"Dean, I know Netscape went public today, but I still want to discuss this deal with you,"
"What?" The noise in the room was too loud, and Dean had to step outside with the phone.
"Regardless of what price Netscape's stock closes at today, Microsoft is willing to pay a 50% premium to buy one-fifth of its market value.
The only requirement is that we need a seat on the board. What do you think?"
"Gates," Dean stood in the glass corridor, looking down at the trading floor below and suddenly laughed, "I didn't expect you to call me today."
"For Microsoft, business can be done at any time, just like we can enter any software market whenever we want."
Gates's voice sounded casual; he was always like this, always confident in his decisions.
"Unfortunately, Gates, Netscape is already public," Dean said in an ordinary tone, like an old friend speaking commonplace words.
"The other shareholders and Wall Street, let Microsoft handle it..."
