Goldman Sachs Compromises

Every one of Silicon Valley Online's businesses had been ideas supplied by Nakayama Takuya, and everyone at Silicon Valley Online obeyed him without question. That young Japanese managing director really was capable of doing something like flipping the table.

Silence tugged back and forth between the two men.

The air in the lounge seemed to grow thick and sticky.

George stared hard at Frank, trying to find a crack in that weary face.

Frank was expressionless. He even picked up the glass of soda water and took a sip, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, looking entirely like a barefoot man with nothing to fear from those wearing shoes.

"You people are extorting us." George squeezed out the words through gritted teeth.

"This is a business negotiation." Frank set down the glass. The bottom of it left a ring of water on the tabletop. "You have two choices. Either take this new offer and convince your boss and those fund managers, tell them Silicon Valley Online is worth this price and make them obediently pay up; or I walk out that door, turn left, and call the people at Morgan Stanley."

George stared at that ring of water for a long time. In the end, he irritably grabbed the documents on the table and downed that glass of expensive whiskey in one gulp.

"I can't guarantee it'll pass." He stood up, his earlier composure gone, and grabbed his coat. "But I'll make the call. Damn it, you Japanese, and you bastards working for the Japanese, are all lunatics."

"George, don't say that. Think about it. Silicon Valley Online is only the first internet company to go public. If we make more from our listing, then when other internet companies prepare to go public in the future, they'll definitely give