Rebirth as an American Tycoon

William White's Office suite had sold well, and of course, it required a celebration. This was part of the culture in Silicon Valley. After all, it was filled with a group of young dreamers. Success or failure, these emotions needed an outlet.

People often found it strange that there were so many handsome men and beautiful women at parties in America. Wasn't that just movie fiction?

Actually, it was no exaggeration. Real lively parties far surpassed what movies depicted.

The reason was simple: it was a business.

In this world, there were plenty of girls who loved to have fun. Ordinary people just didn't know where to find them. But those who organized parties were different. For them, it was not just play; it was a business.

Do you like swimsuits?

No problem!

Even formal dresses?

That's fine too; we can invite the socialites.

As for other transactions?

Usually, there weren't any. In a country where capital ruled, almost everything could be measured with money. If you didn't agree beforehand, then absolutely not.

Of course, some pleasant encounters still occurred. This was a personal matter. If you had the skills, anything was possible.

This part was purely voluntary. It had no direct connection to money.

Everyone came to have fun. If you couldn't handle that, then you were just out of luck.

It was still a bit chilly this season, so a swimsuit party didn't quite fit. A group of beauties shivering would be quite a sight.

To show off his company's flair, William White opted for a cocktail party.

Today, they weren't the only company invited; Apple was on the guest list too. The reason was straightforward: to strengthen interaction and cooperation between the two companies.

Apple had no reason to refuse; it served as a corporate perk. The team had been working very hard lately.

William White's employees were happy. When logout time came, the finance staff handed out cash. Each person got a bonus, even those who had just started. Two thousand dollars, no tricks involved.

To many, that wasn't a small amount. In those days, many people's salaries were under two thousand.

Moreover, this was not just a regular salary; it was a bonus. This was the kind of money a boss might casually hand out when he was in a good mood, and it gave the staff a new perspective on their wealthy boss.

...

As the lights came on, people dressed to the nines streamed in. San Francisco was quite nice this season, just like today's party. Not too hot, not too cold -- just right.

Seeing the array of food, a few Apple executives couldn't help but chuckle.

At cocktail parties, they usually just provided hors d'oeuvres. If guests filled their stomachs, it was seen as lucky. But here, it was filled with French cuisine.

"I can't believe it, there's even a chef grilling steaks on site."

Well, we just don't understand the world of the wealthy.

"Hey, Joe, let's go upstairs."

Seeing William White waving, Jobs chuckled to himself. He really did have a way with people. When did he become Joe? Yet he didn't mind; his confidence was no joke. His attitude clearly invited goodwill. If he sulked, it would just be silly.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for the lack of attention. Do not hold back; I've covered everything. If you eat less, it's my loss."

"William, this is just too extravagant."

"Joe, come visit my ranch sometime. That's how we do it in Texas. We have to ensure our guests are satisfied; it's our principle."

"Alright, alright, you're truly Texan."

"Ha ha, I'll take that as a compliment."

The big shots mingled upstairs with drinks and conversation. The party was already in full swing. Don't be fooled by these IT guys; they often appeared refined. Inside, they all harbored a little devil. When the moment was right, they grabbed their forks and went to town.

Jobs soon discovered that he didn't know enough about this guy. William White was quite the conversationalist. From astrology to geography or historical anecdotes, he had something to contribute about everything.

What was most engaging was that this guy not only talked a lot but was also a great listener. His questions could hit right at the core every time, which was a bit scary.

If you thought he was vulgar, he could chat with Mark about Shakespeare. If you thought he was highbrow, he could throw out crude jokes without hesitation. Jobs concluded that this guy was simply a phenomenon.

The collaboration between Apple and White Software was proving to be a win-win. Apple estimated that the shipping volume for the following month would come close to or exceed twenty thousand units.

Based on that sales figure, White Software's revenue could surpass two million. That was a substantial figure. If other platforms joined in the second half of the year, the annual sales could potentially reach fifty million dollars.

White Software's packaging was exquisite, and the instruction manual looked impressive, making it seem like a high-quality product.

Consumers intuitively believed that this was a very legitimate company with strong technical prowess.

Why hadn't they heard of it before?

Perhaps it was just their lack of knowledge.

They would never guess that this was a company founded only a few days earlier. The claim of technical strength was mostly a bold exaggeration.

In this world, everything is subject to comparison. A company selling large database software with shabby packaging and high prices looked like a fly-by-night operation.

The most affected were undoubtedly the folks at Apple. They quickly upgraded their instruction manuals. Although still imperfect, they were a huge improvement over the previous versions.

Sales were just like this; if you didn't package your product to look more upscale, how could you sell it for a reasonable price?

The issue of instruction manuals had become nonexistent in today's IT world. Even when provided, they were largely lacking substance.

This was really the power of example; even the Big Blue and HP didn't provide them. Selling mainframes needed technical services, which was even more profitable than hardware. If everything were disclosed, how could they make that money?

These guys truly had a unique business model; marketing wasn't very important. Their sales team hardly understood what they were doing. It really baffled everyone how these guys managed to sell so much.

Good times always felt brief. As the big shots departed, the party reached its peak. Young men and women were liberally pouring out their hormones.

Though there were some disappointed souls, perfection never really existed in the world. Perhaps that was the cost of growing up. Some imperfections often possessed an exquisite kind of beauty. Things that were too perfect often got destroyed.

William White had had a few too many drinks tonight. While he wasn't drunk, he certainly felt unsteady. Memories of the past floated back -- both pains and joys. In that moment, as he woke up, the past seemed to drift away like the wind. Only a lonely heart continued to beat strongly.

*****

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