Art pieces today are no longer up for grabs; not only have prices risen by more than ten percent, but excellent works are also hard to find.
William had purchased so many pieces of art; he couldn't just let them sit in a bank gathering dust.
Imagining the frenzy as people flocked to the auction, William couldn't help but feel thrilled. To him, the Japanese and Hong Kong crowd represented a specific time when they were rich and somewhat naive. If he didn't find a way to take advantage of them, that would be foolish.
When the smaller players crashed, the big buyers would begin stockpiling globally. William found Hawaii utterly delightful; if it were properly developed, it would be a golden opportunity everywhere.
First, a safe warehouse, and then a place for the auction.
After a brief lull, Lanai Island was bustling with construction again, astonishing many wealthy visitors there for golf.
This time, however, the construction clearly had nothing to do with golf courses. It was simple; the golf courses and resorts were in the eastern part of the island, while a massive construction site was in the southwest corner.
The current state of Lanai Island shocked many, but no one anticipated this guy seemed to have further plans.
These days in America, the construction industry was struggling. When these folks looked around, they couldn't believe this little island had potential. Given the current situation, real estate development there might not be out of the question.
Unfortunately, they had little chance at such a big pie.
Damn private islands.
...
Disney released its semi-annual report; other data met market expectations, but why was the theme park project so profitable?
Damn, how much do they love that mouse?
Morgan Stanley was frustrated. If you'd only given us a heads up earlier, would we have been caught off guard?
A heads up?
What if the Justice Department made Mickey Mouse get a divorce?
Okay, that kind of mockery had completely burnt bridges.
The Justice Department realized they had initially made a huge misjudgment. William White's legal team was just stalling for time.
...
"Made a decision?"
"Heh. What can I decide? There's no place for me in the company anymore." Steve Jobs was a bit downcast, seeming to have lost his spark.
"Hey, it's alright to leave. Since Wall Street is so powerful, let them mess things up themselves."
"Ugh, it's just that I feel a bit unwilling. These guys are going to ruin this company."
"In this world, it's always easier to destroy than to build. Wall Street will destroy Apple, and the Justice Department will ruin Legendary World. But who cares? I can always start again."
"True, I'll wait and see how they handle it."
"How else can they handle it? My advice? Cash out while you can. Whatever you want to do in the future, you need money first."
With nothing to do, Jobs visited William White for a chat. At this point, Apple held no value for him anymore; even his former subordinates avoided him like the plague.
"I get it; they plan to have you retire?"
"Pff, damn it, how did you guess? I've known for a long time that capitalists are all the same."
"Hold on. I'm not that dumb. It's not a problem for me to leave publicity to you."
"Cough, cough, are you really going to let a tech guy handle promotion? I can't believe you'd even suggest that."
Though William White said it casually, the idea still fit Jobs well. After all, it would be quite a waste to just abandon such an unconventional figure.
"So, Steve, what's your plan now?"
"Lucas has an animation company, and I'm thinking of trying my hand at it."
"Ha! You're thinking of getting into graphics processing." Jobs felt a bit sulky; he had said it offhandedly, and this guy immediately understood him.
"Ugh, no wonder they call you a genius."
"Nonsense, it's so obvious. Was it hard to guess? Don't forget I've dabbled in both areas."
"True, with your knowledge, it's definitely analyzable."
William White realized Jobs's intentions. Looking for comfort was one reason; he also wanted to find a foothold in Hollywood.
Steve Jobs knew that once he left Apple, he wouldn't be able to get back into the IT industry anytime soon. Diving into graphics processing would be a side endeavor, which usually had no problem.
As for William White? He was confident that this guy would lend a hand. Unlike others at Apple, he and William had a solid relationship. The previous friction was merely a matter of interests.
Everything was just as he imagined; that guy was as infuriating as ever. However, he didn't refuse Jobs's request and even hinted at a willingness to invest.
After seeing the bemused Steve Jobs off, William White couldn't help but feel that after this setback, the once-arrogant Jobs might just explode. This period was merely him gathering strength.
William White didn't possess that kind of relentless spirit. If it weren't for his advantages, would he truly be a match for Jobs? This period might just be the time for Jobs to continuously self-sabotage.
"Hey Steve, I'm rooting for you. Don't worry, if you come back to Apple, I'll definitely invest heavily."
As for Jobs? He planned to fly straight to Seattle. That jerk Bill Gates dared to steal his graphical interface.
Ahem, fine, he himself was also a thief.
Yet that guy was even more of a scoundrel than William White, letting him handle the office software while he went and tackled the operating system.
At this point, Jobs actually began to understand what William White had said earlier - it was definitely the best choice. Alone, he knew they wouldn't stand a chance against IBM. If he could partner up with Commodore, it seemed they might have had a fighting chance.
Jobs was infuriated; that damn Justice Department should be handling the Big Blue instead of messing with Legendary World. They were just selling video games, completely a different ballgame from IBM.
Many people shared this sentiment, thinking that the conflict between the Justice Department and William White resembled two stubborn children arguing.
At least William White was like that. Journalists who interviewed him were used to it. This guy was a well-known writer; no matter the question, he could somehow drag the Justice Department into it.
...
Markkula, too, was in a bind. He had completely severed ties with Steve Jobs. Now that Apple was in a precarious situation.
Their supposed pricing advantage was insignificant next to IBM-compatible machines. This thing was formidable; without a way to rein it in, they would soon fall out of the lead.
As for stock prices?
Facing a halved asset, Markkula was at a loss for words. If he had known it would come to this, he shouldn't have indulged him.
In reality, the IT industry in '85 belonged entirely to Compaq. The Big Blue was only shining on the surface; they didn't enjoy any real benefits.
...
William White was quite happy. Not only was office software doing well, but that damn Monopoly game was also selling great. Everyone was working hard to turn video game consoles into computers, while this guy decided to go against the grain.
Now everyone knew that software was lucrative. Whether it was office software or computer games, both were money-makers.
While making money was easy, losing everything was equally simple. Just a year ago, Apple had been swaggering; now, it quickly spiraled downwards. How long could Compaq maintain this meteoric rise?
The one behind all this should be the Big Blue, right?
Compaq might be riding high now, but what if IBM decided to stop playing with them?
Or would they prop up another company?
It looked too similar.
Onlookers noticed how much IBM and Legendary World mirrored each other. They controlled the industry standards, forcing other companies to play by their rules. If either decided to take offense, every company in that supply chain would be in big trouble.
*****
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