Likewise, Mavi didn't have to worry about these two founders losing motivation and failing to develop Google into what it was destined to become. With his foresight and knowledge as a latecomer, he wouldn't allow the company to go astray. All he needed was for his employees to follow his instructions.
That's why he turned the tables and hired Larry and Sergey—after all, they were the best candidates for the job.
Under Mavi's financial temptation, Larry and Sergey, who had no idea what great success awaited them in the future, signed the deal without hesitation.
To them, this contract was practically a lifetime agreement—one that would eventually be worth $900 billion.
Once the contracts were signed, Mavi instructed his butler to store them safely. Then, he asked the waiter to open a bottle of 1982 Lafite and poured glasses for the three of them. Raising his glass with a smile, he said to Larry and Sergey, "Cheers! To a successful partnership!"
"Cheers!"
Clink!
The crystal-clear sound of wine glasses clinking echoed in the air. Mavi relished the pleasant sound before tilting his head back and downing his glass of red wine in one gulp.
Who would have thought that a company destined to be a $900 billion giant in his past life could be acquired for just $600,000 in this one? When Google eventually became one of the world's top 500 companies, the events of today would surely shock everyone!
Overwhelmed with joy, Mavi drank three glasses of wine in a row. His appetite also soared as he devoured an entire Australian lobster, two secret-recipe treasure crabs, and two servings of Wellington steak.
After finishing his meal, Mavi simply wiped his mouth with a napkin. His butler, Ivan, who had been waiting nearby, immediately pulled out a bank card and called over the restaurant manager to settle the bill.
Unlike Mavi, who was in high spirits, Larry and Sergey were absent-minded throughout the meal.
Their distraction wasn't due to the food being unappetizing, nor was it regret over selling their company. Rather, it was because of the $1.2 million in cash sitting inside a suitcase between their seats.
With the banks already closed, they had no way to deposit the money. Keeping it safe was another issue—both of them were IT professionals, completely defenseless in a confrontation. If they ran into robbers, the money would be gone in an instant.
To them, $1.2 million in cash was an astronomical sum. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they were willing to risk their lives for it.
Seeing their uneasy expressions, Mavi, who had also come from humble beginnings, immediately understood their concerns.
He chuckled and shook his head before reassuring them, "I've already prepared hotel rooms for both of you. There's a safe in your rooms, so you can deposit the money in the bank first thing in the morning."
"If you're still worried, feel free to pick two of my bodyguards. They can stand guard all night if necessary," he added with a considerate smile.
Upon hearing this, the previously anxious Larry and Sergey visibly relaxed, sighing in relief. They quickly expressed their gratitude, saying, "That won't be necessary, Mr. Mavi! Just having a room is more than enough—thank you so much!"
Hearing their gratitude, even someone as thick-skinned as Mavi found himself momentarily speechless. After all, he knew better than anyone who should really be thanking whom…
Mavi's development strategy was straightforward: use American companies as an economic foundation to fund his military-industrial projects and private security forces in Russia—essentially, the security company he had envisioned.
Then, he would expand globally, establishing branches around the world to grow this legitimate armed force. When the time came, he would be unstoppable. His enemies would have no choice but to steer clear of him…
---
After finishing dinner, Mavi returned to his hotel room. Earlier, he had been too focused on business to check his phone messages.
As he lay on the bed and turned on his phone, he noticed a message from Jennifer, someone he had been casually texting now and then. She had sent it about half an hour ago:
"What are you up to?"
Mavi thought for a moment before replying simply: "Just finished a business meeting."
Five minutes later, his phone buzzed again. Jennifer had responded:
"Tired?"
At that moment, Mavi wasn't near his phone—he was in the shower. He certainly wouldn't let waiting for a woman's reply dictate his routine. After all, a man should have confidence.
By the time he finished his shower, 20 minutes had passed. Wearing a white bathrobe, his toned chest faintly visible beneath the collar, he lazily lay on the soft bed and turned on the 34-inch flat-screen TV at the foot of the bed.
Although LCD TVs existed in the year 2000, they weren't yet widespread. The mainstream choice was still CRT televisions—those bulky ones with massive back casings. Watch them for a while, and they'd start heating up, taking forever to cool down.
Because of this, many kids who secretly watched TV while their parents were at work would get caught red-handed when their parents came home, touched the warm TV casing, and immediately dished out a scolding…
---
About ten minutes later, Mavi received another text from Jennifer:
"By the way, are you free tomorrow night? Want to go to a bar?"
Ever since they met at a party a few days ago, Jennifer still owed Mavi a meal. She figured she'd invite him to a bar as a way to fulfill her promise. Plus, her two best friends were going as well.
"A bar? Sure." Wealthy heiresses extending invitations—how could Mavi refuse?
"Great! I'll send you the time and location later."
The bar Jennifer and her friends had chosen wasn't some seedy, chaotic dive filled with smoke and questionable characters. Instead, it was the renowned Corte Sky Bar, also known as the Sky City of Washington.
Located on the rooftop of the Corte Hotel, it was the most upscale bar in Washington. The venue featured a semi-open design where guests could sip fine wine, listen to music, and admire the twinkling stars in the night sky.
---
At 9 PM the next evening, Mavi arrived at Corte Sky Bar as scheduled. The spacious rooftop bar was tastefully decorated. Tall, glistening crystal floor lamps cast a soft golden glow—not too bright, not too dim—creating a cozy atmosphere for the guests.
The cool March breeze of Washington gently brushed against Mavi's face. Above him, the unusually clear night sky was dotted with countless twinkling stars. The soft sound of a saxophone solo filled the air, lifting his mood.
Scanning the surrounding booths filled with lively foreign women enjoying their drinks, Mavi couldn't help but think to himself,
"The wealthy sure know how to enjoy life…"
Led by a female bartender, Mavi made his way to a scenic south-facing booth, where he finally met up with Jennifer and her two friends—Madison and Olivia.