The car stopped in front of an old-fashioned café not far from the estate. Duke got out, signaling the bodyguards and driver to stay outside. He walked in alone.
Wellington in winter was a bit cold. Pushing open the double wooden doors, the warm air mixed with the aroma of coffee greeted him. Duke glanced slowly around the café he had visited several tis before. Perhaps because it was a weekday, there weren’t many people inside. Sitting at a table on his right, away from the counter, was a tall blonde woman.
She was slowly stirring the coffee in front of her with a spoon. Her falling golden hair partially covered her face, making her features unclear.
She seed to be lost in thought, her brow faintly furrowed beneath her blonde hair, her eyes staring blankly ahead.
"A latte," Duke said to the waiter beside him as he started walking toward the blonde woman, his eyes fixed on her.
Perhaps sensing it, the blonde woman stopped stirring, lifted a hand to tuck back her golden hair, and her gaze imdiately caught sight of Duke. As his footsteps drew closer, her eyes slowly withdrew.
Reaching the table, Duke took off his coat and sat down opposite the blonde woman.
They looked at each other, neither speaking first. It wasn’t until the waiter brought the coffee that Duke said "Thank you."
He added sugar and milk to his coffee, his gaze returning to the woman across from him.
"Hello, Ivanka."
Looking at Ivanka Trump’s familiar face, Duke said slowly, "You’re as beautiful as ever."
The difference was that Ivanka’s temperant was steadier now, her face bearing the sharpness of a businesswoman.
"You haven’t changed much either," Ivanka smiled lightly. "Where’s Scarlett Johansson? Why don’t I see her?"
"She had so work co up suddenly and stayed in North Arica."
Raising his cup, Duke took a gentle sip, praising, "The coffee here is still as rich as before."
Ivanka didn’t even glance at her now-cold coffee. Folding her hands and slowly placing them on the table, she spoke like an old friend. "After filming The Lord of the Rings, you liked to co here for coffee."
Awakened by the mory, Duke’s lips curved into a slight smile. "When we worked late shooting, you’d co here to buy a cup."
"That was just part of an assistant’s job," Ivanka waved her hand and called the waiter over. "I’d like a latte as well."
After the waiter took away the cold coffee, she continued, "Ti has flown by so many years."
Duke put down his cup. "You’ve gone from an assistant to one of Arica’s most famous businesswon."
Businesswoman? Ivanka Trump sighed quietly inside. She couldn’t control the fate of the company she had founded. Could she really call herself a businesswoman?
But she understood the man sitting opposite a person as tough as stone, ruthless toward anyone he considered an enemy.
"So, where are you headed next?" Ivanka asked about his vacation plans.
Duke naturally understood. "Australia. Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman invited to their farm for hunting."
"You’ve been working with him?" Ivanka asked casually.
"The fourth Mission: Impossible is about to start," Duke said, resting both arms on the table. "Tom still has a very strong pull."
In fact, after the Academy made it clear early on that he wouldn’t get acting awards, Tom Cruise had grown closer to Duke in business. Plus, with no divorces or negative scandals like firing his agent his image and box office draw far surpassed what it had been.
He was not at the point of relying solely on Mission: Impossible anymore.
"Looks like you have a big expenditure coming up."
At this, Ivanka switched topics smoothly. "I heard you’ve also invested in Jas Caron’s new film and several other major projects?"
"Yes," Duke did not deny it. After a mont’s thought, he said, "Especially Caron’s project it might require $200 million in cash flow over the next two years. That’s not a small sum."
Ivanka smiled faintly and said naturally, "If you have difficulties, just ask. I believe I can still lend a little help."
Hearing this, Duke smiled slightly too. "With my fixed assets and credit, borrowing hundreds of millions from banks isn’t a problem."
Ivanka pressed her lips, about to say sothing when the waiter brought her coffee.
She didn’t add sugar or milk, nor did she drink it, just like before, slowly stirring it in front of her.
Duke knew they could never go back to the past. The huge capital interests between them could never make them close friends.
The earlier exchange was a test, and it was clear they both remained wary.
Putting down the coffee, Ivanka finally took a sip, tasting bitterness that spread all the way down and seed to penetrate every corner of her body. That bitterness was just like her situation inside Instant Share.
If it weren’t for the coming extrely difficult situation, with her pride and the almost irreparable rift between them, how could she have taken the initiative to et in New Zealand?
She knew exactly what kind of person Duke was, and also that she was not on his side. But after trying hard, there was still a chance for success.
She sighed softly, no longer beating around the bush. Clearly, no matter how much longer they circled, it wouldn’t help.
She raised her eyes to look at Duke and asked, "What exactly do you think about Instant Share?"
Duke understood she ant the deal with Google. He didn’t evade and said straightforwardly, "I’m just making choices that serve my interests."
Hearing this, Ivanka frowned slightly. Duke’s words had already made his current stance clear. This was no longer about past feelings — it was simply a business negotiation.
She gave up on those unrealistic hopes and said, "Ten percent above Google’s offer, and I want half of the shares in your hands!"
Duke held nearly 45% of the voting shares of Instant Share. As long as she could get half, Ivanka would achieve controlling interest. Even if Google joined in, she would hold the heaviest say within the company.
"That’s impossible." Duke slowly shook his head, "I’m optimistic about Google’s future."
That was one thing, but on the other hand, if he didn’t hold the largest shares of Instant Share, why would Google use their own shares to exchange? They weren’t just interested in investing; they wanted to make Instant Share a wholly owned subsidiary of Google eventually.
Transferring nearly half of the shares he held would definitely sink the negotiations basically agreed upon with Google.
"Ivy, you understand the value of that 20% stake," Duke added another fact, "You don’t have that kind of money."
"I can raise funds on Wall Street." Ivanka seed determined, "It’s not only Google that sees potential in Instant Share. Credit Suisse, Allianz Germany, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan Chase all have investnt intentions, and..."
She quickly stopped herself.
Duke finished her sentence, "And also Donald Trump’s Trump Foundation. Completing this acquisition could also enable the Trump Group to realize industrial transformation, right?"
Such a thing couldn’t be denied, nor was denial necessary. Ivanka Trump lightly nodded.
"All I can say is sorry." Duke picked up his cup and drank the coffee to the bottom, "After my vacation, this deal will be officially closed."
Ivanka’s hand holding the coffee cup suddenly tightened, "Duke, is there no possibility to terminate?"
After all, she knew what kind of person Duke was.
"What do you want?" Ivanka stared at him, "What would it take for you to give up this deal?"
Duke was serious, with no hint of joking, "It’s simple, sothing that exceeds the expected value this deal with Google brings ."
"And those things..." he shook his head lightly, "Ivy, neither you nor the Trump Group behind you can offer them."
Donald Trump’s net worth was at most tens of billions of dollars. Even counting what his Trump Foundation could raise, how much could it really be?
Google was offering far more than what they could afford.
After confirming Ivanka Trump’s intentions, Duke never planned to let their past relationship affect him.
This was just a business negotiation. Bringing too much emotion into business negotiations was undoubtedly a very foolish act.
To put it plainly, even if he disliked Donald Trump, as long as the Trump Group could put forward sothing that moved him, Duke wouldn’t mind transferring his shares to them.
But the premise was Duke had to know what they offered had a future, like Google’s.
If the Trump Group offered Microsoft, Apple, or General Electric shares, Duke would certainly be willing to transfer, but the problem was the Trump Group couldn’t provide that.
Seeing Duke’s firm attitude, Ivanka realized this eting probably wouldn’t yield any results.
Currently, the financial and real estate markets in North Arica were showing so unfavorable trends. As the Trump Group wanted to rise in the erging industry now, Instant Share was particularly important.
Ivanka didn’t want to give up on Instant Share. Before coming, her father repeatedly reminded her not to give up.
"Alright then, Ivy." Duke stood up, "If there’s a chance, you’re welco to visit Duke Manor."
Seeing Duke preparing to leave, Ivanka also stood up.
.....
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