Shō Unkai's girlfriend had no idea he already owned three courtyard residences in Yan Capital and five luxury condos in the Magic City. Give those properties ten years and they would be worth a cool ten billion.
That real-estate spree was nothing more than pocket change, scraped from his monthly allowance and spent on a whim.
When Yanagi Shishi insisted on earning her own living instead of playing the pretty vase, Shō let the matter drop.
Reunited after weeks apart, the two of them enjoyed each other with the zeal of newlyweds.
Next morning, Shō was jarred awake by a shrill ringtone.
BEEP BEEP
"Hello?"
"Your Highness," a voice answered.
Fully awake, Shō rubbed his forehead and yawned. "What is it?"
"Prince, the States just called. Twitter plans a new financing round and wants to know if we'll follow on. Also, you have a three-o'clock with Kyōdō Company's President Yanagi this afternoon."
The caller was Ri Yō, CEO of Oasis Management. A native of Xinhan, he held permanent residence in Hong Kong.
Hearing the name Yanagi Gōtō, Shō slapped his own head. He had played too hard and nearly forgotten business.
"Got it. Pick me up at one."
"Yes, sir."
At noon they dined in the hotel restaurant.
"I've a business meeting later," Shō said, dabbing his lips with a napkin. "Can't accompany you. Shop around or rest here, whichever you like."
"Business? What kind?" Shishi asked. "Since when have you been doing business?"
"Investment," Shō replied. "I've done it for years."
"Oh."She guessed the houses he bought had come from investments—either that or family money. Either way, his background was clearly solid. With her own career gaining steam, her old worries had faded.
After lunch they lingered in the suite for one more tender interlude. Only when Ri Yō phoned did Shō leave paradise.
Hotel lobby.
"Master!"
Ri Yō and two aides hurried over as Shō stepped from the lift, two bodyguards at his back. In public the staff addressed him as "Master" to mask his identity.
Shō inclined his head. "Let's go."
Two black Mercedes-Benz S-Classes waited at the curb. Uniformed drivers opened the rear door; Shō slid inside. His guards shooed the driver to the second car and took the front seats themselves.
VROOOM
The pair of sedans roared away.
Thirty minutes later they pulled up at Kyōdō Company.
Secretary Go Gyoku greeted them with a brilliant smile. "Welcome, President Shō, President Ri. President Yanagi is expecting you."
Shō shook her hand. "Miss Go, long time no see. You grow lovelier by the day."
A faint blush rose on her cheeks, but she merely gestured toward the lift. "Please, this way."
Finding no banter partner, Shō followed her inside.
Conference room.
"President Yanagi, I've come to give you money again."
Shō rose, clasping the hand of the burly man who entered.
Yanagi Gōtō paused, then laughed. "President Shō, always the joker."
They sat. Shō's smile vanished, replaced by calm seriousness. "I'm not joking. I'm literally here to hand you cash."
Gōtō caught the implication at once; after all, Oasis Capital had led Kyōdō's Series A.
"You heard the rumor, then?" he said.
Shō blinked. Ah—Gōtō thought some executive had leaked the financing plan. In truth, Shō simply had money to deploy before returning to Xinhan.
Better to let the misunderstanding stand.
Seeing Shō's silent smile, Gōtō knew he'd guessed right but could not tell which manager had talked. He gave up the hunt.
"To be frank, we do intend another round at year's end," he said. "Funds will expand the logistics network. If you wish to invest, you can join then."
"Year's end? I'll spend most of my time overseas by then," Shō replied. "I dislike circles. Let me take the entire round now."
Gōtō blinked. "President Shō, the Series C seeks one-point-five billion dollars."
"One-point-five?" Shō's brow arched. "What stake are you offering?"
"About twenty-six percent."
"Two billion for thirty-two percent," Shō said.
"That's… quite a lot," Gōtō murmured. He actually preferred Shō not invest further. After Series A dilution Shō still held seventeen-point-six percent. If he swallowed Series C at thirty-two percent, he would own nearly forty-four percent—almost equal to the founder himself.
Author's Note:New book launch—please feed me stats! Your support keeps me writing 🙂
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