America 1919

Time moved on to December, and Donnie finally completed all roadshows for ABC's listing. Now he had returned to New York, ready to start the final preparations for ABC's IPO.

But Donnie's mood was far from calm, as he couldn't stop thinking about what Walker had said to him.

"Have you found those people?"

When Walker arrived at the hotel, Donnie asked him straight away.

While in Atlantic City, Donnie had told Walker that, once he returned to New York, he should immediately look for the people who were discussing the matter, hoping to find more clues from what they had to say.

"No!"

Sitting on the sofa with a puzzled look on his face, Walker said, "This is really strange, it's as if all those people who were talking about it that night suddenly had other things to attend to, they've all left New York!"

Donnie sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, his right hand gently tapping on the sofa's surface.

"This matter is indeed strange; looking back, it's like those people were deliberately letting you in on those affairs!"

Walker nodded and said, "I've been thinking the same, but why would they do that?"

After telling Walker Helen's analysis, Donnie said, "They are now playing an overt strategy, making us guess whether those people really know about the affair. Regardless of whether they knew previously, just the doubts in our minds are enough!"
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"If that's the case, our opponents are too vile!" Walker exclaimed angrily.

Donnie said, "Business is like a battlefield, talking about this is useless now. The main issue is resolving this matter."

Walker asked, "What do you plan to do?"

Donnie replied, "I have invited Owen Young to New York. I think once he arrives, we'll be able to find out something!"

"Owen Young?" Walker paused, then said, "I thought you would go to William Mellon first."

Among the partners involved in ABC's listing, it was William Mellon who had the best relationship with Donnie.

Donnie waved his hand and said, "General Electric holds the most shares in ABC after myself. If ABC's IPO plan is affected, General Electric would be the second biggest loser. At a time like this, I prefer to believe they would provide me with information for their own benefit!"

.

The moment Owen Young arrived in New York, Donnie went to see him.

"Owen, I've recently received some information..."

After meeting Owen Young, Donnie got straight to the point, relaying the information he had gotten from Walker. "Now I need to know whether General Electric has received any information about this!"

After speaking, Donnie looked intently at Owen Young, hoping to glean something from his expression.

Donnie noticed Owen Young's gaze shift evasively, not daring to meet his own.

"So, you already know?"

Donnie asked for confirmation.

After thinking a moment, Owen Young said, "Donnie, the prospect of ABC's development is certainly bright, so a momentary stock price doesn't mean much!"

Donnie leaned back on the sofa, his urgency gone. At least now he could be sure that someone was indeed manipulating the situation.

"As a friend, then, I'd like to know if you can tell me who our... or should I say my adversaries are?"

From Owen Young's attitude, it was clear that the issue wasn't targeting ABC but Donnie himself.

Owen Young said somewhat helplessly, "Donnie, even though I am the president of General Electric, there is still a board chairman above me. Since things have come this far, you should stop asking, but I can assure you, it's only temporary. ABC just has a slight problem, that's all!"

Donnie tapped lightly on the sofa surface, then asked, "Can you at least tell me what the other party wants to do?"

Owen Young, after coughing tactically, said, "They only want to suppress ABC's stock price a bit when it gets listed, but we all believe in your capability and we trust that ABC's stock price will surely rise afterwards!"

"We!" Donnie leaned forward slightly and then suddenly smiled. "So you mean to tell me that others know as well?"

Owen Young did not answer Donnie's question, but the implication was quite clear.

"One last question!" Donnie didn't press Owen Young but continued, "When did you all find out about this, was it before the opening of the Surf Hotel or after?"

Owen Young promptly replied, "After it opened. Actually, I too only found out about this matter just before coming to New York!"

Donnie nodded, and although he still didn't know who his adversary was, he had confirmed one thing: the other side was indeed using the issue to cause discord between him and his partners in ABC.

The adversary had hidden their identity well, but their actions were an unavoidable overt scheme in Donnie's eyes.

People like Owen Young definitely wanted more benefits; there was no doubt about that.

Because even if ABC was listed now, Donnie still held absolute say in the company. In contrast, even though others had a majority in the board meetings, they still couldn't effectively balance the management and operation of ABC against him.

Such a situation was extremely rare for a publicly listed company.

In the current U.S. business environment, the top structure of a normal public company should be one where the management and the board of directors restrain and balance each other.