Chapter 52: Striking at the Root

Lately, Monet had been making a habit of stopping by a small café on his way home from "Comet." He had discovered that not only did they serve excellent coffee here, but the owner, Jessica, was also quite attractive.

On this particular day, as Monet arrived at "Comet" as usual, Jessica unexpectedly greeted him, saying, "Mr. Monet, a friend of yours is waiting for you in your usual spot!"

Although Monet wasn't aware of this "friend," the fact that they knew he frequented this place suggested that this person was familiar with him. However, as he walked over to his "usual spot" and saw this so-called "friend," he couldn't help but be taken aback. The person sitting across from him was far from being his friend; one could even say he was his "enemy."

While Monet was still processing this, the young man across from him had already greeted him, "Hello, Mr. Monet!"

Monet had no choice but to respond, "Hello, Mr. Vincent! How did you know I often come here for coffee?"

"Because I've been paying close attention to you!" Vincent replied with a smile.

Monet inquired, somewhat irritably, "Why have you been paying attention to me?"

"Because I greatly admire your talent, Mr. Monet. I never expected that 'Comet,' which was nearly on the brink of collapse, would be thriving under your management. Rick truly found a valuable ally in you!" Vincent sighed in admiration.

Despite their adversarial relationship, Monet found the praise surprisingly gratifying. Moreover, Vincent's words were true. Monet nodded slightly and thanked him, "I appreciate your kind words."

However, he quickly changed the topic, asking, "But I believe you didn't approach me just to offer compliments, did you?"

"Indeed, there's another matter I'd like to discuss with you. Rest assured, it's absolutely in your favor!" With that, Vincent slid over a contract.

Monet took a look and realized it was a contract for the position of editor-in-chief at a magazine named "Stellar." The offer was quite generous: not only would he receive a forty percent stake in the company, but he would also have full control over its operations. The magazine's new location was appealing, situated in the Astor Building. Beyond profit-sharing, there was a fixed monthly salary of two thousand dollars.

Clearly, Vincent was attempting to poach him. Just the name of the magazine, "Stellar," indicated it was a direct competitor to "Comet."

It had to be admitted that Vincent's approach was rather ruthless. The current success of "Comet" hinged on Monet's "Jack's Little Adventure in the Future," as well as the audience he had brought in from his previous work in the "Brooklyn Weekly" and the "New York Post." If he were to leave, "Comet" would undoubtedly revert to its former state.

Furthermore, if Monet didn't have a strong bond with Rick and there weren't any conflicts between Rick and Vincent, Monet might have seriously considered jumping ship. Of course, without these complications, it's unlikely anyone would offer such a high price to entice him.

After a brief hesitation, Monet pushed the contract back and said to Vincent, "I appreciate your recognition of me, but I'm sorry, I don't have any intention of changing jobs."

"What? Is the money not enough?" Vincent raised an eyebrow.

Monet waved his hand, explaining, "It's not about the money, actually. The offer you've made is already quite substantial. But I have to consider my friendship with Rick."

Initially, Monet had assumed that Vincent would continue to negotiate with him, trying to win him over. However, he was taken aback when Vincent straightforwardly stood up and said in a cold tone, "Mr. Monet, your loyalty to friendship is truly admirable. I hope you will persist, and I also hope that 'Comet' will continue to thrive under your leadership!" With that, he simply got up and left.

To be frank, Monet didn't genuinely believe that Vincent had been sincere just now. However, he couldn't currently figure out how Vincent might deal with him, so he would have to face whatever challenges came his way.

As Monet pondered how Vincent might handle the situation, he suddenly noticed that Jessica, the café owner, was approaching with a slice of cake. She smiled and asked, "Seems like your chat with your friend wasn't very pleasant!"

"In reality, he's not my friend at all. In some ways, he could be considered my adversary," Monet replied casually.

One of the reasons Jessica was popular with her customers was her intelligence. She never probed into matters customers were reluctant to discuss, but she was skilled at listening to what they were willing to share. She had a natural talent for being supportive and understanding.

So, she didn't press further but instead engaged in a casual conversation. Then, she suddenly looked troubled and said to Monet, "Um, Mr. Monet, can I ask you for a favor?"

"I knew your piece of cake wouldn't come without a price!" Monet teased.

"You say that as if I've never treated you to cake before!" Jessica playfully scolded.

"Alright, I'll stop kidding. What's the matter?"

Jessica hesitated for a moment before saying, "Um, I was wondering if I could borrow some money from you."

"Oh, how much do you need?"

Jessica extended a slender, delicate finger and answered, "Ten thousand dollars!" She added, "But don't worry, I can use this café as collateral!"

"You need that much money for what? Is there an urgent matter at home?" Monet asked curiously.

Jessica shook her head and replied, "No, it's not that. I want to invest in 'Rui Mei Coffee.'"

Hearing the words "Rui Mei Coffee," Monet couldn't help but furrow his brows. He knew that even though Jessica appeared astute, this time she seemed to have fallen into a trap. So, he gently advised, "I've heard that 'Rui Mei Coffee' is no longer accepting investments, right?"

"Normally, that's true. However, some acquaintances and influential figures can still invest. I happen to have an old customer, Henry, whom you know as well. He's good friends with one of the managers at 'Rui Mei Coffee.' So, he can put some money in. What do you think? Do you want to invest a bit too? I can help you get in touch." Jessica answered with a proud expression.

Monet waved his hand repeatedly and said, "I have no intention of investing, and Jessica, I advise you not to invest either. There's definitely something fishy about 'Rui Mei Coffee.' The money you put in this time might very well end up being a total loss!"

Jessica, however, seemed unconvinced. "How is that possible? If they were scammers, they would be actively seeking investments openly. How could it be like this? Even if you want to invest, you can't?"

Monet was initially planning to persuade her further, but seeing Jessica's confident demeanor, he realized that delving too deep might lead to misunderstandings. Moreover, her café was probably worth ten thousand dollars as well. So, he took out a check and signed a contract with her.