The previous day, Max received an email from Anna, informing him of the latest developments in his tasks.
She also asked whether he could reach her in her office the next day. She had just returned from her trip, her flight had landed that same day, and she had mailed him promptly.
He decided to take a leave from Cell Labs and visit her for the details.
His experiment with the T-virus was a long-term commitment; moreover, he was alone in this endeavor.
With a long sigh, he drove his car straight toward Sky Tower.
After parking his car, he rode the elevator to the investment firm floor. He noticed a void, a vacancy in many spaces, very different from his past visit.
Last time, he had met several employees of KTech giving him curious looks. This time, very few of them were around, and even some offices were entirely empty.
Brushing past the thought in his head, he made a beeline to Knight Investment Firm, greeting the employees; some tired, some simply nodding in return as he rushed toward Anna's office.
Knock!
He waited for a response, although he was sure the receptionist must've already alerted Anna of his visit.
"Come in!"
When he heard the voice, he stepped in. His eyes swept across the office, taking in the familiar interior.
Nothing much had changed however, Anna's desk now had significantly more files than during his previous visit.
He also noticed her tired, slumped shoulders and the dark circles under her eyes. Both of their eyes met.
Max was stunned. "What happened? If someone met you now, they'd assume I forced too much work on you."
His attempt to ease the atmosphere was met with a piercing glower from Anna. She narrowed her gaze.
"If anyone assumes as much, then they'd be correct to do so," she said sharply.
Her tone struck Max. He awkwardly laughed, scratching the back of his head. Slowly, he pulled the seat out when she gestured for him to sit, and he did so.
"So, how was your vacation?"
"Humph… Only you would confuse an official visit with a vacation," Anna retorted sharply, glaring at him. "I had to run around and call in all my connections for your tasks and even then, it was too much."
"After so long, you finally had work. I thought you'd be more than willing, but it seems your passion is gone…" Max trailed off, a slight teasing smile playing on his face.
Anna harrumphed with a snort and refused to respond. After a pause, she sighed; part fatigue, part surrender.
With a deep breath, she straightened her back and shoulders. Her face took on a professional touch as her composure returned.
Max swallowed. His posture mirrored Anna's unconsciously, alert now. He understood: it was time for business.
Anna was serious now.
"So, what's the update?" he asked, leaning forward.
"First of all, Mark Zuckerberg instantly denied us any stake in Facebook. He gave plenty of excuses, but I gleaned that he found us lacking for his ambitions."
Max paused for a moment and nodded, slightly sullen. "I somewhat assumed this," he admitted. "Still, that's… disappointing."
He glanced at her and frowned. She was too calm for such a direct rejection. Even if lacking, Knight Investment Firm once had a name and pride.
Anna's was too stubborn and prideful to give up.
Noticing something, he pried, "Given your personality, you wouldn't return empty-handed. What else?"
Anna smirked proudly, her chest puffed out, which Max found oddly endearing for an adult.
"I looked around. Facebook got its angel investor last year. My analysis suggests he's preparing for another round in the next few months."
She paused, letting her words sink in. Then, with a drawl, she resumed, "So I tried to deal with the angel investor before Facebook could raise its value with another round of funding. I can get you 5% stakes for 2 million dollars."
Max licked his lips, every ounce of his strength forcing him to stay calm. "What's the detail of the seed funding, and if Facebook holds another round soon, how high might its valuation rise, according to you?"
"Peter Thiel, he took around 10% stakes for $500,000. Back then, Facebook's valuation was approximately 5 million. Now, if Facebook starts another funding round, its valuation might rise to 100 million. If you still want in, you should decide now."
"Snatch it. 2 million for 5% is still a great deal," Max replied with a snap, his eyes gleaming.
How could he admit just how excited he was? Although he was a bit late, Anna had brought him a fantastic deal either way.
He clenched his fist under the table. Facebook, a giant in the future. He could stake his foothold now, while it was still in its infancy.
"Later, keep trying to acquire more. And if Mark still denies further investment, at least make sure these 5% shares stay firm. Don't lose or reduce them," he advised wisely.
Anna nodded. "I also found the founders of YouTube. It took too much time just to find them and later persuasion. But they cracked eventually, and I got a better deal. I even managed to coax them into letting us be their only investors for several rounds."
She paused, watching Max closely, trying to gauge his reaction before delivering the surprise.
"40% stakes for a million."
"Oh!" Max exclaimed, astonished. "Good. Keep the same strategy with YouTube. Don't lose our stakes. And place a management team around them and our own men mixed as well. Don't let other investors hover nearby."
"I already did. Now, about the KTech stakes, it's still taking time, but I've already prepared a detailed plan. Just one big leap, and we can throw away that burden."
Anna chuckled softly. Then she leaned forward, her tone shifting as a serious detour overtook her expression.
"I got a big tip about a major corporation. I know you're not settled yet, but I believe this could be massive."
Max raised his brow at her unexpected news, curiosity surging within him.
…
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