Chương 53: Chapter 49: Departure and Separation
“Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha!â€
“Franco! Franco! Stop laughing like that. I don't want people saying my husband is crazy.â€
“Ha ha, Nora, I have some very exciting news to share with you, truly fantastic news. Do you want to know?â€
Franco, closing the car window, spoke into the phone to his wife, Nora Duva.
“What news? Hurry up and tell me. I have a lot of work to handle.â€
“Ha ha, the great news is, I signed Link. Link agreed to sign with me.â€
“Oh?â€
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line before she asked, “Franco, you don't have a hundred million dollars. What did you give him? Tell me quickly!â€
“Ha ha, Link didn't demand a hundred million dollars. I offered him a contract worth twenty million.â€
Franco enthusiastically explained the reward mechanism and the profit-sharing ratio for when Link goes professional.
“Is that all? From what I know, Top Rank Promotion offers a more generous contract. In terms of business capability, Top Rank far surpasses your small company. If Link is as smart as he seems, why would he choose you over Top Rank?â€
“Hey, Nora, stop calling it a small company. Dynasty Promotion is a new company; it's small now but might one day surpass Main Event, Top Rank, and become the largest in the boxing industry.â€
“Franco, stop hiding things. Tell me exactly what you offered.â€
Nora Duva interrupted his fantasy.
“Nothing much, just...â€
Franco hesitated to tell her about giving away 20% of the shares, unsure if he'd get scolded for it since Nora was quite strong-willed and not very optimistic about Link.
“Franco, just tell me. I'm ready for whatever it is.â€
Nora Duva took a deep breath and said calmly.
“Nothing much, just 20% of the small company’s shares.â€
“Are you crazy?!â€
Nora screamed, “You were supposed to sign a boxer, and you gave him the company? If you keep this up, there will be nothing left of Dynasty Promotion.â€
“No, no, it’s not like that. I only plan to sign Link and build him into a boxing superstar. I don't have plans to sign others.â€
“Did you sign the contract already?â€
Nora asked urgently.
“We signed a draft agreement. The formal contract will be signed after Link returns from Havana.â€
Franco said.
Nora on the other end sighed in relief, “It's good that it’s not signed yet. Franco, come back. You're a good leader, but you’re not suitable for business negotiations. Since you believe in him so much, I’ll trust your judgment. I’ll give him a big contract and sign him under Main Event. As for Dynasty Promotion, you should start by signing a few promising newcomers. Leave Link to me.â€
“Nora, you can’t do that! You’re the president of Main Event, not Dynasty Promotion. Please don’t interfere with Dynasty Promotion's business. And don’t poach my talent; otherwise, I will genuinely get angry.â€
Franco Duva said, exasperated.
Nora on the other end was silent for a moment, “Alright, Franco, I won’t interfere. When are you coming back? Vera misses you.â€
“Nora, I’m thinking of moving the company to Miami. What do you think?â€
Franco asked.
“...â€
“Nora?â€
The sound of the call ending beeped in the receiver.
Franco shrugged, put away his phone, started the car, and looked at the luxury cars lining the streets of Palm Beach. The roadside was filled with beachfront properties, skyscrapers, luxury villas, and a sprawling wealthy neighborhood, including the famous Miami Gardens Villa District.
The affluent love watching boxing matches, and this place had a promising market.
Besides, Miami doesn’t impose personal income tax or capital gains tax. Money earned here was all yours.
He became more convinced that moving the company here was a great idea.
Once back, he would discuss it thoroughly with Nora to gain her agreement.
â€"
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Link opened his eyes and reached for the phone on his bedside table. It was 6:00 a.m.
Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the Orlando sky was beginning to light up. The Ferris wheel at the Disney Resort across the way was still glowing with colorful lights, and the faint sound of the tram's bells could be heard on the street below.
He carefully lifted the slender, fair arm draped across his chest and tucked it back under the blanket before getting out of bed. The reflection in the window showed his muscular build and strong physique.
When he emerged from the bathroom, Emma was already awake, lying with her head tilted on the pillow, her hair tousled, looking at him quietly with her brown eyes as he dressed.
“Good morning, Emma. I need to meet up with the boxing team at ten. I have to go now.â€
Link said as he pulled up his pants.
“When will we see each other again?â€
“I don’t know. If I get a chance, I’ll come to London to see you.â€
Link sat by the bed, gently tousling her hair.
The scenes for “Harry Potter†in Orlando had wrapped, and Emma would follow the crew back to London for further filming. When they would meet next was uncertain.
Leaving the hotel, Link drove his Pontiac GTO back to Miami. By 9:30 a.m., he was at the Miami Coconut Grove Hotel, where the boxing team was gathering, carrying his luggage.
“Hey, Link, why are you so late?â€
“Traffic jam!â€
Andrezje called out, waving his arm from by the fountain, with Morales, Jones Flores, and Andre Berto nearby, all wearing the team’s uniform.
Around them were seventy or eighty men and women dressed similarly, holding various bags and standing in the small plaza, waiting for the bus.
They were also members of the U.S. boxing team, from the lightest weight class to super heavyweight, including future “Bronze Bomber†and WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, the current Golden Gloves heavyweight champion;
future WBA-IBF-WBO-IBO heavyweight world champion Andy Ruiz Jr., the current Golden Gloves cruiserweight champion.
Ruiz, born in California, was of Mexican descent. Since there was no cruiserweight division in the Olympics, he had moved up to heavyweight and would represent Mexico in the qualifiers. His attire was different from the others.
There was also light heavyweight champion Joe Smith, middleweight champion George Groves, and others.
The bus arrived, and everyone boarded together, taking a boat to Havana, Cuba, for the competition.
Havana, the capital and largest city of the Republic of Cuba, is located on the northwest coast, across the Florida Strait from Miami.
Havana is Cuba's commercial hub and the largest city in the Caribbean, famous for its world-renowned cigars, Santa Maria Beach, the historic Morro Castle, and central Jose Marti Square, all popular tourist spots.
The Olympic qualifiers would be held at the Socio-Sport Center on East Augse Street in Revolution Square.
Originally a dilapidated stadium, it would become lively and possibly famous due to these qualifiers.
(Chapter end)
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