Chapter 15 Chapter Fourteen

Tanner Kingsley was reading the headlines in the evening papers: "Hail Strikes Iran." The following report called it an "unusual event."No one would have imagined that in summer, when the sun is scorching, there will be hailstorms. Tanner pressed a button to call the secretary.When the secretary came in, he said, "Casey, edit this article and send it to Senator Van Leuven with a note: 'An update on global warming. Sincerely...'" "At once, Mr. Kingsley." Tanner Kingsley glanced at his watch.The two detectives will arrive at the KIG in half an hour.He looked around his lavish office.All of this was created by him. KIG.He thought of the power behind those three simple letters, and how surprised people would be if they learned the story of KIG's rags-to-riches seven years ago.The past quickly flashed through his mind...

He recalls the day he designed the new KIG logo.Flowers stuck in cow dung.Some people say that Tanner single-handedly turned a small company that is not worth mentioning into a large enterprise that dominates the world.When Tanner thinks about the start-up stage, he can't help but feel that he has really created a miracle. Tanner Kingsley was born five years after his brother Andrew, and this completely determined the direction of his life.Their parents divorced and their mother remarried and left them.The father was a scientist, and the two boys followed in his father's footsteps as child science prodigy.My father died suddenly of a heart attack when he was forty.

It is an often depressing fact that Tanner is five years younger than his brother.When Tanner received the award for first place in his science class, he was told, "Andrew was first in his class five years ago. It must be a family tradition." When Tanner won the grand prize in the speech contest, the professor said, "Congratulations, Tanner. You are the second Kingsley to win this award." On joining the tennis team: "Hope you're as good as your brother Andrew." On Tanner's graduation: "Your valedictorian speech was very inspiring. Reminds me of Andrew's."

He had grown up in his brother's shadow, and the thought that he was being treated second only because Andrew was ahead of him gave him sleepless nights. There are many similarities between the two brothers: they are both very handsome, intelligent, and talented, but as they grow older, the main differences between the two become more and more obvious.Andrew was altruistic and self-effacing, while Tanner was outgoing, gregarious, and ambitious.Andrew was shy around women, but Tanner's looks and charm drew them to him like a magnet. But the most important difference between the two brothers is their purpose in life.Andrew was deeply concerned with philanthropy, and helping others, while Tanner's ambitions were the acquisition of wealth and power.

Andrew graduated summa cum laude from university and was immediately hired to work at a think tank.There he learned what meaningful contributions an institution like that could make, and five years later Andrew decided to start his own modest think tank. When Andrew told Tanner about his idea, Tanner was very excited: "Great! Think tanks can get million-dollar contracts from the government, not to mention employment by big companies—" Andrew interrupted, "I don't think so, Tanner. I'm going to use it to help the people." Tanner was dumbfounded: "Help the people?"

"Yes. Many third world countries do not have access to advanced farming and manufacturing methods. As the saying goes, a man has a meal if he has a fish. But if you teach him how to fish, he will live forever. Worry about having nothing to eat." This kind of cliché is only for old people, Tanner thought. "Andrew, a country like that doesn't have the money to pay us—" "It doesn't matter. We send experts to third world countries to teach them advanced technology and change their lives. I am going to make you a partner. We call our think tank the Kingsley Group. What do you think?"

Tanner thought for a moment, then nodded. "Actually, that's a good idea. We can start with the kind of country you're talking about, while targeting big money—government contracts—" "Tanner, let's focus on making the world a better place." Tanner smiled.It seems that the two sides can only compromise.They will start with Andrew's dream and gradually grow the company to its full potential. "how?" Tanner held out his hand: "For our future, partner." Six months later, the brothers stood in the rain in front of a squat brick house with a small, unassuming sign that read "Kingsley Group."

"How does it look?" Andrew asked proudly. "Beautiful." Tanner tried not to reveal a sarcasm. "This sign will bring good news to so many people around the world, Tanner. I've started recruiting specialists to third world countries." Tanner was about to object, but held back.Coercive means cannot be used against his brother.He's a bit stubborn, but his time will come.The time will come.Tanner looked up at the little sign again and thought, Someday it will say KIG, Kingsley International Group. John Heyhot, Andrew's college classmate, invested $100,000 to help the think tank start, and Andrew raised the rest of the funds.

Five or six staff members were recruited and sent to Kenya, Somalia and Sudan to teach local people how to improve their lives.But did not make a penny. All this seemed pointless to Tanner: "Andrew, we can get contracts from some big companies, and—" "That's not what we do, Tanner." What exactly are we doing?Tanner baffled: "Chrysler is looking for—" Andrew smiled and said, "We do what we really want to do." It took all of Tanner's willpower to control himself. Andrew and Tanner each have their own laboratories in the think tank.Both were buried in their respective projects.Andrew often works late into the night.

When Tanner arrived one morning, Andrew was still there.He jumped out of his chair as soon as he saw Tanner come in. "I'm so excited about this nanotechnology experiment. I'm inventing a way to..." Tanner's mind drifted to something more important: the hot redhead he'd met last night.She had come over to him at the bar, had a drink with him, and led him to her apartment, much to his amusement.When she held his— "...I think it's really going to change a lot of things. How does that sound, Tanner?" Startled by the sudden question, Tanner said, "Oh. Yes. Andrew. Awesome."

Andrew smiled: "I know you'll see its potential." Tanner was more interested in his own secret experiments.If mine works, I will own the whole world. One night shortly after graduating from college, Tanner was attending a cocktail party when suddenly a pleasant female voice said behind him: "I've heard a lot about you, Mr. Kingsley." Tanner turned away expectantly, then tried to hide his disappointment.The speaker was a plain young woman.The only thing that kept her from being ugly were her piercing brown eyes and a bright, slightly mocking smile.For Tanner, a woman's requisite was her beauty, and this one was clearly not qualified. "Nothing too bad, I hope," he said, while Tanner was already thinking of an excuse to get rid of her. "I'm Paulina Cooper. My friends call me Paula. You dated my sister, Ginny, in college. She loves you like crazy." Ginny, Ginny... little runt?tall?dark skin?Blonde?Tanner stood, smiling, trying to remember.There have been so many. "Ginny wants to marry you." It didn't help either.Many others have also thought about it. "Your sister is very cute. We just don't—" She gave Tanner a sneering look. "Come on. You can't even remember who she is." He was embarrassed: "Well, I—" "It's okay. I just went to her wedding." Tanner was relieved. "Ah. So Ginny is married." "Yes, she's married." Pause, "But I'm not. Would you like to have dinner tomorrow night?" Tanner took a closer look at her.Even if it wasn't up to his standards, he was in good shape, and he wasn't obnoxious in appearance.Definitely not a difficult master.Tanner thinks about the girlfriend he's dating in baseball terms.He would only throw a ball at a woman.That's all.If she can't hit a home run, she's out. She observed him: "I treat you." Tanner laughed. "I can handle it—as long as you're not a world-class eater." "Try it." He stared into her eyes and said softly, "Sure." The next night they dined in a swanky hotel in a noncommercial district.Paula was wearing a low-necked cream silk blouse, black skirt, and high heels.As Tanner watched her stride into the restaurant, she seemed much better looking than he remembered.In fact, she has the airs of an exotic princess. Tanner stood up: "Good evening." She shook his hand and said, "Good evening." There was an air of confidence about her, almost royal. When they were seated, she said, "Let's start over, shall we? I don't have a sister." Tanner looked at her, puzzled: "But you told me—?" She smiled slightly. "I just wanted to test your reflexes, Tanner. I heard a lot about you from some friends, and I became interested in you." Did she mean something about the bed?He didn't know who she had talked to.It was really too much—— "Don't jump to conclusions. I'm not talking about your swordplay. I'm talking about your mind." As if she could read his mind: "So, you're—er—interested in ideas?" "Of course there are others." She said, not without temptation. That would be a surefire home run.Tanner reached out and took her hand. "You're so special." He stroked her arm. "You're very special. We're going to have a good time tonight." She smiled: "Aren't you impatient, dear?" Her bluntness surprised Tanner.What a hot little thing.Tanner nodded: "It's always been like this, princess." She smiled: "Okay. Take out your little black book, let's try and see if we can find someone who is free to serve you tonight." Tanner froze.He is used to eating tofu from women, but no woman has ever mocked him.Tanner stared at her with wide eyes: "What did you say?" "That said, we're going to improve your lines, honey. Do you know how corny that is?" Tanner felt himself blushing: "Why do you think that's a line?" She looked into his eyes. "Methuselah probably invented that. When you talk to me, I want you to say something you've never said to any other woman before." Tanner looked at her, trying to hide his anger.Who did she think she was dealing with—high school students?She is really arrogant and unreasonable, without knowing the heights of the sky and the earth. hit the ball.Bitch out.