Free Web Novel“Would you like to acquire it? At $60 per share.”
Andreessen’s face hardened as he was sipping his drink with a smile.
“Hey. James. Did you really have to bring this up today, of all days?” ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
“I’m enjoying myself too. But work is work.”
Han Kyungyeong kept his smile intact as he continued.
“The market closed at $57. If our shares were to be sold off somewhere else entirely, your control over the company would be in jeopardy. So I’m giving you an option. A $3 premium isn’t a huge ask, especially in today’s climate. As promised by our boss, we’re offering you first rights.”
“Where’s Charlie?”
“The boss is busy.”
“Unbelievable. Where am I supposed to come up with that kind of money right away?”
Han Kyungyeong still couldn’t quite grasp the abnormal price of Netscape’s stock.
It had never once turned a profit. And yet on its first day of trading, it closed with a market cap of $3.9 billion.
“It’d be wise to use the shares you’re holding as collateral or secure funding however you can. Even if you can’t buy the whole thing, you should at least defend your controlling stake.”
After a moment of contemplation, Andreessen responded to Han’s suggestion.
“Give me a few days. I’ll find the money. But I’ll only acquire half. The full amount is too much.”
“Understood. The price stays at $60 per share, no matter where the stock goes. But if you break that promise just because it drops...”
Han Kyungyeong trailed off, but Andreessen understood without hearing the rest.
“Got it. Tell Charlie I appreciate it.”
“I’ll pass it along. And shall I look for another buyer for the remaining half?”
“I’ll find them myself.”
“Very well. I’ll see you at the signing, then. Congratulations once again—on Netscape’s successful IPO.”
“Yeah. I won’t see you out.”
Han Kyungyeong smiled and left the table. The room, which had briefly turned cold, gradually grew lively again.
* * *
We’d spoken a few times over the phone, but this was our first meeting in a while.
Despite my investment, Pixar still hadn’t shown any real performance.
“Charlie, long time no see.”
Steve greeted me warmly. Beside him stood someone else.
As I looked over at the man, Steve made the introduction.
“Back when I was still at Apple, I had some investments involving this guy. He’s a businessman from New York—Andrew Gigante.”
The middle-aged man stood and extended his hand.
“I’m Andrew.”
“Charlie.”
He looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t quite place where I’d seen him before.
“You dropped in unexpectedly, so I had to bring him along. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not. Everyone knows how busy you are.”
Once we were all seated, the food arrived—clearly pre-ordered by Steve.
“Did you come to the U.S. for the Netscape IPO?”
Steve asked as he dug into his salad.
“That, and to meet you. How’s Pixar doing?”
“We’ve partnered with Disney, and we’re about to release a film. Toy Story.”
Toy Story—the film that would bring Pixar into the global spotlight when it had been on the brink of collapse.
“Oh! That’s great news. It’s going to be a hit.”
“You’re not worried? You’re a shareholder too, after all.”
“Like I said back then—I wasn’t investing in Pixar. I was investing in you, Steve Jobs.”
Gigante said nothing, slicing his steak as he listened to our conversation.
Even as I spoke with Steve, I couldn’t stop paying attention to that man.
I was sure I’d seen him somewhere before...
“It’s not going to generate huge profits, being animation, but it is the world’s first fully CG feature film. That alone makes it historic.”
I suppressed a smile at Steve’s words.
It would go on to be the number one box office hit in North America in 1995.
Thanks to its long-running success after its Thanksgiving release, Steve gained the confidence to take Pixar public just one week after the film’s debut.
“It’s going to succeed.”
“I hope so. Honestly, I’m exhausted.”
Though he pushed ahead with grit, I could see the weariness in his expression.
“Just say the word. I’m always ready to invest.”
“Hahaha. You really are something else.”
Steve turned to Gigante.
“Andrew, what do you think? Isn’t he something?”
“Hm.”
“He’s fun, right? Totally different from those fogies on Wall Street, don’t you think?”
“Seems that way. If I were an investor, though, I’d never put a dime into Pixar.”
“Haha, a bit harsh, isn’t it?”
“Have you ever known me to speak empty words?”
As the two chatted, I examined Gigante’s face again, trying to recall.
“By the way, how’s your father? He’s constantly making headlines.”
“As always. I wish people would leave a sick man alone.”
“I’ve gained a lot thanks to him—even though we’ve never met.”
“He’s in poor health, so meeting people is hard. The help you received—that was because I asked.”
So his father held considerable power in America.
Wait... Gigante?
A name suddenly came to mind.
Vincent Gigante!
Boss of the Genovese family, one of New York’s Five Families.
His younger brother was a city councilman, and Vincent himself held major sway in the Mafia Commission—an undisputed powerhouse in the American underworld.
“His health comes and goes. That’s how mental illness usually is.”
“I suppose...”
So Steve had received help from the Mafia? I wasn’t entirely convinced.
I listened closely to their conversation but couldn’t glean anything more.
Then Steve’s phone rang.
“Excuse me. I need to take this.”
Steve stepped out, leaving me alone with Gigante.
An awkward silence hung between us—until he broke it first.
“You’re from Korea, correct?”
“Yes. Are you familiar with Korea?”
“I wouldn’t say deeply, but I know of it.”
As we talked, Gigante watched me carefully.
“What line of work are you in? You look young, yet the sums you invest are significant.”
“I run a family business.”
I subtly emphasized the word “family”, and his expression shifted slightly.
“Sorry about that—important call,” Steve said as he returned, right on cue.
He alternated between conversations with me and Gigante as we finished our meal.
Just as I was about to leave after agreeing to meet Steve again before returning to Korea—
“Would you care for a drink?”
Gigante asked, quietly.
“Sure.”
We went to a nearby bar together.
The staff seemed to recognize him and naturally led us to a secluded seat.
Without even taking our order, they left—clearly used to his presence. Once they were out of earshot, Gigante spoke.
“Do you know who I am?”
A direct question. I answered just as directly.
“At first, I wasn’t sure. The name alone wasn’t enough. But after listening to you talk with Steve, I had a pretty good guess.”
“Hm.”
“Andrew Gigante. First son of Vincent Gigante, boss of the Genovese family—one of the Five Families in the U.S. Mafia. Am I right?”
The server returned with drinks, briefly pausing our conversation.
Once their footsteps faded, Gigante picked up his glass with a cold smile playing on his lips.
“Even the FBI can only speculate about my father’s real identity, and here you are calling him the boss outright.”
“Everyone suspects it. They just can’t find the proof.”
“Are you in a similar line of work to us?”
A similar line of work, huh...
The American Mafia did whatever made money.
Especially the Genovese family, which carried the legacy of the Luciano family—considered the true heir of the Mafia.
Operating out of New York and extending into New Jersey, they ran illegal betting, loan sharking, and held heavy influence over the trucking and port unions.
During the U.S. “War on Crime” in the 1980s, Vincent Gigante was the only boss among the Five Families who escaped prosecution—calculated and cunning.
In the infamous 1985 Mafia Commission Trial, it was his underboss who was convicted as the figurehead. Vincent was the shadow pulling all the strings.
“Yes. I’m in a similar business.”
“So there are mafias in Korea too—not just gangs...”
The Mafia always insisted they were different from common street gangs.
To me, there wasn’t much difference.
“Did Steve ever actually need help from the Mafia? He doesn’t seem the type.”
“Not the Mafia. I helped him personally when he was just getting started in business—mainly with sales and distribution. That’s how we’ve stayed in touch all these years.”
Back when Steve founded Apple, the Mafia had a hand in nearly every supply chain.
It was impossible to ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) distribute or transport without their approval. Given the era, it wasn’t out of the question.
So maybe it really was just a personal favor...
I believed him—halfway.
“The guy behind me—is he your subordinate?”
Chief Ma was standing behind me like a statue.
“Subordinate... Let’s just say he’s my representative.”
“You dropped the word ‘family’ earlier, like you wanted me to know who you were. That tells me you have something to say to me.”
“I don’t have anything urgent. I just thought it’d be good if we knew each other. It’s not something I can say in front of Steve.”
“Of course not. You shouldn’t.”
Having ties to the New York Mafia would be a huge asset for business in the U.S.
Unlike in Korea, American mafias operated legally on the surface, providing lobbying channels into politics and bureaucracy.
“Getting to know each other, huh... What’s in it for me, getting close with a mafia from a small Asian country?”
“The world’s changing fast. Asia isn’t weaker than New York’s mafia. Just look at the yakuza in Japan—they’re on par. The Chinese triads, Hong Kong’s and Taiwan’s syndicates—they’re no less powerful than the American Mafia. I’m sure you know that.”
“Hm...”
I casually took a sip of my drink. I had nothing to lose here.
Gigante hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
“Alright. Let’s keep in touch. Whether we’ll benefit from each other remains to be seen—but I welcome wealthy friends.”
“Hahaha.”
A candid man. Someone with real weight in mafia circles. Definitely worth knowing.
We drank long into the night, exchanging all sorts of conversation. He showed genuine interest in Korea.
As we wrapped up, he offered a gift—as if in passing.
Word that the FBI had finally gotten something on Vincent. Along with the name of an insider who broke the code of silence.
A token of friendship.
In the end, Han Kyungyeong negotiated our shares to Andreessen and his introduced investor at $55 per share.
We also brought in capable stock brokers and financial firm staff from Wall Street.
After Netscape’s IPO—widely seen as the dawn of the dot-com bubble—Nasdaq would soar into a boom not seen again for decades.
“For now, put all of Dreamhigh’s capital into Nasdaq. Monitor the staff and see who we can trust and delegate to.”
“Okay.”
“You’re the only one who knows about the shell company. Everything else, let the employees handle. If we’re short on staff, consider acquiring another investment firm.”
“Hmm... I’ll think about it.”
“I’m counting on you. Also, I think it’s time you had a bodyguard.”
Chief Ma stepped out at my words.
A few moments later, he returned with a man.
“This is Michael. A veteran who worked with me at EO.”
“Michael, boss.”
“He’s a former mercenary, introduced by Chief Ma. Since he’s American, stick with him. Michael, your boss is James. Take good care of him.” ƒгeewebnovёl.com
Han Kyungyeong looked a little shocked by the “bodyguard” part, especially when he saw Michael’s sheer size.
“If anything happens to you, my entire plan collapses. Be cautious—always. Never go anywhere alone. Take Michael with you. This isn’t a request. Got it?”
Han Kyungyeong nodded, seeing the seriousness on my face. He didn’t argue.
After they left the hotel room—
“Can we trust Michael?”
“Yes. We worked together at EO.”
EO—Executive Outcomes. The most elite private military company currently in existence.
Blackwater hadn’t even been founded yet.
“Make sure he protects and monitors Kyungyeong closely. A $200,000 salary isn’t just for show. While we’re at it, let’s build a proper firm. Know anyone we can rely on?”
“There’s an administrative specialist at EO. He was my superior. I’ll reach out.”
“Headquarters will be in the U.S., with a branch in Korea. Regulation’s too strict back home.”
“Understood. I’ll report once things are in motion.”
I planned to secure talent before real PMCs emerged. Chief Ma’s network as a former mercenary was invaluable.
Back in Korea, the demolition of the Japanese Government-General Building was broadcast live on August 15.
I watched the spire being torn down on my hotel TV. Just imagining the grief of the Cheongpunghoe members brought a smile to my face.
< The Genovese Family > End.
