A day after the announcement of the contract winner, Mr. Russell was at his desk, sitting there for almost an hour as Sam Insull informed him that Mr. Morgan is coming at three o'clock.
It was three minutes past the hour when a soft knock echoed through the office. The door creaked open, revealing a tall, imposing figure with a stern expression. It was Mr. Morgan.
"Mr. Russell," he greeted. "I apologize for my tardiness. I hope you haven't been waiting too long."
Mr. Russell looked up, his eyes meeting Mr. Morgan's. He could sense the gravity of the situation, and the weight of defeat hung heavy in the air. "Not at all, Mr. Morgan. Please, have a seat," he replied somberly, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk.
Mr. Morgan settled into the seat, his gaze unwavering. "I assume you know why I'm here," he said, cutting straight to the point.
"Yes, I do," Mr. Russell replied, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. "I understand the terms of our agreement."
"Good," Mr. Morgan said with a faint nod. "Then you know what this means."
The room fell into a tense silence as both men stared at each other, each well aware of the consequences. Losing the contract for the Chicago World's Fair meant more than just a financial setback; it meant the potential loss of everything Mr. Russell had worked so hard to build.
"I won't sugarcoat it, Mr. Russell," Mr. Morgan continued, his voice firm. "You've disappointed me. I expected better from someone of your caliber."
Mr. Russell swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his own disappointment and failure.
"I did my best, Mr. Morgan. The Axelsen and Nielsen system is just better than mine, and in the end, the council made their logical decision."
Mr. Morgan leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "Your best wasn't enough. And in this business, excuses don't matter. Results do."
"I understand," Mr. Russell replied quietly.
"Good," Mr. Morgan said, leaning back in his chair. "Now, let's talk about the future of Russell Illumination Company. As per our agreement, the company now belongs to me. However, I'm not heartless, and I believe in rewarding talent and expertise. So here's how it is going to go down: You will receive a substantial stock package, ensuring that you have a stake in the company's success even under my ownership. Additionally, I see value in your insights, so you will retain a seat on the board."
"What's going to happen to the Russell Illumination Company?" Mr. Russell asked, as if not caring about the offer he just received.
"Ah...yeah, I kind of omitted that," Mr. Morgan admitted. "So, the Russell Illumination Company. I called Mr. Nielsen yesterday and offered him that I'll sell this company to them. Mr. Nielsen said that they are willing to buy the company, basically acquiring it."
Mr. Russell's eyes widened in surprise. "You've already arranged a deal with Axelsen and Nielsen?"
"Yes, I wanted to ensure a smooth transition," Mr. Morgan replied. "With that, Axelsen and Nielsen will have complete domination and monopoly over the entire United States electrical market."
Mr. Russell nodded, absorbing the magnitude of the decision. The thought of the company he had built falling into the hands of a competitor was bitter, but he also understood that this was the true nature of business. It's a dog eat dog.
"So just like that, huh?" Mr. Russell sighed weakly. "My name in the electrical world disappeared like a flickering light."
"That's basically what's going to happen, Mr. Russell," Mr. Morgan said. "So, let me repeat what you are going to receive from this…"
"Oh, no, you don't need to repeat it," Mr. Russell interrupted. "I won't accept the stocks and the seat on the board."
Mr. Morgan's expression shifted, surprised by Mr. Russell's response. "Are you sure about that, Mr. Russell? This is a generous offer, and it ensures you'll still be involved in the industry you have started…"
"I appreciate the gesture, Mr. Morgan," Mr. Russell said. "I don't want to be associated with electricity anymore. I'm shifting my attention to a new industry."
"The motion capture?" Mr. Morgan finished his sentence, his eyes narrowing with curiosity.
"Yes," Mr. Russell confirmed. "I have a lot of ideas that it would take me two lifetimes to explore fully. So, Axelsen and Nielsen can have their lights at the fair."
"Very well, Mr. Russell. I respect your decision sincerely. Now, are you ready to sign the transfer of ownership documents?" Mr. Morgan said, reaching into his briefcase and pulling out a stack of papers.
Mr. Russell took a deep breath, knowing that this moment would mark the end of his journey with Russell Illumination Company. As he picked up the pen, he felt a mix of emotions—sadness for saying goodbye to a chapter of his life, but also excitement for the new possibilities that awaited him in the motion capture industry.
"I'm ready," Mr. Russell replied, his voice steady despite the emotional weight of the situation. He carefully read through the documents, ensuring that everything was in order. The papers outlined the terms of the acquisition by Axelsen and Nielsen, officially transferring ownership of Russell Illumination Company to Morgan.
As he signed each page, Mr. Russell couldn't help but glance at the logo of his company—a reminder of the countless hours he had poured into building it from the ground up, one of the moments when he and his team were filled with joy when they watched as the light bulb with carbon filament lasted for over thirteen hours. It was memorable as they tried ten thousand filaments before achieving that breakthrough.
With each signature, Mr. Morgan watched quietly, perhaps understanding the emotional weight of the moment for Mr. Russell. Once the last page was signed, Mr. Morgan extended his hand again, and Mr. Russell shook it firmly.
"Goodbye, Mr. Russell," Morgan said.
"Thank you for everything, Mr. Morgan," Mr. Russell said genuinely. "Thank you for trusting me when I reached out to you about the light bulbs."
Morgan chuckled, remembering the times when Mr. Russell would often show up to his house and convince him numerous times that the light bulbs he had invented would revolutionize the world.
"You were quite persistent, I'll give you that," Morgan replied with a faint smile.
And then, Morgan turned around and left Mr. Russell's office. Russell stood there in silence, staring at the door through which his former business partner had just exited.
"It's sad…"
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