American Gossip King

Chapter 73 You Are the Destined Winner

In a restaurant across from the Los Angeles Times headquarters, Ian and Scarlett sat together, inviting Israel to dinner.

Ever since Ian brought Scarlett to discuss a collaboration with Weinstein, Scarlett has loved the atmosphere.

She admired Ian's eloquent speech; it was a leap in intelligence, an enhancement of cognition, and a brilliant display of masculine charm.

And when this man also possesses extraordinary strength and courage... he's simply perfect!

In the brightly lit upscale restaurant, melodious piano music filled the air.

Waiters in tuxedos respectfully arrange the exquisite dishes... French restaurants, to say the least, have truly beautiful plating!

Israel, with his full head of white hair, sat in front of Ian, his gaze towards Ian quite complex.

This is the kid who suddenly rose to prominence and even the Los Angeles Times couldn't handle him.

He beat this veteran newspaper employee so badly that he had to admit defeat!

So-called tyrants are nothing in front of Ian Karl!

His voice was low and somber: "What is it?"

Ian chuckled: "I was going to chat with you about anything to get to know each other better, but it seems you don't like that."

Israel was blunt: "Talking to you is a dangerous thing."

Ian smiled.

He turned to Scarlett and said, "It's easy for a company executive to have dinner with a big boss from the same industry, which can easily cause controversy and potentially lead to unforeseen consequences. If it's a publicly listed company, it could even trigger stock price fluctuations. So you need to be careful in the future; the more famous you are, the less you should casually eat with others."

Scarlett raised an eyebrow: "I understand, but I'm not a big shot yet."

"It will!" Ian said with certainty.

He turned to Israel: "Don't worry, I won't arrange for reporters to take pictures outside and fabricate a relationship between us."

Israel sneered, "Just tell me what it is."

Ian got straight to the point: "I want to buy the Los Angeles Times."

Israel was dumbfounded.

He stared blankly at Ian: "Are you kidding me?"

Ian Carl actually wants to acquire the Los Angeles Times?

What was he thinking?

They've gotten cocky!

It drifted into outer space!

But Ian Carl's expression was very serious.

He looked at the old man: "You can refuse me, but do you know what will happen next? The Times you run will continue to decline under my crackdown, and sales will continue to drop! Your revenue will shrink, and you, as the editor-in-chief, will be held responsible! The end result will be that you will be ousted from this position by the Acton family!"

Israel's face was very grim.

He knew Ian was right.

If he continues to lose like this, he's destined to be fired.

In the candlelight of dinner, Ian's expression shone with a devilish brilliance.

He looked at Israel and said softly, "Only I can understand you. I know you lost to me not because you were incompetent, but because you met a powerful opponent. But I still need excellent talent... I'm the boss of a company, I have to consider strategic operations, and I'm also a journalist, I have to consider a lot of big news. I'm too busy, even spending time with my girlfriend has to be like this. This isn't a romantic occasion, but I have to do this to save time."

Scarlett blushed with happiness.

He officially acknowledged that I was his girlfriend!

Ian continued, "Lloyd is getting old, and he lacks experience in managing a large newspaper. The pace of development of the newspaper is too fast, and we can't keep up with many things. There are problems with internal management. They haven't shown up yet, but there are signs. I have to solve them as soon as possible, but don't say I don't have time. Even if I did, it would be impossible for me to do it."

Israel understood: "You want to poach me?"

Ian laughed, "If you help me acquire the Times, I guarantee you'll remain the Times' editor-in-chief, and you can even get involved in the management of the Leading News. I need talent like you!"

"No one will trust an editor-in-chief who betrays his boss."

Ian immediately replied, "No one asked you to betray me. I don't need you to betray any inside information."

Israel stared at him in astonishment: "Then what do you want me to do?"

Ian smiled slightly: "I'm going to make a bet with the Acton family. In 2001, I will at least once make the Los Angeles Herald's sales surpass those of the Los Angeles Times. If I do, the Acton family must sell me their shares at 80% of the market price. If I don't, I will sell the Herald to the Los Angeles Times for $150 million. Oh, by the way, the Los Angeles Herald's expected profit this year is $60 million. If we use a PE ratio of 10, the Los Angeles Herald should be worth $600 million! The price I'm offering is already very good."

Israel looked at Ian in surprise.

How is that possible?

Although the Los Angeles Herald's sales are soaring, their foundation is mainly built through a betting annual publication, with daily sales currently around 250,000 copies.

The Los Angeles Times has a daily circulation of 150 million copies!

A six-fold difference!

Ian actually said that the Los Angeles Herald's sales would surpass the Times at least once this year?

This is impossible!

This is not a news report about Israel underestimating Ian.

His news stories are worth so much, but he can't sell that many newspapers.

For a long time, the vast majority of Ian's news stories have been sensationalized through CBS and WND, a level of impact that the Los Angeles Herald has never achieved.

They were betting on the sales of the Los Angeles Herald!

So these are two different things!

Even if 300 million people across America read your news, if your newspaper doesn't sell 1.5 million copies, you still lose!

The Los Angeles Times is not a publicly traded company and is currently valued at around $800 million. The Acton family owns 70% of the shares, and the 80% price is equivalent to a discount of $120 million. However, if Ian's Herald can achieve an annual profit of $60 million, $150 million is indeed a super bargain price. Not to mention that the bet is inherently biased towards the Times—from the odds perspective, the Acton family has gotten a huge advantage.

The latest novel is first published here!

As for Ian Carl's bet with his clients, he promised that he would personally bear all the consequences.

This bet is very favorable to the Los Angeles Times!

Israel stared blankly at Ian Carl, and even Scarlett was dumbfounded.

Israel muttered, "Do you know what you're saying?"

Ian chuckled softly, "Of course. But I know that even if I offer such generous terms, the Acton family won't agree easily."

The Acton family is not a super-family; their biggest core business is the Times.

Selling the Times is like selling your own kidney... You can sell your kidney, but you can't sell the Times!

Unless you trade it for an Apple product!

Apple Inc.!

Ian said, "So I need your help, Mr. Israel. I need you to give them confidence in winning the bet!"

Israel gasped.

Ian said, "You helped me convince them to make a bet with me. If I win, you'll be my hero, and I'll still keep you as editor-in-chief. If I lose, you'll be a hero to the Los Angeles Times, and Deer Chandler will still keep you as editor-in-chief. So in this bet, I might lose, the Acton family might lose, but you, Mr. Israel… you're the destined winner!"

Simple words, yet they conveyed a powerful sense of confidence!

This is much more effective than hypnosis!

Ian didn't use hypnosis; what he wanted was genuine persuasion... it was about enhancing one's own abilities!

Scarlett Jansen stared blankly at Ian.

Is this how business can be negotiated?

No matter how she thought about it, she couldn't find a reason for Israel to refuse.

Sure enough, Israel looked at him for a long time before giving a wry smile: "You are the most confident person I have ever met. If you can do that, then you are also a genius businessman."

Ian smiled: "It's just that I have a good teacher."

………………

As he walked out of the hotel, Israel was deep in thought.

He was wondering how he could fulfill Ian Carl's instructions.

Deer Chandler is a cautious man, and it's unlikely that he will be persuaded. This matter will probably fall to the Acton family.

Have it.

If Ian Carl were to say he would refuse the bet, he would take the opportunity to tell everyone: The Los Angeles Times is afraid of the Los Angeles Herald!

This would lead all of the Los Angeles Times' customers to believe that the Times' sales would inevitably lose to the Herald, which would steal a large number of the Times' core users and GG customers!

This is the most suitable excuse to force the Acton family to agree by threatening a potentially devastating blow in the future.

To get a non-professional gambler to risk their life on high-stakes gambling, you need more than just the lure of profit; you also need pressure!

If the Acton family refuses the bet, the consequence will be that everyone thinks the Times lacks confidence, which means they don't have a good impression of their newspaper business—and a lack of customer confidence is a big problem!

Most importantly, although Deer Chandler is the chairman, as the son-in-law of the Acton family, he actually only owns 7% of the shares.

So if the Acton family agrees, Deer Chandler has no choice.

Thinking of this, Israel smiled.

(End of this chapter)