The tree-lined avenues Commonwealth Avenue in Boston's Back Bay are exceptionally tranquil in the early autumn night.
A black Lincoln sedan slowly pulled up in front of a red-brick townhouse built in the late 19th century. The exterior walls were covered with neatly trimmed ivy, and the brass nameplate gleamed under the dim streetlights— St. Botolph Club.
Passing through a corridor adorned with New England paintings, the waiter stopped at the door of the cigar room at the far end of the third floor. Pushing open the heavy walnut door, the room was filled with the aroma of pine fireplace and the subtle scent of cigar tobacco.
Gregg Stone, Vice President of Basketball Business for Converse North America, had been waiting for some time. On the table were two cups of hot black tea and a briefing bound in a black leather folder.
"Have a seat, Gregg." Lin Qi unbuttoned his coat and pulled out a large leather armchair to sit down.
Gregg was clearly getting impatient. He pushed the folder forward and whispered, "Mr. Lin, Nike officially laid its cards on the table this morning. Phil Knight didn't even send the sports marketing director; instead, Nike's legal department sent a formal lawyer's letter to Rob Pelinka, citing the 'moral dereliction of duty' clause in the standard endorsement agreement, completely freezing the signing process."
"As expected." Lin Qi picked up his hot tea and took a sip. " Nike is a publicly traded company. It's only been a little over a year since the Enron scandal, and Wall Street institutional investors are now keeping a close eye on the internal controls and public relations of publicly traded companies. Nike relies on Walmart and Foot Locker to sell millions of pairs of athletic shoes every year during the back-to-school season across the US. They can't withstand a collective boycott from the National Parent Teacher Association."
"But this isn't just a Nike problem," Gregg said seriously. " Rob Pelinka tested Reebok and Adidas last week. Adi, having just signed a buyout agreement, completely ignored him. Reebok, on the other hand, offered a humiliating one-year non-guaranteed contract, even demanding a clause that would allow for immediate termination and compensation for brand losses should a lawsuit be filed. Now, all the sportswear brands in the US are treating Kobe like a dirty bomb that could explode at any moment."
"Others are afraid because they can only see the immediate situation." Lin Qi leaned back in his chair, his fingertips tapping lightly on the armrest. " Converse's board of directors doesn't need to report to those Wall Street analysts who've never even played basketball. We can afford short-term fluctuations in brand reputation."
Gregg hesitated for a moment, then picked up his teacup to moisten his throat before finally bringing his biggest concern to the table.
"Mr. Lin, the panic in the business community surrounding this case is not unfounded. There are inside sources within the legal field suggesting the situation is far more dangerous than it appears to the outside world."
Gregg, who has worked in sports marketing for many years and has extensive connections in legal circles across various states, explained in a low voice.
"The crime occurred in Eagle County, Colorado, a small ski resort town with a population of just over 40,000. The local district attorney, Mark Herbert, is only 34 years old, a young man full of energy and ambition. This is the biggest case of his career. To demonstrate impartiality to voters, Herbert will not make any exceptions for so-called 'star player privileges,' and he is now sticking to the felony charges and refusing to back down."
"And then there are the defense lawyers. Rob Pelinka hired two of Denver's most famous top criminal defense lawyers for Kobe, Harold Harden and Pamela McGee. Harden handled the sensational JonBenét Ramsey murder case, and McGee is known in Colorado's legal circles for her fierce and ruthless cross-examination."
At this point, Gregg shook his head. "Following the traditional approach of these top lawyers, they originally planned to use a media war and extremely aggressive evidence-gathering methods to pressure the plaintiff, attempting to break down their psychological defenses. But McGee has completely run into a brick wall this time."
Gregg paused, his tone unusually heavy. "The girl's father is a highly respected political and business figure in Colorado, owning shares in a resort hotel in Eagle County. The girl is only seventeen, with a clean background; she was just experiencing life at the front desk during her vacation. On the night of the incident, the hotel's security system quickly took over the scene and collected complete evidence. More fatally, Kobe initially panicked when questioned by the police, categorically denying any sexual contact, only changing his story to 'consent' after the police obtained biological evidence. Such contradictory testimony was almost a fatal weakness in the eyes of the jury."
Lin Qi listened quietly, his eyes deep.
In this timeline altered by the butterfly effect, Kobe lacked the defensive arguments regarding third-party DNA that he had in his previous life, and the plaintiff's family carried a strong political reputation and a strong sense of self-preservation.
" McGee's tricks might scare away plaintiffs lacking social capital in ordinary cases," Lin Qi slowly put down his teacup, his tone cold, "But in this case, it's a death sentence. The defense's actions of leaking the girl's identity to the media and condoning extreme fans sending harassing letters not only failed to deter them but also thoroughly enraged a respectable, high-society family."
"So we're going to bet everything we have at this point?" Gregg couldn't help but ask.
"It's precisely because others perceive this as a dead end that the valuation of this deal is at an all-time low."
Lin Qi lit a thin cigar, and bluish smoke slowly rose in the dimly lit private room.
" Mark Herbert's confidence stems from public attention. The plaintiff's family's anger arises from the defense's trampling on their family dignity," Lin Qi said confidently. "Politicians want political reputation, while prominent families want privacy and a peaceful future for their daughters. After those arrogant defense lawyers suffer heavy losses, they'll naturally understand that this case can't be resolved by simply beating the other side in court."
Lin Qi looked at Gregg, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority. "I will step in and try to help them temporarily quell the situation, give both sides a dignified way out, and facilitate a substantial suspension of the legal proceedings. As long as we remove the media spotlight and keep that family out of the public eye, the matter can be temporarily resolved."
Gregg let out a long sigh of relief, feeling much more at ease.
Achieving a procedural judicial suspension in this case not only meets the victim's family's demand to avoid further public backlash, but also perfectly aligns with Lin Qi's own interests.
As long as this lawsuit remains legally in the air, Kobe will forever have the Sword of Damocles hanging over his head. This sword will not only allow Converse to lock him up at a very low cost, but will also keep the Chicago Bulls ' management in a state of constant anxiety for many years to come.
As for the moment when the trial resumes and the gavel truly falls...
That will be the moment when this grand scheme comes to an end, Lin Qi would never reveal a single detail to anyone on this occasion.
"However, business investments always need to be prepared for extreme situations." Lin Qi changed the subject, his eyes revealing a cold scrutiny.
"Extreme situations?"
"What if the situation in Colorado completely spirals out of control? What if the local prosecutor, driven by votes, insists on pushing the case to a substantive trial, or even delivers the most extreme verdict?"
Lin Qi looked directly at Gregg: " Olympia Milan in Europe has already started spreading rumors that they want to sign Kobe. Kobe spent his childhood in Italy, he's fluent in Italy, and has a deep-seated sense of belonging to the Apennine Peninsula. When faced with the desperate situation of being behind bars, no one will stay here to die. His only way out is to leave North America and play in Europe."
Gregg's heart skipped a beat.
"In Europe, nobody cares about the verdict from across the ocean. If a top-class shooting guard in his prime were to join the EBA, the global broadcasting value and ticket revenue of the Europe Basketball League would skyrocket instantly. The Converse signing still stands, but we will use his influence to completely seize Nike's market share in Europe and globally."
Lin Qi stubbed out his cigar and stood up. "Do you understand? If things calm down, he can continue playing in the NBA, and Converse will have a superstar they're completely tied to. If things worsen, he can go to Europe, and we can use Kobe's influence to expand into other markets. Either way, we're in an unassailable position."
"How should the contract be drafted?" Gregg quickly composed himself and took out a pen.
"Don't offer Pelinka a standard five-year contract. Rob Pelinka is currently being looked down upon across the country, and a standard contract won't give Kobe a sense of security."
Lin Qi straightened his shirt cuffs and succinctly issued the order, "Give him a lifetime contract. A guaranteed base salary of ten million US dollars per year, without any ethical termination clauses related to this case. Establish his own signature shoe line, receive a percentage of global net profits, and enjoy profit sharing for life after retirement."
"In addition, we will explicitly include a clause in the contract's supplementary agreement that we will provide full assistance with their crisis management and offer the highest level of legal support in an attempt to help them quell this storm."
Lin Qi turned his head and looked out the window at the Boston skyline shrouded in night. "Send Rob Pelinka a brief of our intentions. Tell him that Converse is willing to offer him the best guarantee he can ever get in his life, but the specific terms must be negotiated by Kobe himself."
Gregg nodded vigorously. "I'll send it over tonight. If Rob Pelinka sees this frame, he'll definitely contact us tonight."
"Book the earliest flight to Chicago tomorrow morning."
Lin Qi picked up the coat from the hanger, his tone calm and decisive. "There are some things Rob Pelinka's lawyer won't understand. I need to go to the United Center myself and meet that young man in person."