Woof!
Woof woof!
August, who was lying on the floor, seemed to feel the change in his master's emotions, and he jumped over from the floor with a neat wheel.
August stretched his front paws forward, straightened his hind legs, his brown back arched upward like a fully drawn bow, and a fierce barking sound came from his throat.
The big dog was ready to attack like a real knight protecting the princess.
It was always ready to pounce on the boy who made him unhappy with a command from Miss Elena and give him a bite on the calf.
"Ah! Ole, sister Anna, what's going on!"
The female movie star subconsciously covered her mouth and exclaimed in low voice.
She didn't understand why everyone was laughing and chatting happily just now, why Anna suddenly read a few lines from "Cleopatra", and the atmosphere suddenly became tense.
"It's okay, August, it's okay."
Miss Elena comforted her pet hunting dog, and then said in a cold voice: "Mr. Oler, I have given you enough respect and patience today. Please let go of my hand now, otherwise I will ask you to leave me." I’m going home, and I’m very serious about it.”
"Master Kruger?"
The butler appeared like a ghost and patted Oler gently on the back.
After Anna asked him to get the check book, she didn't ask him to leave. The butler also knew French. He stood silently in the corner of the living room, taking in everything that had just happened.
"This is a family matter between cousin Anna and I. I grew up here, and even when my godmother was still alive, she never chased me away!"
Oller was even more irritated.
He waved his hand, wanting this troublesome man to leave.
"Master Kruger?"
The housekeeper grabbed his arm, with his white-gloved hand, tightly controlling his arm like a pair of iron pliers, and then said again word for word: "Miss, please let go of your hands."
His hands were tightly held by the other party.
Ole's mind sobered up a little from his irritability.
He has known this butler for many years.
The butler and the master's valet and maid are the soul and soul of the servants of the large estate.
Especially the former,
They are even semi-out of the category of servants. In traditional European large families, they are a position that will not be laid off as long as the master can take out a copper coin in his pocket.
This old gentleman-like man has worked in the manor for most of his life.
When Anna's aunt was still alive, the annual salary of a housekeeper exceeded 500,000 euros, which was similar to that of independent directors of some small banks.
Even the daily medical expenses of the other party's family, the expenses for the children to go to college abroad, and finding a suitable job were all paid and arranged by the Elena family.
What you need is someone who knows your roots.
The generous salary brings loyalty, loyalty to the master of the Elena family.
It used to be Anna's loyal guardian, but now it's Miss Elena herself.
Except for Cousin Anna, the owner of the manor,
Facing any other guests and family members, the butler's obligation is only to maintain sufficient courtesy and respect, but does not need to obey any other party's orders, even if he has been coming here often since he was a child.
Looking at the other party’s serious look,
Oller didn't doubt that the butler had now shown the "courtesy and respect" part.
If he didn't let go, as long as Cousin Anna gave him a wink, maybe next time instead of calling him Master Kruger, she would give him a knee on his waist.
This is the 21st century,
Times have changed.
A seventh-rank official in front of the prime minister, more than a hundred years ago, this kind of personal butler of a noble family was more majestic than some knights and barons in the countryside.
Not to mention calling his valet to come over and expel him from the manor, even if the master ordered him to shoot, he would pull the trigger without hesitation.
Oler hesitated for two seconds, but finally let go of his hand holding Anna's wrist, and sat back in his chair angrily.
"Cousin Anna...I am doing this for you."
He raised his hands helplessly, "You are so angry for no reason."
"Very good, then I'll just pretend this never happened." Anna nodded, "Go back and convey my regards to Mr. Kruger."
"As for other proposals, don't mention them again in the future. I am not interested, and the Elena family is not interested either. Ole von Kruger, please listen carefully. I have no intention of marrying you. When I was a child, No, not now, not in the future."
A long awkward silence fell in the air again.
Anna didn't speak, Ole didn't speak, and even the Springer Spaniel didn't move.
Only the bewildered actress looked around among the few people.
"Is that really the case?"
Oler slowly lowered his head and stared at his shiny shoes.
He seemed to have completely torn away some of the knots in his heart, and said slowly: "This is really your style, cousin, 'Not when I was a child, not now, and not in the future.' Strong and decisive, just like a judge issuing a verdict. , cut off all my thoughts. Drive me away from here."
Anna was already preparing to leave the living room with an indifferent attitude.
At this time, I heard Ole's low and depressed voice,
She relented a little.
Anna looked at her aunt's godson and shook her head: "Ole, I still welcome you to visit my home as a cousin..."
"Ha...what a pity statement."
Ole actually interrupted his cousin directly.
He also shook his head and sneered, as if laughing at his own overestimation.
"Cousin, you are not the only one who looks down on me."
"It's not that I don't like it..."
"No need to comfort me."
Ole waved his hand: "You know what? When my father called me on the plane when I came here, he felt that I couldn't handle you. He said that you were the real countess, and I was just a playboy. .”
Oler tilted his head, imitating the banker's mocking tone when speaking: "Without the money and family cloak, Miss Elena is still a noble baroness. And you - Oler, my son, you Just a little boy who cries."
"How can a proud and fierce horse like Miss Elena be conquered by a weak and vain man like my son? Even if he holds the best fruit puree and steamed egg white in his hand, Concentrated feed, she would rather chew the green grass on the roadside than look at you twice."
"The proud horse... The proud horse, no matter from every aspect, it is a very interesting metaphor." The young man said bitterly, his tone was so forceful, with the embarrassment and anger after being rejected.
As Anna rejected the other party without leaving any room for maneuver,
Oler seemed to have completely fallen into the state of breaking things and no longer cared about irritating Miss Elena around him.
He gritted his teeth and muttered a few words.
Then he raised his head and looked at Anna, who was looking at him expressionlessly, with an expression that was unclear whether it was a sneer or ridicule.
"Cousin, do you know the most interesting part of this metaphor?"
Ana watched without saying a word as this cousin gradually became more and more unfamiliar.
"My father said, there is a Prussian proverb, you want a horse to go where you want it. Instead of holding carrots and eggs eager for its mercy -"
Oler looked at his cousin.
At this time, his face no longer showed the gentleness of a noble boy, but instead looked a little hysterical, cold and cunning.
"——It's better to be a horse trainer who is good at using ropes and spurs."
Anna's cheeks were still smooth and moist, but her expression was as cold as a marble statue.
"Cousin Ole, you look really ugly when you collapse when you don't get what you want. You look like a crying little boy. It seems that Mr. Kruger is at least half right. "
Her tone remained calm: "I actually quite like the metaphor about the horse. But if I were really a fierce horse, you would not be the trainer, but just a monkey jumping up and down because I couldn't get a banana."
The girl smiled carelessly.
"Spurs?"
"Your spurs don't refer to my Uncle Carla. Please, my aunt had almost no contact with this brother when she was alive. Even if you have a huge debt in your hands, you can use him to threaten me. Have you made something wrong? "
What [Jelena NFT Digital Collection Exchange], this kind of money-making thing really has a bad reputation.
However, anyone with a discerning eye knows what is going on.
Besides,
Anna herself also has a professional team of lawyers to deal with these issues.
There is a high probability that even if Uncle Kara really gets the money, the possibility of this kind of "Li Gui" exchange really being opened is extremely slim.
"Oh, God, don't get me wrong, how could it be Uncle Kara?"
Ole shrugged helplessly and said in a strange tone: "Cousin. We all know that trash like Uncle Carla can only be used to disgust people. He has no place at all, and the 100,000 euros I gave him are really worth it." It was just given casually, without even asking for an IOU."
"It would be too fanciful to use him to blackmail you."
Anna was a little confused, but she didn't speak.
Oler took out a folder from the dark brown Prada men's briefcase where Mrs. Lebrun's oil painting tube had been placed.
He pulled out one of the papers and handed it to Anna.
"Cousin, I originally wanted to talk to you at another time. After a while, we may be colleagues..."
His tone was mocking, a little arrogant, and he said sinisterly: "Well, I hope your suspension will be over by then."
Anna took the folded copy paper,
Expand.
This is a copy of the letter of intent for equity transfer.
The general content is that the Austrian National Publishing Group agreed to transfer part of its shares in the "Oil Painting" magazine to Kruger Brothers Bank.
"You... bought the magazine "Oil Painting"?"
Looking at the words above, Ana was silent for a few seconds and said softly.
"To be precise, we acquired 26% of the shares from the Austrian National Publishing Group, plus the shares held by some miscellaneous small shareholders, the total shares held should reach about 35%. It is expected that the acquisition will cost about 170 million euros."
Oller's tone was full of pride: "It mainly takes a lot of effort to convince these guys to sell their shares. In fact, it's not as expensive as the investment department imagined. In 2017, Meredith Media Group acquired "Fashion" magazine in order to buy it. The total amount is about three billion US dollars. In comparison, the Elena family’s Oil Painting magazine is really much cheaper.”
There was still no expression on Anna's face.
But when she saw this letter of intent to acquire the company, she immediately felt a turmoil in her heart.
Anna's mind was rapidly calculating the other party's purpose.
It is simply unbelievable that I did not receive any news about such a large equity change in advance.
But judging from Ole's smug facial expression,
She didn't think the other person was lying.
Serious art definitely doesn't attract as many people as popular fashion. The purchase of 30% of the magazine's shares for 170 million euros is already an astronomical figure.
No wonder the Austrian National Publishing Group is willing to take action...
wrong,
"Money shouldn't be the reason, at least it shouldn't be the only reason." Anna thought to herself.
The sale of shares by private magazines is more related to future development strategies.
Development over hundreds of years,
"Oil Painting" magazine has also merged with several similar magazines. Anna is still the largest private shareholder of the magazine, but her shareholding has been diluted to about 15.97%.
In addition to the three major shareholders of the Austrian National Publishing Group, the European Art Association and the Jelena family.
There are also some important members and directors of the association who also hold sporadic shares in the magazine "Oil Painting".
This time, Kruger Bank was like a big fish eating a small fish, acquiring tens of millions of euros of shares from these directors. It was definitely not a small move.
But Anna, the largest private shareholder, did not hear any advance news.
This even made Miss Irina a little more uneasy than the large-scale acquisition of shares in Kruger Brothers Bank itself.
It's like...
It seemed that everyone was behind her back and plotting something secretly.
"Why haven't I heard from the board?"
Anna turned to ask her butler.
"Oh, I can answer you this question, because currently we have only reached an acquisition intention, and it will take a few weeks to actually complete the legal procedures."
Oler waved his hands indifferently, as if everything was settled as a winner.
"I don't mind telling my cousin some inside information."
"The Austrian government's financial supervisory department has approved the sale of the shares held by the National Publishing Group. Sir Brown, as the agent of the European Art Association, will hold a board meeting in the middle of this month."
He snapped his fingers.
"Of course, Cousin Anna, you, the largest private shareholder, can choose to vote against it. Unfortunately, according to the EU Competition and Acquisition Law, you have no right to terminate this transaction unless you can convince more than half of the shareholders to oppose it. "
Oler smiled maliciously.
"Friendly reminder, I don't recommend you to do this, cousin. The Elena family may be good at art, but financial acquisitions are our old profession. If you find at the board meeting that all other shareholders have abandoned you, you are the only one. A person stubbornly says NO to you. With your pride, this must be very embarrassing. I think otherwise you should simply abstain from attending."
"Hype Art Foundation? In the name of Oil Painting magazine? Mr. Kruger must have convinced other shareholders and the national publishing house with this idea."
Anna quickly guessed the whole story.
She was holding the armrest of the wheelchair hard with her fingertips where Ole couldn't see her.
Anna had to work very hard to keep her voice calm and not let others hear her inner fear.
"Smart! She is indeed the cousin I have admired since childhood."
Oller snapped his fingers.
“Of course, we would prefer to establish this foundation in Jelena’s name, and if you are not happy, then the name of Oil Painting magazine sounds loud.
As the most credible art appreciation and evaluation organization in the past 100 years. This golden signboard is simply like "SCIENCE" or "NATURE" in academia. I'm surprised that you haven't thought about using it as a basis for so many years to develop its financial value. It's exactly like raising a chicken that lays golden eggs, but just wanting it to crow. "
"Oh, what a waste of natural resources." He pretended to sigh.
"Ole, I feel sad for you and your father's shallowness. Have you ever thought about the reason why Oil Painting magazine has such strong credibility? It is because it has been a pure and fair company from the moment it was established. Journal of Art Criticism.”
Anna raised her head and stared into cousin Oler's eyes: "In the art market, you can choose to be a referee or a player. But you can't be a referee and a player at the same time. Just like the Oil Painting magazine can't be dismissed at the same time. Profits from the hype of art works, while hypocritically pretending to be objective and impartial like the White Lotus, and categorically evaluating the quality of each artist."
"Every golden egg it lays is stained with the tears of my ancestors." Anna said word for word: "This is the end of fishing."
"The end of fishing in the lake? I prefer to call it the door to a new era. All shareholders except you should also think so. Sometimes, cousin, your ideas are old-school and seem to be living in a few Century ago. Look around you, it’s a new era now, maybe it’s you, cousin, who needs to change your thinking.”
"Don't ever think of asking me to say yes to this—"
"Then don't agree, cousin, you are very important in our plan, but the name Elena is not indispensable. Since you are not interested in my proposal, then maybe you may be interested in the following things I know, after all you only care about art!"
Oller smiled.
"The International Annual Conference of European Art in April next month will be held at the local art gallery in Glitz. Are you interested in giving a joint speech with Sir Brown as a distinguished guest?"
European International Art Annual Conference.
It is the most formal government-official large-scale art conference in Europe every year, and "Oil Painting" magazine is naturally on the invitation list every year.
This year's annual meeting was held again at the city's new art center.
"Oil Painting" magazine was even assigned the most prime speaking time, followed by Mr. Cao Xuan, a representative of Asian art, and Gerhard Richter, an artist of living fossil level.
The combined age of those two old men is not many years younger than the founding history of the United States.
Want to give a speech yourself?
Anna remembered that this link was not included in the original schedule.
Chairman Brown should be the only one speaking on the stage.
"I have made some adjustments. After all, this year is a big day for Oil Painting magazine. The organizer is even willing to give you, oh, sorry, I should say, a few more minutes of our Oil Painting magazine." Oler photographed He patted his forehead and handed the entire folder directly to Anna.
"This is Sir Brown's speech. Cousin, you can prepare it in advance."
Anna took the speech outline and opened the folder.
"From private imprint to public perspective, from the words of one family to the beauty of hundreds of families—Reviewing the Century Journey of Oil Painting Magazine"
This is a long speech.
It is not known whether Sir Brown or his private secretary drafted the content.
The manuscript also professionally adds action notes between different paragraphs to remind the speaker how to combine it with his body language when delivering a speech.
[...Oil Painting Magazine was founded by the Elena family in the 1870s and has a history of more than 150 years. Number of publications of Oil Painting magazine over the past twenty years, under the auspices of the European Art Association. Steady growth in an era of shrinking print publications. (Action: Make a fist to show strength!) And launched an electronic journal and website...]
[...This year, we have new blood in our management with the acquisition of Kruger Brothers Bank. (Pause to indicate to the audience that the stage lights will illuminate the VIP seats at this moment, and representatives of Kruger Bank will stand and wave to everyone). In the future, "Oil Painting" magazine will analyze the trends and fashions of world art from a more diverse, neutral and objective perspective...]
[… Looking back on the past, the surname Ileana will never be missing among the management of Oil Painting magazine. Even if the family’s words are not always correct, who asked their ancestors to establish this magazine? (Smiling helplessly). It’s nothing. If I had the power, I would also like to pass on the position of chairman to my son. Unfortunately, he seems to be obsessed with becoming a sailing athlete...]
[...In any case, we are still grateful to the Elena family for their contribution in the establishment of "Oil Painting"... Now please let me introduce the beautiful Miss Anna Elena. I think many of you are already in the sea. I have seen this young lady in Mr. Burian's video. I personally do not agree with participating in this kind of unserious art selection that may mislead the public, but I must admit that she is really quite charming...but you may not You know how respectable she is (pause)...]
[…The muscles of Miss Elena’s right leg when she was born… Accompanied by a team of nursing staff and a family doctor, she insists on self-exercise every day. Sometimes she needs to do a whole day of exercise in a specially built recovery room in her own manor. Physical training... As for studying art, she has been talented since she was a child. The name Irina seems to have given her infinite magic. In less than two years, she successfully graduated from the Vienna Academy of Arts where her great-grandfather once served as a director. Graduating as an outstanding graduate...]
Ana bit her lip as she read.
Anna knew that Sir Brown had always wanted to de-"Elena" the "Oil Painting" magazine.
On the surface, this speech seems to be decent, but there is always a strange and sinister mockery of the Elena family and Anna herself.
In the speech, the contribution of the elders of Irina's family to the "Oil Painting" magazine was only briefly mentioned, and he almost took all the credit for the magazine's success.
The Irina family is described as an arrogant and powerful family that is overbearing and powerless.
For Anna,
Sir Brown seemed to be "well-intentioned" in praising her, but he always described her, intentionally or unintentionally, as a delicate young lady who would not eat minced meat in a large manor.
Reading through the whole article, there are strange ironies everywhere, as if all her success was based on taking a shortcut by relying on the surname "Elena", not her own efforts.
She is too young.
Sir Brown clearly wants to bully Anna, and has no time or opportunity to prove her vision to the public.
In his article, he also expressed his dissatisfaction with Anna's attendance at Thomas's video as the editor of Oil Painting Magazine.
They didn't say it clearly.
It's just a high-sounding tone, calling Anna's praise of Detective Cat - "may be misleading to the public."
(End of chapter)
