Chapter 16 Chapter fifteen

That started inadvertently six weeks ago.At noon on a busy day, David got word that Tim O'Neill had arrived at Cripdrift.He was a friend of an important American diamond buyer, and wanted to know if David would welcome him, perhaps treat him to dinner.David didn't have time to waste on a tourist, but he didn't want to offend the buyer.Originally, he could have asked Kate to receive this guest, but she and Brad were inspecting several factories of the company in North America. "Anyway, I can't hide." So David made a decision.He called the hotel where O'Neill was staying and invited him to dinner that night.

"My daughter is here," O'Neal told him. "I hope you don't mind if I bring my daughter along." David didn't want to spend that evening with a kid. "Not at all." He said politely, thinking that he must try to shorten the time of the dinner. They met in the restaurant of the Grand Hotel.O'Neill and his daughter were sitting at the table when David arrived.O'Neill was a handsome, gray-haired Irish-American in his early fifties.His daughter Josephine was the most beautiful woman David had ever seen.She was just in her early thirties, with a beautiful figure, soft blond hair and clear blue eyes.Upon seeing her, David couldn't help but hold his breath.

"I—I'm so sorry I'm late," he said, "something got delayed at last." Josephine was a little amused to see him like that. "Sometimes those things are the most exciting," she said innocently. "My father told me that you were an important person, Mr. Blackwell." "Where—call me David." She nodded, "It's a good name, it means great power." Before dinner was over, David had come to the conclusion that Josephine O'Neill was more than just a pretty woman.She was smart, had a sense of humor, and was good at making him feel at ease.David felt she was genuinely interested in him and asked him personal questions that no one had ever asked him before.

By the time the dinner party was over, he was half in love with her. "Where's your home?" David asked Tim O'Neill. "San Francisco." "Are you going back soon?" He tried to sound casual. "next week." Josephine smiled at David, "If Kripdrift is as interesting as he said, I can persuade my father to stay for a few more days." "I'm going to make it as interesting as possible," David assured her. "Would you like to visit the diamond mines?" "That's great," replied Josephine, "thank you."

At one point David personally accompanied the important guests down the mine, but for a long time he delegated this task to his subordinates.But now he hears himself saying, "Is it convenient tomorrow morning?" He actually has six or seven meetings the next morning, but now they don't seem to be that important. ※※※ He took the O'Neill father and daughter down the rock shaft to the work area 120 feet above the ground.The well is six feet wide, twenty feet long, and has four passages.One is used to pump water, two are used to carry blue diamond-containing ore soil, and one is used for the operation of double-decker elevators to transport workers up and down.

"I've always been curious about one question," said Josephine, "Why are diamonds measured in carats?" "The carat is what the carob species is called," Davy explained, "because they weigh the same, and a carat equals two hundred milligrams, or one hundred and forty-second ounce." Josephine said, "I'm hooked, David." He didn't know if she meant simply being enchanted by diamonds.It was intoxicating to be near her.Whenever David looked at Josephine he felt a fresh excitement and excitement. "You should go and see the country," David said to the O'Neills. "If you're free tomorrow, I'll be happy to show you around."

Before her father could speak, Josephine replied, "That would be great." ※※※ Since then, David has been with the father and daughter every day.In this way David fell in love more and more.So far, he had never met such a charming woman. ※※※ One night, David came to pick up O'Neill and his daughter for dinner. Tim O'Neill said: "I'm a little tired tonight, David, if you don't mind, can I not go?" Secret joy in my heart. "Nothing, sir, I understand very well." Josephine gave David a mischievous smile. "I'll make you happy," she promised.

David took her to dinner at a restaurant that had just opened.The restaurant was crowded, but the waiter recognized David and found a table right away.At this time a small three-piece band was playing American music in the restaurant. David asked, "Would you like to dance?" "Very willing to." A moment later, David danced with Josephine in his arms.It feels like a fairyland.David pressed her beautiful body against his and felt her respond too. "Josephine, I'm in love with you." She put a finger on his lips, "David, don't...don't be like this..."

"why?" "Because I can't marry you." "Do not you love me?" She smiled at him, her blue eyes sparkling. "I'm crazy about you, honey, can't you see that?" "Then why?" "Because I can't live in Kripdrift, I'm going to be crazy." "You can try." "David, I'd love to try it, but I know what it's going to look like. If I marry you and live here, I'll be a curmudgeonly bitch who will end up hating each other. I'd rather just say goodbye like that." For good." She looked up into his face, and David felt her body dissolve into his own. "David, is it possible for you to come and live in San Francisco?"

This is impossible. "What am I doing there?" "Let's have breakfast together tomorrow morning. I want you to tell your father yourself." ※※※ Tim O'Neill said: "Josephine told me about your conversation last night as if there was a problem between the two of you. If you were interested, I might have a solution." "I'm interested, sir." O'Neill picked up a brown leather bag and took out some drawings from it. "Do you know how to refrigerate food?" "I'm afraid I don't understand." "As early as 1865, Americans began to refrigerate food. The difficulty is to transport food long distances without spoiling. We have refrigerated train cars, but no one has yet found a way to make refrigerated trucks." O'Neill opened the drawings , "But that's in the past. I just got a patent for this truck. It's going to revolutionize the whole food industry, David."

David glanced at the blueprints, "I'm afraid I don't see many tricks, Mr. O'Neill." "That's okay, I'm not looking for a technologist, I've got those. I'm looking for investors and operators. It's not unrealistic, I've talked to some of the major food processors. It's going to be a Big deal, bigger than you can imagine. I need someone like you." "The company's headquarters will be in San Francisco," Josephine added. David sat there, speechless, musing over what they had said. "You said you got the patent right?" "Yes, I have everything arranged." "Do you mind if I borrow these drawings and show them to others?" "I have no comment." ※※※ The first thing David did was check Tim O'Neill's background.He inquired that O'Neill had a good reputation in San Francisco.He was the well-respected chair of Berkeley's science and technology department.David is a complete stranger to food refrigeration, but he would like to know a little bit about it. "I'll be back in five days, my dear. I hope you and your father will wait for me." "As long as it takes, I'll miss you," Josephine said. "I'll miss you too." There was more to that than she understood. ※※※ David came to Johannesburg by train.He had an appointment with Mr. Edward Broderick, owner of one of the largest meatpacking plants in South Africa. "I want to ask for your opinion." David showed him the drawings, "Do you think this will work?" "I don't know anything about refrigerated food and trucks, but I know some experts. Come back this afternoon and I'll get some experts to talk to you, David." At 4 o'clock in the afternoon, David returned to the meat processing plant. He felt very nervous, completely confused, and he didn't know what he hoped this would turn out to be.A fortnight ago, if someone suggested that he leave Kruger-Brent, because the company was already a part of his life, he would have laughed if they had told him that he was going to lead a small food company in San Francisco. , he would even laugh harder.It would be complete madness if it weren't for Josephine O'Neill. In the room sat Edward Broderick and two others. "This is Dr. Crawford and Mr. Kaufman. This is David Blackwell." After greeting each other, David asked, "Have the two gentlemen seen those drawings?" Dr. Crawford replied: "Of course we have, Mr. Blackwell. We have studied it carefully." David took a deep breath, "So what?" "I heard that the U.S. Patent Office has issued a patent for this invention, yes?" "yes." "Then, Mr. Blackwell, whoever owns the patent will be rich." David nodded slowly, feeling very conflicted in his heart. "Like all great inventions - it looks so simple, you wonder why no one has figured it out before, and this one will work." ※※※ David didn't know how to react.He had hoped the decision was out of his hands.If Tim O'Neill's invention was worthless, he might be able to persuade Josephine to stay in South Africa.But O'Neill was telling the truth.That invention works.Now David had to make a decision. On the drive back to Klipdrift, all he could think about was that if he took the job it would mean leaving the company for a new, never-before-done business.He was an American, but America was a foreign country to him now.He holds a key position in one of the most powerful companies in the world.He loves his job.Jamie and Margaret McGregor have been nice to him.And Kate.He'd watched her since she was a little kid and watched her grow from a curmudgeon, dirty tomboy to a lovely big girl.Her growth seemed to have left an album in his mind.He flipped through the pages, and it was Kate who was four years old, eight years old, ten years old, fourteen years old, twenty-one years old-vulnerable, very unstable... By the time the train reached Kripdrift, David had made up his mind.He was not going to leave Kruger-Brent Ltd. He drove directly to the Grand Hotel and went straight to O'Neill's suite.Josephine opened the door for him. "David!" He hugged her and kissed her eagerly.Feeling her warm body clinging to her. "Oh, David, I miss you so much, I never want to leave you." "You're not leaving me," David said slowly, "I'm going to San Francisco..." ※※※ David waited with increasing anxiety for Kate's return from America.Now that he has made his decision, he is eager to start his new life.He couldn't wait to marry Josephine. Now that Kate is back, he stands in front of her and says to her, "I'm getting married." Kate felt the words rumbling in her ears.She suddenly felt dizzy, and quickly grabbed the edge of the table to stop herself.I want to die, she thought, let me die. However, the willpower hidden deep in her heart forced her to smile. "Tell me about her, David." She took pride in sounding fairly calm. "Who is she?" "Her name is Josephine O'Neill. She came here with her father. I'm sure you two will become good friends, Kate. She's a nice girl." "Since you're in love with her, she must be quite well, Davy." He hesitated, "One more thing, Kate, I plan to leave the company." The whole world seemed to be falling apart. "Even if you're getting married, you don't have to—" "Not for that reason, Josephine's father is starting a new business in San Francisco, and they need me." "So—so you're going to live in San Francisco." "Yes, Brad Rogers can do my job, and we'll pick a senior management team to assist him. Kate, I -- I can't tell you what a difficult decision it was for me. " "Of course, Davy, you--you must love her very much. When shall I see the bride?" David smiled, and was very happy to see that Kate treated the news well. "Tonight, if you are free, please come and have dinner together." "Okay, I'm free." She tried her best to restrain herself, and she didn't let her tears flow until there was no one around. ※※※ The four of them had dinner at McGregor's house.When Kate saw Josephine, her face turned pale with shock.Ah, God!No wonder he fell in love with her!She is so charming and charming.In front of her, Kate felt clumsy and ugly.What's worse is that Josephine is graceful and poised.Apparently she loved David very much, too.hell! During the dinner, Tim O'Neill told Kate about the new company. "Sounds interesting," Kate said. "I'm afraid it won't compare with Kruger & Brent Ltd, Miss McGregor. We'll have to start with a small company, but with Davy in charge we'll do well." "With David in charge, you will not fail." Kate said with certainty. That night was painful.This sudden catastrophe had taken away the man she loved and was the only person Kruger-Brent & Co. could not live without.She and they continued talking, trying to get through the night.But afterward, she couldn't remember what she had said or done.All she knew was that whenever David and Josephine looked at each other or touched, she wanted to kill herself. On the way back to the hotel, Josephine said, "She loves you, David." He smiled. "Kate? No, we're just friends. We've been friends since she was a little kid. She likes you." Josephine laughed, men are so innocent. ※※※ In David's office the next morning, Tim O'Neill and David sat face to face. "It's going to take me two months to get things set up here," David said. "I've been thinking about how much money we'll need to get started. If we go to a big company for help, we'll be swallowed up and get a small stake." .Then the company is no longer ours. I think we should be self-funded. I figured it would take $80,000 to get started. My savings is about $40,000. We need another $40,000." "I have ten thousand dollars," said Tim O'Neill. "I have a brother who will lend me five thousand dollars." "So we're short of twenty-five thousand dollars," said David, "and we try to borrow it from the bank." "We'll be back in San Francisco right away," O'Neill said to David. "Get everything ready for you." ※※※ In two days, Josephine and her father were leaving for America. "Take them to Cape Town on our private train, David," suggested Kate. "You are so generous, Kate." On the morning of Josephine's departure, David felt like a part of his life had been taken away.He wished he could fly to San Francisco right away to be with her. ※※※ The next few weeks were spent looking for a management team to assist Brad Rogers.A list of candidates was carefully drawn up.Kate, David, and Brad spend long hours working on each case individually. "...Taylor is a good technician, but he's not good at management." "How's Simmons?" "He is also very good, but the conditions are not mature enough." Brad said affirmatively, "Let him wait another five years." "Babcock?" "This person is not bad, we can study it." "How's Peterson?" "He's not good enough to be the leader of the company," David said. "He's a guy who thinks too much of himself." As he said that, he felt a pang of guilt because he had just left Kate alone. . They went on to discuss that list.By the end of the month, the candidates were down to four, who would work alongside Brad Rodgers.Because these four people are working abroad now, they need to be notified to come back for an interview. The results of the talks between the first two people are good. "I'm very happy with both of them," Kate said to David and Brad. On the morning of the interview with the third person, David walked into Kate's office with a pale face, "Is my position still vacant?" Seeing the expression on his face, Kate stood up in panic, "What's the matter, David?" "I—I—" He collapsed into the chair suddenly, "something happened." Kate immediately came out from behind the table and sat beside him, "Tell me!" "I just got a letter from Tim O'Neill that he sold that business." "What's the meaning?" "That's what I mean. The Samsung Meat Processing Plant in Chicago paid two hundred thousand dollars and the patent tax to buy his patent rights." David's voice was full of pain, "That company is willing to hire me Manage it for them. He also apologized for any inconvenience caused. But the other party offered so much money that he couldn't refuse." Kate looked at him concerned. "What about Josephine? What did she say? Must be very angry with her father." "She also came with a letter saying that as soon as I get to San Francisco, we'll be married right away." "Then you're not going?" "Of course not." David roared. "In the past, I could have done something for them. I could have helped them develop into a big company. But they are so desperate for money." "David, it's unfair of you to say 'they', you're going to—" "O'Neill would never have done this deal without Josephine's approval." "I—I don't know what to say, Davy." "There's nothing left to say, I almost made the biggest mistake of my life." Kate went to the table, took the list of candidates, and slowly tore it to shreds. ※※※ During the next few weeks, David was absorbed in his work, trying to make himself forget all pain and sorrow.He received several letters from Josephine O'Neill, but he threw them away without even reading them.Yet he couldn't get her out of his mind.Kate deeply understands David's pain.She told him that she was there for him whenever he needed her. ※※※ It had been half a year since David had received that letter from Tim O'Neill.During this time, Kate and David continued to work together and became very close.They often traveled together and spent a lot of time alone together.Kate did everything she could to please him.She dresses for him, arranges activities that he likes, and goes out of her way to make his life enjoyable.But as far as she could see, it didn't do much, and eventually she lost patience. She and David traveled to Rio de Janeiro to inspect a newly discovered mining area.They ate dinner together at the hotel and looked up some statistics in Kate's room.It was late at night, and Kate changed into a loose kimono and a pair of slippers on her feet.After work, David stretched and said, "Okay, that's all for tonight, I think I should go to bed." Kate said softly, "Is your mourning time over, David?" He looked at her in surprise, "Mourning?" "For Josephine O'Neill." "She's out of my life." "Then your actions should show it." "Then what do you want from me, Kate?" he asked irritably. Kate was furious, angry at David for ignoring him, angry at herself for taking so much time. "I'll tell you what I want you to do—kiss me." "what?" "Damn it, Davy! I'm your boss, hell!" She leaned toward him. "Kiss me." She pressed her lips to his, wrapping her arms around him.She could sense his reluctance and began to draw back.But slowly his arms were around her too, and he began to kiss her. "Kate..." She whispered into his lips, "I thought you'd never want to..." ※※※ Six weeks later they were married, with more pomp than ever in Kripdrift.The ceremony took place in the largest church in the city.Then there was a wedding reception at City Hall.All are invited.All kinds of food piled up like a mountain, and countless cases of beer, as well as whiskey and champagne were continuously delivered.The musicians played and played until the early morning of the next day.When the sun came up again, Kate and David slipped away. "I'll go back and pack," Kate said. "Come pick me up in an hour." In the twilight of dawn, Kate entered the mansion alone.She went upstairs to her bedroom and walked over to a painting hanging on the wall.She clicked on the frame, and the picture immediately bounced back, revealing a safe in the wall.She opened it and pulled out a contract.That's what Kate McGregor signed for the purchase of the Tristar Meatpacking plant in Chicago.Next to it is another contract, that is, Samsung Meatpacking bought Tim O'Neill's refrigeration technology patents for $200,000.Kate hesitated for a moment, then put the file back in the safe and locked it again.David belonged to her now.In fact he had always been hers, and belonged to Kruger-Brent Ltd. too.Together, they will grow it into the most powerful company in the world. That's exactly what Jamie and Margaret McGregor were hoping for.