American History 1988
Chapter 84 - 79: You Will Regret It!

Chapter 84: Chapter 79: You Will Regret It!

"Dyson, you didn’t tell me there were other guests." It was only after Dean arrived at the coffee shop near Euclid Avenue, at Dyson’s invitation, that he realized someone had already reserved a spot.

"Dean Price, right? I asked Dyson to do me this favor." The middle-aged man with blond hair stood up and extended his right hand to Dean, "Colin Siliad, from Pittsburgh."

Despite feeling uneasy, Dean still shook hands with the middle-aged man.

"Dean, Mr. Siliad is an investment manager from the Hillman Fund." Dyson knew it was a bit underhanded, but considering the background of his client, he had acted as the intermediary for this meeting.

"The Hillman Fund?" Dean was somewhat familiar with this surname.

"The Hillmans from Pittsburgh," Dyson gave Dean an excited look; he himself was from Pittsburgh.

Therefore, Dyson was very clear what the Hillman surname meant in Pittsburgh. As a well-known steel tycoon, the Hillman family nearly controlled the steel business of a large part of Pennsylvania.

And, as a member of the Rust Belt, Dean of course knew about Pittsburgh in the neighboring state of Pennsylvania. Even the distance from Youngstown to Cleveland was as far as it was to Pittsburgh.

Youngstown was close to the eastern part of Ohio, while Pittsburgh was close to the western part of Pennsylvania. This entire region started with heavy industry, and the Hillman family, being called steel tycoons, naturally had a significant reputation throughout the Midwest.

No wonder Dean found it familiar – it turned out to be the neighbor next door.

Siliad pretended not to hear Dyson’s whispers, and had even intentionally used Dyson’s introduction to reveal his identity. After the two parted, he warmly invited Dean, "Come on, let’s sit down and talk."

Dean, dissatisfied with Dyson taking the initiative, wasn’t very enthusiastic despite knowing that the other party represented the Hillman family.

It seemed Siliad didn’t notice Dean’s coolness. He turned, opened the conversation with a perfect British accent, "Dyson said there’s a very cool new thing here in Cleveland, and at first, I didn’t pay attention."

"But not until I experienced it myself yesterday did I realize I almost missed a stroke of genius.

Dean, the potential for Price’s List in the future is tremendous. Just think about how many cities there are in America, and how many people need such a detailed lifestyle guide?

Three hundred million!" Siliad raised three fingers to emphasize, "That number is three hundred million! What a surprising and aspirational figure!"

"Mr. Siliad," Dean had to interrupt his daydream, "however, the reality is that Price’s List can’t even get out of Ohio because we only have one Internet. As for the National Science Foundation Network, as you know, I can’t do that."

"Dean, I’m not an outsider who doesn’t understand the internet at all." Siliad took a business card from his suit pocket and slid it gently towards Dean.

"The Hillman Fund is one of the limited partners of KeyPoint Ventures, we have invested in companies such as Sun Microsystems, Symantec, and several other Silicon Valley computer and bioengineering companies.

We are more optimistic about the future of the internet than anyone. Trust me, Dean, Price’s List has the potential to join them, but of course, this is with the premise of external support, which is part of the game rules."

Worrying that Dean might not be aware of the strength of the Hillman Fund, Siliad purposefully picked those well-known computer companies to entice Dean into accepting his funding.

Facing his ardent gaze, Dean glanced at the business card on the table but remained quite calm. "I have a question, Mr. Siliad."

"Please, go ahead~"

"Since the Hillman Fund can cooperate with KeyPoint Ventures and has invested in so many star enterprises, then why come to me? Price’s List is just a trivial existence compared to them. Even throughout Ohio, not many have heard of us."

Dean wouldn’t be intimidated by the Hillman name and certainly didn’t care about KeyPoint Ventures far away in California. They were too far from him, and there wouldn’t be any intersections for a long time.

He was more curious about why they were seeking him out — Price’s List shouldn’t be that attractive to Siliad and his associates.

After all, Dean had always been low-key about the commercialization of the website; he hadn’t advertised much.

Not that no one knew. Dean suddenly remembered that Simon had mentioned Dyson had been inquiring about the operation of Price’s List under the guise of helping during his absence from Cleveland.

Confronted with Dean’s scrutinizing stare, Dyson was somewhat evasive.

Before Dean could speak, Siliad interjected at the right moment. "The Hillman Fund not only provides funds to venture capital firms, we also support public service initiatives. Like healthcare, charity, and education — Case Western Reserve University is one of our donation targets.

In addition, to support the innovative businesses of students, the Hillman Fund has entrepreneur grants at Case. Dyson introduced us to Price’s List, and we unanimously think it’s a project with great potential."

Siliad admitted he’d exaggerated a bit — the Hillman Fund couldn’t possibly be involved in all the investments of KeyPoint Ventures. Each fund of a venture capital company has a liquidation period, and being a part of it once doesn’t mean you’ll always be able to hitch a ride.

As a traditional force from the Rust Belt, the Hillman Fund was not as popular in Southern California as imagined.

But after tasting the sweet success of Sun Microsystems, Henry Hillman, the current helmsman of the Hillman family, had become addicted to the massive returns on investment of several to a hundred times.

So, he ordered his subordinates to look for opportunities in Southern California while paying more attention to the emerging businesses around him.

The Midwest is where the Hillman family’s foundations lie, and it would be more convenient for them to get involved if a promising project emerges here.

This was also the reason Siliad came looking for Dean, with a deft operation, perhaps Price’s List could be repackaged and may well hit Nasdaq to make a quick buck in the future.

After hearing Siliad’s arguments, Dean had roughly understood what had happened, Dyson was that broker who linked everything together. It was true, people’s ambitions do change, especially after witnessing Price’s List gradually turn a profit.

However, that matter would be put aside for later, Dean turned his attention to the Pittsburgh visitor in front of him. "Mr. Siliad, I have a pretty good idea of why you’re here. But for the time being, Price’s List has no need for capital, expansion is meaningless to us before the restrictions on the NSF website are lifted."

"But Price’s List needs to expand in Ohio, doesn’t it?" Siliad wouldn’t let any opportunity slip by, "Dean, to make Price’s List a household name and the only choice on the market, we need to pour in lots and lots of money. If you don’t spend it, competitors will force you to."

Whether it’s the emerging computer internet market or the traditional steel market. One rule of the game never changes: the last one laughing is the winner. No matter the cost, the returns at the end will always be enough to compensate for all losses."

Siliad was a typical businessman, he was worried that Dean’s ideas were too idealistic, so he tried his best to analyze the ruthlessness of the business world for him.

However, it seemed that Dean didn’t grasp this concept, his face didn’t show any hint of being moved. "Mr. Siliad, I still believe that the federal government’s trading ban is the biggest obstacle to Price’s List’s development.

Without lifting this ban, there is no urgent need for Price’s List to expand." With that said, Dean stood up, ready to leave the place.

"$150,000!" Siliad announced a number that surprised Dyson, "$150,000, and the Hillman fund will purchase one third of the shares of Price’s List. Besides, we can also assist you to expand your business in Pittsburgh, and provide other necessary help."

"Thank you, Mr. Siliad. However, Price’s List hasn’t yet considered whether we need financing, but I will take your business card." The $150,000 was a bit higher than Gary Morgan Taller’s last bid, but Dean still declined.

He didn’t have an urgent need for funds at the moment, and even if Price’s List were to raise funds, he didn’t need people who came from all the way in Pittsburgh.

After bidding farewell to the visitor, Dean left the cafe. But Dyson quickly followed him out, "Dean! Dean!"

"Dyson, perhaps it’s time I reevaluated our relationship," Dean didn’t stop walking; he was very displeased that Dyson had brought a venture capitalist to him without his consent.

He had his own plans; one Morgan Taller was enough, he did not want to add another person to split the profits with. Especially when these visitors came with extraordinary backing. Sometimes saying no could be quite simple.

"Come on, Dean! I was helping, that’s the richest family in Pittsburgh!"

"So what?" Dean stopped and stared at him, "Is that your reason for bringing me here unannounced, ah?"

"I contributed to Price’s List, I want to make it better!" Dyson got excited, "I helped you code through the night, but to this day, I haven’t received a penny!

That idiot Simon managed to get five hundred dollars, but I got nothing at all, and the most outrageous part is you never even asked me!"

"Ha!" Dean laughed as if he’d heard the joke of the century, "So that’s what you think, Dyson! Now I finally understand why you were so eager to invite that Pittsburgh investor to fund Price’s List.

If I’m not wrong, you would have a share in that one-third of the equity, wouldn’t you?"

Dyson’s true thoughts were exposed, and his face showed embarrassment, "So what?! Don’t I deserve that? I’ve contributed!"

"That’s not what you said at the beginning," Dean pointed in the direction of the school, "Who said back then that it was just a hobby to practice? And another thing, Dyson, let me remind you, what you helped me with was NSF’s Price’s List! For the American network version, I did all the work alone!"

"Isn’t it precisely because I took over some work on NSF that you had the energy to improve Price’s List on the American network? At least you should have asked me, but you didn’t! I did not get the respect I deserved!"

"No! I did ask you~" Dean suddenly changed his tone, "Do you remember the day the One Cleveland project ended? I invited you, but you refused."

Dean had intended to give Dyson some options if he was willing to join. He even had prepared the contract, but at that time, Dyson didn’t think highly of Price’s List, so of course, nothing came of it.

With Dean’s reminder, Dyson also recalled what happened that day. But who could have known that in just a month or two, Price’s List would receive so many advertising orders.

When Dean wasn’t around, Dyson had inquired at the temporary office of Price’s List. An ad costing dozens of dollars or as little as a few dollars, they almost had no cost at all, just a few sentences of advertising copy, and it was done.

Especially in the past week, Dyson noticed a surge in the number of ads on Price’s List. He didn’t know what had happened, but he knew he needed to act or he might miss a chance to get rich.

A student who could attend Case, one of the top private schools, isn’t a fool.

So this is why the current scene occurred, Dyson felt he should get a piece of the pie.

But now Dean had refused him, and even left him speechless.

Dyson was somewhat infuriated, "Dean, you will regret this!"

"Dyson, I appreciate the help you’ve given me in the past. But what you’re asking for is not proportional to what you’ve contributed. So... I’m sorry..." Dean left these words behind and turned away, leaving Euclid Avenue.

In May, the sunshine in Cleveland became warm. Tender shoots beneath the soil were stirring, which included the seeds of ambition sown in the heart.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.