“Alright, since I have gotten your answer, I will contact other people.” Michael waved him away. “You may leave now. Pretend I’ve never told you anything.”
William frowned and looked at Michael. “Since I don’t agree with your request, who are you going to ask help from?”
“No way! Why should I tell you when you’re not willing to help me?”
Michael’s reaction rendered William helpless. “Michael, are you planning to use the five billion dollars after mortgaging all your shares from the law firm and the Davis family?”
As Michael did not respond, William knew that he had guessed right. “Can you tell me what you’re planning to do with five billion dollars?”
“I want to start a new company and pull myself away from the Davis family. I’m sick of being tied down to the family. I want to be like you and be controlled by no one. I want to do whatever I want.”
It wasn’t a bad thing for Michael to think this way. William thought for a moment and said, “If so, mortgage your law firm to me. I will give you five billion dollars, and you can do whatever you want. After you earn back the money, you can pay me back the money, and I’ll return your law firm to you. But I won’t touch any of your shares from the Davis family and the company.”
William was determined not to get involved with the Davis family. Michael knew that he had no hope of getting William to take control of the Davis family to upset Wayne. So he shook his head, “Forget it. Since you’re unwilling to take over the Davis family, I have nothing else to say to you. Let’s leave this at that.”
“Are you still going to bring this offer to someone else? The few families that you are considering are not easy to deal with. You are putting yourself in a dangerous situation by dealing with them. You will lose more than you gain!”
“I’m aware of that. I’ll think about this further and come to you if I need any money.”
fWilliam wanted to persuade him some more, but Michael’s secretary knocked on the door then. “Michael, the guests from the Gurney family are here.”
William’s expression changed when he heard that. “Michael, have you contacted the Gurney family when you were meeting with me?”
“No.” Michael shook his head. “The Gurney family came to see me because they have a lawsuit they want me to take on. It has nothing to do with this matter.”
“You’re not lying to me?”
“I’m not. I didn’t know you would refuse me. How could I contact the Gurney family beforehand?”
William was still worried. “Michael, don’t be blinded by hatred. Nothing good will come out of this for anyone. Think twice.”
William then bade farewell and left as Michael saw him out. When William passed by the reception room, he saw Francis with a butler.
Francis was also surprised to see William here. He was pretty unhappy with William because of Evelyn’s incident, but he could only conceal his unhappiness no matter what.
Francis then greeted William with a smile while William responded the same. Both of them acted as if nothing had happened between them.
After William left, Francis and Michael sat down at different ends of the table. Michael then instructed his secretary to bring in some tea. After Francis took a sip of the tea, he asked Michael as if unintentionally, “Your relationship with William hasn’t changed over the years. You’re still such good friends!”
“We’re alright!” Michael responded distantly.
Francis was not enraged by Michael’s attitude. “I’m curious. Who among you and Richard is more important to William?”
Michael frowned a little. “Why are you asking about this? You don’t seem like someone who likes to gossip.”
“I don’t like gossip. I’m only a little curious. After all, the Davis family and the Clark family don’t seem to get along recently. I’m just wondering who William will choose to help when you and Richard go at each other’s throats?”
It was normal for Francis to know about this since the Davis family and the Clark family had been at each other’s throats straight up. But what was his intention to ask Michael about it straight up?
Michael knew that people like Francis would not ask upfront so to gossip. He must have some other purpose. Michael smiled lightly. “I think he wouldn’t help either one of us.”
“Is that what you think? I have a different opinion from yours. I think when he needs to choose between you and Richard to help, William will surely choose to help Richard.”
“Is that so? Why do you think so?”
“Based on my many years of experience,” Francis said with a smile. “According to my observation, Richard and William’s companies are involved in many together, and their affairs are intertwined. You can say that they have grown alongside each other. But William doesn’t have many partnerships with you, and the Davis family isn’t too friendly with William. Now that there is no need for William to choose, he will certainly not help anyone. But if the time comes that he must choose one among you, he will surely choose Richard. Any businessman would make that same choice!”
Michael nodded and frowned. “Don’t you think you are trying to drive a wedge between us?”
“I’m not trying to sow discord among you. I’m only stating the facts. I’m sure you are a smart and opinionated person, and you will surely deal with anything that comes your way. I’m only an outsider who happened to give you some advice for your best interest.”
“Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Gurney. But I have been friends with William for so many years. I don’t need other people’s advice.” Michael rebuked him indifferently.
Francis was not angry. “In the business world, even father and son or husband and wife can turn against each other. Not to mention you are only friends. In this world, benefits are the most important. Everything else amounts to nothing. This may sound harsh to you, but I’m saying this from the bottom of my heart. Michael, I’m sure you don’t want to see Richard and William teaming up against you. When that day comes, you will have no ability to fight back.”
This old croak was trying to drive a wedge between them. Michael was very surprised that Francis would speak so bluntly. It seemed that Francis had discord with William.
So that should be why Francis was saying all these things. Things were becoming interesting. Didn’t William’s company have partnerships with Francis? Why would this old croak stab William in the back?
Wasn’t he afraid that Michael would tell William? Or was he already prepared to become enemies with William?
Many thoughts flashed through Michael’s mind before he also smiled. “If what you said is true, how do you think I should deal with it?”
“Ally with someone to prevent trouble from happening!”
“Ally with someone? With who? You?”
Francis started laughing and said, “There are many people whom you can contact. There’s the Anthony family, the Laban family, the Cooper family… Of course, you could count me in as well! If you’re willing to, we can meet up some other time to discuss this in detail.”
There was a glimmer in Michael’s eyes, and he didn’t reject nor agree to it. When Francis saw that Michael didn’t refuse him firmly, he knew that Michael was listening to him.
Under such circumstances, it was impossible for Michael to make a decision immediately. This matter needed a lot more time. So Francis immediately changed the topic. “Michael, let’s not talk about you anymore. Let’s talk about me instead. How do you think I should deal with this lawsuit?”