy brought up a new topic in conversation with Stephen.
Stephen nodded, "Citibank is hoping the Federal Reserve would step in and pressure to allow an extension of the News Corporation’s loans. However, Benjamin’s connections on Wall Street played a role, and perhaps Ed Koch’s downfall was too intimidating; anyway, the committee ignored Citibank’s proposal and refused to intervene. But the bank didn’t come away empty-handed. The committee produced an assessment report, which you’ve seen. If News Corporation goes bankrupt, it could have serious consequences, accelerating the global economic downturn and severely impacting the American financial system. The report advises creditors to continue believing in and supporting News Corporation, as it would be beneficial for both sides. However, currently, no one seems inclined to heed the committee’s advice. Citibank is going from creditor to creditor, hoping to reach a consensus, but we’ve already expressed our refusal before it was our turn."
"So Murdoch must be aware that the main force opposing the extension is KeyBank from California?" Tommy looked at Stephen.
Dorothy, the Hawk Family’s chief steward currently in charge of all daily affairs, personally brought over a batch of freshly baked cookies. Stephen took one, put it in his mouth, and slowly chewed, "Buddy, it’s not just KeyBank. Murdoch is just shy of plastering the pictures of His Excellency Schlaefer, you, me, and Jim in his London office. You’ve got me spouting all those crazy statements to the public about buying Fox, taking over his American assets, as if afraid they wouldn’t know what we’re up to." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚
"Refusing to extend the maturing bonds, he couldn’t possibly go bankrupt. His television network in England is at a critical juncture. With the American public’s current revulsion towards Fox for giving away movies for free and offending female actors, selling Fox is his best choice. He spent six hundred million acquiring Fox Film Corporation and twenty-five billion building Fox Television Network. Consultancy firms have valued Fox Television Network and the film company at about forty-three billion. As for his American newspaper business, although they seem cheap at only about ten billion, just the intangible value of The New York Post, The Washington Post, and Boston Herald is worth more than forty-three billion—not to mention other regional newspapers and magazines. Those are his bastions for the next time he lands in America. Compared to the Fox media assets, the newspaper business is his real quality asset. By selling Fox, he’d be able to pay off his maturing debts and still have twelve billion in hand, ensuring he can continue pushing Sky Television Network forward without worrying about other debts coming due for at least half a year. It’s definitely going to be Fox, but he’ll absolutely refuse to sell to us. According to Murdoch’s personality, even making twelve billion would be a crushing defeat. As the troublemakers who ruined his plans, he’d want to give us a lesson to remember, just like he did with those unlucky British politicians who crossed him," Tommy said, taking a biscuit and putting it in his mouth.
"Wolfe Tuck told me that the four financial journalists whom I had fired and were currently investigating KeyBank—but were forcibly stopped by him on the way—have now made connections with Murdoch’s newspaper. I’m one hundred percent positive that those papers will sooner or later break a story about KeyBank giving high-interest loans to black entrepreneurs for starting businesses and selling drugs, and looting high-value assets under the guise of charity in Africa and Europe. Once exposed and widely publicized, the President who previously didn’t voice support for him will surely indicate the Federal Law Enforcement to investigate under the banner of justice. Normally, in their view, we’d have no other choice but to commit suicide. If we don’t, someone else will help us out gracefully. I guess Murdoch must have realized this, so he must be wishing to see our obituaries in his papers," Tommy mused aloud.
"So that’s why you had Ted prepare for this for a long time." Stephen swallowed the cookie and licked his lips as he spoke.
