Like most energy companies, Siberian Coal Group's headquarters was also located in Moscow.
On a street slightly southwest of the city center stood an unremarkable little red building.
It was only seven stories tall, built of red brick and surrounded by an iron fence, remarkably low-key.
But beside the main gate hung a bronze plaque bearing the words: Siberian Coal.
A row of identical BMW 7 Series cars was parked in the open space in the courtyard. They were presumably company vehicles provided by the group for its senior executives.
That small detail alone showed that the company was quite wealthy.
On the top floor of the red building—the seventh floor—in an enormous office.
Melnichenko frowned deeply as he looked at the gray-haired old man before him.
"Mr. Konstantin, let me emphasize this once again: Siberian Coal is not for sale!
It is not for sale now, and it will never be for sale!
And this meeting was arranged out of respect for you, but I do not wish to hear you say anything further that would damage the goodwill between us."
Clearly, this gray-haired old man was Konstantin.
Only yesterday, he had asked his assistant to contact Melnichenko's side and say that he was in Moscow and wished to pay Melnichenko a visit. He had not mentioned an acquisition at all during the call.
Today, Melnichenko had originally welcomed him with a smile.
But the moment they sat down, Konstantin bluntly stated that he wanted to acquire Siberian Coal Group, leaving Melnichenko stunned for quite some time.
Still, he could not simply tear off all pretenses. He could only decline politely, saying that he was not short of money, that he had only recently completed the consolidation of the domestic coal industry, and that he was planning to accomplish