RING!
Just as Richard was about to speak, his phone rang. Glancing at the screen and recognizing the caller, he answered imdiately.
"Miss Rowling, Richard here," he said crisply.
He fell silent for several seconds, listening intently. His expression remained unreadable—until suddenly, his eyes lit up.
"I understand."
He ended the call without another word.
Turning sharply toward Stuart, Richard’s tone shifted.
"Let’s go back," he said decisively.
Stuart blinked in surprise. "Go back?"
The confusion was evident in his voice. After all, they had just arrived by car, walked briefly around the gas tank with the family heir, and now—without saying much—Richard suddenly wanted to leave?
Three years ago, when the Maddox Group and Richard had only just beco acquainted with Miss J.K. Rowling, Richard was already preparing for the arrival of the Harry Potter series.
However, this ti was different from those early days of the Maddox Group—when Richard had to personally oversee every acquisition and decision. Now, with Maddox Capital well-established and supported by a wide-reaching internal network of trusted personnel, Richard could operate more strategically from behind the scenes.
Instead of taking direct action himself, he issued quiet instructions through his network—trusted aides, legal advisors, and local liaisons—each one playing a part in setting the foundation for what he envisioned would be one of the most iconic cultural developnts in London.
Richard’s team made a deliberate choice not to alter the natural trajectory of the Harry Potter series. Instead, they fully supported J.K. Rowling’s decision to publish through Bloomsbury Publishing, believing it to be the ideal ho for the story’s literary journey.
Of course, the decision to go with Bloomsbury Publishing was not without reason. At the ti, Bloomsbury was still considered a relatively minor player in the British publishing industry. The company had been founded in 1986 by Nigel Newton, a forr employee of various other publishing houses. In 1994, Bloomsbury was floated as a publicly listed company, successfully raising £5.5 million—capital that was used to expand into the paperback and children’s book markets.
It was during this pivotal mont of expansion that Richard quietly entered the picture. Through Maddox Capital, he acquired a 69.5% stake in Bloomsbury, strategically positioning himself within the publishing world.
Despite this majority ownership, Richard made a conscious decision not to interfere with the company’s leadership or day-to-day operations. He believed in the team’s creative vision and trusted Nigel Newton’s instincts—especially when it ca to the Harry Potter series. Rather than reshaping the company from the top down, Richard chose to be the silent force behind its rise, ensuring support without disruption.
After arriving at the publishing house, Richard imdiately t Miss Rowling with great excitent.
"Miss Joanne, I’m truly happy to hear you say that. You know, many people have spoken about your work—but from the beginning, I was always confident in your talent. I could feel the sincerity in your writing. I’m honored that you trust to be part of this journey."
Hearing this, Miss Rowling looked slightly embarrassed. She cleared her throat gently before replying:
"I rember when you first ntioned publishing a novel—I was worried my writing wouldn’t live up to your expectations. And honestly, I had so doubts about your intentions at the ti... But now, I’ve made up my mind. I’m ready to publish it. I just hope this decision won’t make you regret it—and that I won’t regret it either."
"I believe neither of us will regret it, Joanne. Let’s have a toast to celebrate..."
After taking another sip of orange juice, Richard said to her, "I’ll find a lawyer tomorrow to sort out the relevant agreents, and then we can begin."
He paused briefly, then corrected himself, "No—let contact my lawyer instead."
Rather than relying on Bloomsbury’s legal team, Richard preferred to entrust everything to Adam Lewis, his long-ti legal partner.
The following day, Adam Lewis arrived at the publishing house to oversee the finalization of the agreent.
Acting on behalf of Maddox Capital, he carefully drafted a contract that was mutually agreed upon by Bloomsbury Publishing, Richard, and J.K. Rowling—who, notably, had also selected the pen na under which her debut would be released.
Once the terms were finalized, all three parties signed the docunt, officially concluding the contract.
According to the agreent, the novel—conceived, written, and polished entirely by J.K. Rowling—would be jointly endorsed by Bloomsbury Publishing and Richard’s Maddox Capital.
Bloomsbury would handle the publishing and distribution, paying Rowling a corresponding remuneration. However, the complete copyright ownership of the work would ultimately belong to Maddox Capital. In return, Rowling would receive one-third of all future inco from the publication and related rights of the book—a generous split considering the industry standard.
With the deal completed, Richard then decided to return early to Manchester.
Before heading back to Manchester, Richard strolled through the familiar streets near his parents’ ho in London, taking a slow breath of the crisp morning air.
Just as he was about to turn the corner, he paused. An elderly man stood at a street corner, his hands covered in newsprint as he arranged a stack of freshly printed newspapers on a wooden stand.
The man’s raspy voice called out to passersby, "Morning paper! Get your morning paper here!"
Richard stopped in his tracks, his gaze settling on the front page.
Curious, he stepped forward, handed over a few coins, and picked up a copy.
Russian carmaker Lada has announced it will cease exports to the United Kingdom, marking the end of a 23-year run that saw over 350,000 units sold. Once popular for their affordability and no-frills design, Lada vehicles peaked at more than 30,000 UK sales annually but managed just over 6,000 last year—ultimately sealing their exit from the market.
For Richard and his Rover Group, the news ca as sothing of a relief.
Thanks to the sale of Austin, Morris, Triumph, Wolseley, and MG to the Phoenix Consortium, the current Maddox Auto Group now retains only Rover, Mini, Land Rover, and its comrcial vehicle brand—allowing for a much more focused business strategy.
No longer burdened by a fragnted and aging portfolio, the group now had room to innovate—channeling investnt, design, and marketing into a more concentrated and competitive range. And with one of its low-cost rivals exiting the UK market, Rover’s mid-range positioning looked more promising than ever.
Another important developnt ca from the political landscape in the United Kingdom.
First, the UK officially transferred sovereignty over Hong Kong—the largest remaining British colony—to the People’s Republic of China, as the 99-year lease on the territory ca to an end. This historic mont, which took place in 1997, is widely regarded by historians and comntators as the symbolic end of the British Empire, the most expansive imperial endeavor in human history.
Second, a major political shift occurred during the general election that sa year. The Labour Party, led by Tony Blair, won a landslide victory over the incumbent Conservative governnt under Pri Minister John Major. Labour secured a record-breaking 418 seats—an all-ti high for any party—achieving a swing of −10.23 points.
With Labour now the majority party in Parliant, John Major resigned, and Tony Blair was formally appointed Pri Minister by Her Majesty the Queen.
Almost imdiately after taking office, the new Labour governnt began implenting key reforms—one of the first being a bold move to ban tobacco sponsorship in sporting events, signaling a shift toward public health and regulatory change in British sports culture.
Richard wholeheartedly supported the move.
After returning ho, he noticed his Rolls-Royce already waiting in the driveway of his parents’ house, its polished fra gleaming under the soft morning sun.
He stepped inside briefly to say his goodbyes. His father, Bryan, gave him a firm handshake and a nod of approval, while his mother, Anna, pulled him into a warm embrace. She kissed him gently on the cheek, her eyes filled with affection.
Before leaving, Richard turned to her and asked, "So, are you still planning to go to Barcelona this month?"
"Of course we are," Anna replied with a smile. "Why? Are you thinking of joining us?"
Richard chuckled. "We’ll see," he said, flashing a grin. Then he added casually, "Oh, and by the way—Mom, Dad—when you visit Manchester next ti, let know in advance. I might have already moved by then."
His parents exchanged surprised glances.
"Moved?" his father asked. "Moved where?"
"I just bought a new hotel in Manchester," Richard replied with a satisfied smile. "I’ll take you around when you visit—you’re going to love it."
His mother looked at him, half scolding. "Why didn’t you tell us earlier? We could’ve delayed our trip to Barcelona!"
Richard shook his head, still smiling. "Don’t worry about it, Dad. Weren’t you and Mom looking forward to the beach anyway?"
Bryan let out a small laugh, and Anna rolled her eyes fondly. "Fine," she said. "But the next ti we co, you’re giving us the full tour."
"Deal," Richard said as he gave them one final wave before stepping into the waiting car.
As the door closed behind him and the engine purred to life, Richard leaned back in his seat—ready to return to Manchester and dive into the next Chapter of his ever-evolving plans.
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