Chapter 341: The Freeloaders (6/10)

At this party, besides friends and partners, there were also a few uninvited guests.

There were Peter Peltz, David Zuckerman, Luther Deutsch, and Josie Epstein who came with Junior Curnas, and Usher who was brought by Scooter, and 50 Cent who came with Eminem to join in the fun.

Junior Curnas was the vice president of Atlantic Records distribution company and had a cooperation with Link Music. He came as a representative of Atlantic Records, while the other four came uninvited.

"Hey, Link, congratulations on your album's success. You're doing great in singing."

Junior Curnas said with a faint smile.

He didn't even look at him when he spoke, his gray-green eyes staring straight at the beautiful Miss Ivanka, his covetous desire unconcealed.

"Thank you for your compliment, Mr. Curnas!"

Link smiled faintly and intertwined his fingers with Ivanka's, standing shoulder to shoulder, like a perfect couple.

Compared to the two of them, Junior Curnas and the others were tall, short, fat, thin, with small eyes, big mouths, drug-induced faces, kidney-deficient faces, greasy faces, and so on.

"Humph, it's nothing to be proud of to sell records by relying on marketing and hype. Without those means, you wouldn't even sell a million copies."

Peter Peltz, with his drug-induced face, looked at Link arrogantly, as if he didn't take him seriously.

Hearing this harsh voice, Link immediately guessed that the other party was the person who sneered at him in the Broadway theater that day.

A guy who was ugly and didn't speak nicely, but his sarcasm did almost no harm to Link, and even made him want to laugh.

"Haha, Eva, Link, Peter is just kidding, don't mind him."

Junior Curnas said.

"It's okay, I've seen this kind of comment too much online, it's quite interesting."

Link smiled indifferently, pulling Ivanka, who was about to speak.

"Interesting? Where is it interesting?"

Peter Peltz was very unhappy to see him laugh after being mocked.

"Mr. Peltz, celebrities sell things by relying on fame and publicity. You saying this is like assuming that Van Gogh has no fame, and his paintings are similar in price to yours. This assumption is interesting, but meaningless."

Link chuckled.

Peter Peltz still didn't quite understand where it was interesting after hearing his words.

"I said earlier that this kind of talk is useless to Link. He's heard it too much and is used to it. We might as well get straight to the point."

The speaker was David Zuckerman, a slightly chubby young man with small eyes, who was holding a champagne glass and looking at the beautiful women at the party with boredom.

"What's the matter?"

Ivanka asked, frowning slightly.

"Ivanka, we're all friends, and we want to have some fun in the music industry too. Link Music is doing well, and we're ready to invest in it. What do you think?"

David Zuckerman said.

"Oh, how much money do you have?"

"Forty million. According to the current market value of Link Music, how about giving us 10% of the shares?"

David Zuckerman said.

"The current market value of Link Music is 480 million!"

Ivanka said.

"Eva, we know how much Link Music is worth, but besides money, we will also provide Link Music with resources in media, advertising, and other aspects. These resources are priceless. I think it's a good deal."

Luther Deutsch said.

His father was Donny Deutsch, the CEO of Deutsch Inc., an advertising giant.

Ivanka smiled faintly, turned to Link, and said that although these four guys came from good backgrounds, they didn't cherish the resources they once had and did some stupid things. They were disliked by their families, so they didn't have the resources they wanted. If it were their brothers or sisters, they could consider it.

Ivanka's expression was calm and her voice was normal when she spoke, and she didn't care if they heard her.

When Peter Peltz and the other three heard her words, their faces immediately fell. Others would gossip behind their backs, but Ivanka directly exposed their shortcomings in front of them, not giving them any face at all. It was too infuriating.

"Ahem, Eva, we're all friends. Peter and the other three are in a bit of a difficult situation now."

"$100 million!"

Before Junior Curnas could finish, Ivanka raised a finger, "For $100 million, I'll sell you 10% of the shares."

"$100 million?!"

"Link Music is worth less than $500 million, and you want $100 million for 10% of the shares? Eva, are you blackmailing us?"

"Eva, we're not idiots, don't try to treat us like fools."

Peter Peltz and the other two exclaimed.

Only Josie Epstein remained calm, his narrow face wearing a faint smile.

"I'm very busy and don't have time to joke with you. $100 million is not a random offer, but Link Music is worth that price.

First of all, Link Music was founded two years ago and was only worth $10 million at the beginning of 2009. By the end of 2009, it was worth $280 million, and now it's worth nearly $500 million, doubling every year.

At the current rate, we are confident that we can make the company worth $1 billion in three years and $2 billion in five years. If you invest $100 million now, your return will more than double in five years. This is definitely a super cost-effective investment."

Ivanka said in a calm voice.

Peter and his friends initially wanted to argue, but after careful consideration, they realized that Ivanka's words were not an exaggeration.

In early 2009, there was a joke circulating in New York's wealthy circles: Ivanka Trump had founded a music company and was preparing to cross over into the music industry.

Upon hearing this news, everyone laughed at Ivanka, saying that she didn't understand music or the record business, and investing money in an unfamiliar field would undoubtedly exacerbate the Trump family's already tight financial situation.

Some people also thought that Ivanka had worked in the family group for several years and had created several brands, so she had good abilities and might be able to achieve something.

However, the music industry was highly competitive, and it would take at least five years for her, an outsider, to establish a new record company.

But no one expected that Link Music, this small, unknown company, would make such a big splash.

Their first album sold 6-7 million copies worldwide.

The second album sold over 10 million copies globally.

The third album was even more remarkable, with a conservative estimate of 20 million copies sold.

Moreover, all the artists under Link Music were talented and sang beautifully. Any album they released went platinum, as if they were riding the wind in the music market.

The market value of Link Music changed every six months, from 10 million in early 2009 to 280 million by the end of 2009, and then to 480 million by June 2010.

It was astonishing.

If this trend continued, Ivanka's claim of a market value of 1 billion within three years was entirely possible.

Investing 100 million at this time also seemed quite worthwhile.

"Ivanka, your idea is too idealistic, as if you are living in a vacuum without any obstacles. First of all, Link Music's rapid development is bound to compete with the five major record companies, and they will not let Link Music continue to grow.

Secondly, Mr. Baker said not long ago that he would retire from the music scene after releasing two more albums. Without him, how much value would Link Music still have?"

Little Epstein said in a lazy voice.

"The first point can be completely avoided through business operations, such as in-depth cooperation with the five major record companies and introducing their shares.

As for the second point, if Link no longer releases albums, he will have more time to focus on the artists under Link Music, creating more and more popular albums for them. He will also have more time to select and train new artists. I actually think that Link's retirement from the music scene will lead to faster development for Link Music."

Ivanka said calmly.

The others listened and found her words quite reasonable.

Link was considered a Midas touch in the music industry, with a first-rate eye for talent. If he focused on selecting and training artists, Link Music would continuously produce popular singers in the future, and its market value would continue to rise.

"One hundred million is too much, we don't have that much money."

"Then wait until you have enough funds to talk."

Ivanka said goodbye and walked into the crowd with Link.

The remaining people had different expressions as they watched the two leave hand in hand.

Little Kunas looked at Ivanka's sexy and graceful figure, her fingers intertwined with Link's, and felt a pang of pain in his heart.

"How could Ivanka do this? Link is the major shareholder of Link Music, not her. If she agreed to let us invest, we could unite and completely control this company in the future. I think she should be on our side, not with Link, an outsider."

The greasy-faced Luther Deutsch said.

"Humph, she probably already sees herself as Link's wife. Unfortunately, Link is a scumbag, and she bet on the wrong horse."

Peter Peltz said.

"What should we do now? Do we still invest in Link Music? We don't have that much money at all."

David Zachman asked.

"We came to Link with goodwill to discuss cooperation, but unfortunately, they didn't accept it. So, let's follow the original plan and arrange some romantic encounters for him. As long as we can catch him in the act, he will obediently hand over the shares of Link Music."

Little Epstein sneered.

"Good, let's do it!"

The group looked at each other and burst into laughter.

---

"Sorry to have wasted a few minutes of your time there."

At the party, Ivanka said softly, holding his hand.

"Not at all. Every second spent with you is meaningful. I never feel bored or like it's a waste of time."

Ivanka glanced at him and smiled.

"Although Peter and the others are not valued members of their families, they are still part of the New York business circle. My family's company and Link Music have cooperative relationships with their companies, so even though I dislike them, I can't ignore them."

"I understand. Seeing you face off against five of them and overwhelm them with your aura and intelligence, as your boyfriend, I feel very proud."

"Thank you. Seeing Little Kunas and the others wanting to carve up Link Music, do you think the people in the upper class are insidious and shameless?"

Ivanka asked softly.

Link shook his head. No matter the era or country, there will always be a group of lazy second-generation heirs who are good at seizing the fruits of others' labor. He had seen and heard too many of these tricks to be surprised.

"On the contrary, seeing their behavior makes me appreciate you even more. You are a wonderful woman."

Link held her hand and said sincerely.

"Adding five more points for you!"

Ivanka said with a raised eyebrow.

"How many points do I have now?"

"Five!"

"Huh? I remember adding ten points before."

"You were originally at negative ten."

Ivanka tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled.

Link helplessly accepted reality.

"Hey, Ivanka, Link!"

Paris Hilton and several other socialites walked over, smiling at the two. "Ivanka, aren't you tired of being with Link all the time? Can you lend him to us for a while? We all want to know how powerful Link is."

"Yes, I heard that Link can do push-ups for three hours straight. I really want to see if it's true."

"I also want to see Link do push-ups."

The other socialites laughed.

"No problem! Feel free to look, feel free to use!"

Ivanka pushed Link and laughed.

Link shrugged. For the sake of their help, he could only brace himself and deal with them.

(End of Chapter).