America 1919

"Donnie, I can assure you that our partnership will be closer than ever," there won't be a repeat of last time!

Ultimately, Andrew Mellon still had to reach out to Donnie again, there was no choice. Even though the refining market seemed average at best, at the end of the day, everyone still had to sell. But if Donnie's Pandora Oil Company, with this cooperation with Pan American Petroleum, gained control of the complete oil industry chain, Andrew's influence over Donnie would diminish!

Holding the phone, Donnie shook his head and said, "Dear friend, there is no room for negotiation anymore, I have made my decision. Now, the only thing you can do is to inject capital for the company, bring out the funds for Gulf Oil's quota shares in Pandora Oil, and let Pandora Oil and Pan American Petroleum co-found Hephaestus Refining Company, otherwise Gulf Oil's shares in Pandora Oil will be diluted!"

Andrew Mellon sat in his study, his expression somewhat defeated and helpless, he said, "Do I even have a choice?"

Donnie chuckled and replied, "It seems there is none!"

After hanging up the phone, Andrew Mellon faced a middle-aged man in his forties sitting across from him. This man, named William Mellon, wasn't Andrew Mellon's son but his nephew.

The current helmsman of Gulf Oil was William Mellon. In some ways, William Mellon was even responsible for the creation of the company. Except that, the initial capital and multiple subsequent expansions were possible because of Andrew Mellon's support.

Andrew Mellon, naturally, had his own son, Paul Mellon. However, Paul had shown a disinterest in business from a young age, and not even Andrew's numerous attempts to educate him changed Paul's mind.

In the end, Andrew Mellon gave up on the idea of having his son take over the Mellon Consortium.

When Andrew Mellon passed away, it was William Mellon who took over the reins of the vast Mellon Consortium. Interestingly, from William Mellon onward, no one in the Mellon family wanted to inherit the massive assets of the family empire; they only wanted to be joyful, wealthy layabouts... In a way, it could be said they knew how to live a good life!

After all, their ancestors' fortune was enough to support several generations of a top-tier, extravagant lifestyle!

So, by 1984, the Mellon family went on to sell the operational rights of the family's key oil company, Gulf Oil, to Chevron Corporation for $13.3 billion, while still holding a portion of the shares.

"Uncle, what did Donnie say?"

William Mellon looked at Andrew Mellon with some urgency.

Andrew Mellon helplessly conveyed Donnie's decision over the phone to William Mellon.

After hearing the news, William Mellon expressed his regret, "This is my fault. If it wasn't for my suggestion back then, uncle, you wouldn't have asked for more shares in Pandora Oil Company, and Donnie wouldn't be so wary of us now!"

Andrew Mellon waved his hand and said, "It's not entirely your fault. If I didn't share the same idea, even if you had suggested it, I would not have agreed with your proposal!"

William Mellon asked, "So what do we do now? Should we take action to make Donnie understand?"

Though Donnie now seemed to have defeated the four major oil companies and his reputation was on the rise, he was still too weak in the eyes of the Mellon family. If they truly wanted to take action, they could still deal with Donnie!

Andrew Mellon waved his hand and asked William, "Do you know how old I am this year?"

William Mellon replied, "You're 66! But uncle, you are still young at heart."

Andrew Mellon chuckled and said, "Humans must adhere to the natural order of things, and I'm not getting any younger. The future of the United States belongs to the young, like you. In the past several decades, I have never seen any young person rise as swiftly as Donnie has.

His foundation may still be a little weak, but undeniably, his business empire is beginning to take shape. I believe that Donnie will surely become a significant figure in America.

The key to a family's lasting prosperity isn't how many enemies it has, but how many friends it has.

If it were a few days ago, I might still be inclined to follow your suggestion because at that time I believed Donnie's success was unsustainable, borne out of rapid growth.

But after witnessing the attacks by the four major oil companies, Donnie's counterattacks, and his subsequent plans, I saw the capabilities that a true businessman should possess.

Don't meddle in his affairs anymore. Just remember to hold onto the shares of Pandora Oil. Perhaps in a decade or so, Pandora Oil will become an entity more powerful than Gulf Oil!"

William Mellon was surprised at his uncle's high regard for Donnie.

"Can he really develop as you've described?"

Andrew Mellon smiled and said, "Wait and see, perhaps Donnie will have grown to the extent I described before I close my eyes for the last time!" Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire

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The news of Pandora Oil Company and Pan American Petroleum Company co-founding Hephaestus Refinery was reported by the "Atlantic City Post" three days after Donnie's negotiation with Eduardo Doheny!