[Chapter 918: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder]
When Eric requested the entire Apple board to resign, Steve Jobs's expression remained tense and confrontational. "So, Eric, what about the licensing of ARM architecture technology?"
Eric understood exactly who Steve Jobs was. A man with such a strong desire for control could easily influence you if you reacted to his emotions. Leaning back in his office chair, Eric shook his head. "Steve, I can't agree to that. However, as a shareholder in Apple, if Apple needs to use ARM chips in the future, Firefly Electronics certainly won't refuse."
The technology behind ARM chips was central to Eric's vision for the future smartphone era. He planned to create a strategic alignnt among Qualcomm, Yahoo, Firefly Electronics, and Nokia, similar to the dominance of Intel, Microsoft, and IBM, effectively monopolizing the entire smartphone industry chain.
To achieve this vision, preventing the widespread dissemination of ARM technology, as it had in his original tiline, was crucial. If the ARM mobile chips within the Firefly system could reach a level of dominance similar to Intel's in the PC market, even if Apple intended to produce smartphones in the future, they would have to source chips from companies within the Firefly frawork.
Historically, Apple's dominance in the smartphone market, capturing over ninety percent of the profits, was attributed to their high-end focus, but fierce internal competition among Android platform manufacturers had also rendered them unprofitable. As long as the Firefly system could master core chip technology and the operating system, achieving monopoly status in the smartphone market early on could prevent a return to such fierce competition or at least limit it to the lower-tier manufacturers. This way, the Firefly system could enjoy the most substantial and stable profits the smartphone industry had to offer.
Steve Jobs remained relentless. "Eric, if you refuse to grant ARM license to Apple, we will pursue legal action based on the evidence we have."
In the conference room, everyone exchanged strange glances at Jobs's threats. Even Larry Ellison, sitting next to Eric, couldn't help but shoot a side-eye at his friend. Eric decisively dismissed the forr Apple board mbers, removing the biggest obstacle to controlling Apple. It seed petty to dwell on a minor issue now, which made Larry feel that Jobs was being quite ungrateful.
"Whether you sue or not is your business," Eric replied nonchalantly. "But Steve, if I were you, I wouldn't waste ti on these matters. You should focus on how to revive Apple. Furthermore," Eric glanced at the remaining mbers of the original Apple board, "even though they've left, Firefly Investnts expects a board seat and corresponding voting rights in the new board. There's no room for negotiation on that. Also, don't threaten with phrases like this is your condition to control Apple, Steve. Honestly, I couldn't care less whether you want to take back control. It's clear that here, the person who cares most about Apple is you. So, any more questions?"
Steve Jobs's expression fluctuated for a while, and when everyone thought he might explode, he fixed his penetrating gaze on Eric and said, "Apple no longer has enough liquidity. I need $300 million."
"Larry raised a total of $2.5 billion, and after buying Apple, there's still $50 million left. I can give everyone a heads-up that this money doesn't need to be returned to the investors. Firefly Investnts can top up another $50 million and give you $100 million for now. We'll discuss more later."
"The software from Yahoo has faced delays on operating systems other than Windows, and it's not very refined. I want the Apple operating system to receive treatnt equal to that of Microsoft."
"I can't guarantee that Yahoo's software will sync with the Apple operating system like it does with Microsoft, but I'll instruct them to make improvents on the shortcomings. Anything else?"
Jobs thought for a mont and shook his head.
"Then it's settled. I need to head over to Oakland for a bit. I'll take my leave." Eric said, nodding to the others as he stood to exit the conference room. Larry Ellison exchanged a look with Jobs, but seeing he didn't move, reluctantly stood up to accompany Eric.
In the conference room, others began to rise as well. Jobs, however, remained seated like a statue, watching Eric disappear, his expression complex.
...
With the rise of Silicon Valley, affluent individuals amassed fortunes in the high-tech industry, and Atherton, northwest of Palo Alto, gradually beca one of San Francisco's most renowned enclaves for the wealthy.
As evening approached, in a picturesque Atherton ho surrounded by lush greenery, Caroline politely sent off a few cleaning staff and returned to the living room where lanie stood at a fax machine receiving docunts from Los Angeles, her gaze fixated on a solid wood dining table nearby.
"What are you looking at, l?" Caroline walked over to help lanie organize the docunts while curiously glancing in the direction of the table.
"Look," lanie pointed to the table. "The decor in this house is mostly warm-toned, but this table, while it's light yellow wood, leans toward a cooler tone."
"What's wrong with that? I don't think it's a big deal," Caroline replied, puzzled.
"Eric ntioned he bought this place because his obsession with cleanliness has gotten worse, making him reluctant to stay in hotels. Cleanliness is a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder," lanie said. "Think about it, would he feel comfortable seeing this table?"
Caroline laughed. "Eric isn't that picky."
"This isn't about being picky; it's a disorder. Didn't soone say that Eric is reminiscent of the late Howard Hughes? A case of obsessive cleanliness got so severe that Hughes eventually couldn't eat, leading to his slow decline," lanie explained.
Worry etched across Caroline's face as she circled the table. "It shouldn't be that severe, right?"
lanie approached, pointing at a spot near the fruit bowl. "This table may be okay, but look here; there's a scratch. It's small but noticeable. Ha! When he gets back, I'll show it to him, and we can watch him squirm."
Caroline picked up the fruit bowl and placed it over the scratch, raising her chin defiantly at lanie. "l, you can't tease Eric like that."
lanie glanced at the shifted bowl, a mischievous smile forming at the corner of her mouth, and nodded. "Alright, I won't say anything. But I'm standing up for you. That guy wants to keep you around while shirking his responsibilities -- it's outrageous."
Caroline shook her head while organizing her docunts. "I don't want Eric to be responsible for . I'm not a child."
"Aw, poor little Carly," lanie said, forcibly embracing Caroline. The two girls then went through the resus just received from Los Angeles. Since lanie and Caroline had vacated their previous positions as Eric's assistants, the roles needed filling.
While sorting through the pile of personal resus, lanie suddenly pulled one out, staring at the photo on it. "Wow, this girl's really pretty. Carly, for your own sake, I suggest we toss this resu."
Caroline snatched the resu from lanie's hand, displeased. "l, we can't do that. It's unethical." She looked down at the resu, which belonged to a girl nad Marissa Mayer. Even though it was just an ID photo, she did look lovely. "But, um, she's just an undergraduate from Stanford's computer departnt. She might not et Eric's standards."
lanie knew Carly wouldn't allow her to play around, but still, she took the resu again, hiding it at the bottom of the pile and said, "Ms. Haynes personally interviewed her. If she didn't et the criteria, do you think she'd be in this pile?"
This ti, Caroline allowed lanie's little antics to pass. The two organized the docunts, and the sound of engines revving outside indicated the arrival of vehicles.
...
The two girls stepped out to greet Eric, who was curiously surveying the luxury ho. This property, around a hectare, was one Eric had recently purchased. With Firefly Electronics and other ventures growing, he anticipated needing a place to stay in San Francisco more often, and Eric had begun to dislike staying in hotels. Now that he could afford to buy property wherever he was interested, this mansion was a result.
lanie greeted Eric and led a few bodyguards to a small villa on the west side of the estate designed for security personnel. After a brief introduction, she returned to the main house. Entering the living room, she saw Caroline erging from the kitchen with a coffee pot, while Eric relaxed on the sofa, leg crossed, going through so docunts.
Eric looked up at lanie and asked, "All set?"
lanie nodded, her gaze drifting to the long table on the west side of the living room. The pile of resus was still there. Her eyes darted around before she casually said, "Eric, Los Angeles just sent over resus for the assistant position. Do you want to take a look?"
Eric accepted a coffee cup from Caroline and, following lanie's indication, realized it would be easier to read the docunts at the long table. Nodding, he stood up and walked over.
Caroline watched the mischievous grin on lanie's face, feeling helpless. Without putting down the coffee pot, she quickly followed.
Eric sat at the long table and was about to pick up the stack of resus when he idly noticed the fruit bowl, feeling it was slightly askew. Instinctively, he reached out and pushed the bowl to the center of the table.
lanie noticed Eric's motion and nearly burst out laughing.
Caroline shot a glare at lanie, preparing to say sothing to divert Eric's attention when she noticed his gaze settle on the small scratch on the table.
Eric scrutinized the mark for a while, internally repeating "it doesn't matter" a hundred tis. Eventually, however, he couldn't help but look up, about to say sothing when he caught an unexpected smile still on lanie's face.
Suddenly understanding, he pointed at the scratch and asked, "Did you do this?"
lanie quickly shook her head. "Of course not. It was already there."
"I instructed that all the furniture here needed to be replaced with new items. How could there be any defects?"
Feeling Eric's intense gaze, lanie turned slightly anxious and shifted closer to Caroline, continuing to shake her head. "I don't know either."
Eric glanced at where he had just sat, then directed his eyes back to the fruit bowl and the pile of resus before stating, "So, it must've been you then. To dare play tricks on the boss, you've got so nerve."
Caroline sensed lanie's desire to escape, promptly stepping in to explain. "Eric, that scratch was there before. I moved the fruit bowl."
By this point, Eric likely understood the situation and replied, "Alright then, lanie, call soone to bring in a new table. And the cost will co out of your paycheck."
lanie opened her mouth in shock, feeling as though she might cry. The furniture in this mansion certainly wasn't cheap. Just this one table could equate to a few months' salary.
Caroline had seen the purchasing budget for all the furniture, knowing this seemingly plain German imported table cost an outrageous $25,000. She imdiately interjected, "Eric, please don't do that. This table is very expensive."
Hearing Caroline's pleading tone and noticing lanie's tearful expression, Eric decided against intimidation, smiling instead. He stood up with the stack of docunts and said to lanie, "Alright, I'll let you off this ti. Next ti you pull a stunt like this, you'll definitely lose a couple of months' salary."
lanie sighed in relief. Although she often sympathized with Caroline, deep down, she held a significant amount of awe for Eric, given his growing wealth and power. With her broader life experiences compared to the more innocent Caroline, she understood the weight of Eric's influence and status in society.
After this little incident, lanie couldn't help but reflect, vowing never to toy with such thoughts again. After all, she quietly valued this job, which offered substantial rewards and bright prospects, even more than Caroline did.
*****
spatreon/Sayonara816.
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