247-248

Chapter 247: A Deal

Bernard Arnault certainly couldn't let it go easily.

Not only was the LVMH Group thriving under his leadership, with its market share steadily expanding, but the global luxury goods market was also on the verge of a significant boom.

However, being ousted from LVMH, despite owning nearly one-third of its shares, was unacceptable to anyone.

And Bernard Arnault was no ordinary individual; he was one of the wealthiest men in France. He had his resources and connections.

After exhausting considerable effort, rather than confronting Milo directly, he went through a complex web of intermediaries to seek an audience with the current occupant of the Élysée Palace, President Jacques Chirac, who had just taken office the previous year.

"Good evening, Mr. Chirac," Arnault greeted him warmly.

"Good evening, Mr. Arnault," Chirac replied.

In a private club near the Élysée Palace, Chirac, the father of Claude, welcomed this French luxury magnate.

After some polite exchanges, Bernard Arnault intended to follow the usual French custom of casual small talk before addressing the main issue.

However, Chirac cut straight to the point.

"I know why you're here," said Chirac, known as the last president of the Élysée Palace who cared about French interests. With a faint smile, he continued, "But I must apologize in advance. My secretary has already briefed me, and the Americans have acted entirely within the law this time. Unless, of course, you can find evidence of any illegalities on their part."

Chirac's direct statement left Bernard Arnault momentarily stunned.

Frustrated, he retorted almost immediately, "Mr. President, this is highly irregular! Holding 48.5% of the shares, yet before any public disclosure, neither the board of directors nor the company itself received any prior notification. If everyone acted this way, what purpose would French securities laws serve?"

Arnault wasn't entirely wrong.

In every country with financial regulations, laws are in place to protect listed companies from hostile takeovers.

Most financial laws mandate that any individual or company acquiring more than 5% of a listed company’s shares must publicly disclose their holdings or formally notify the company’s board of directors in writing.

France was no exception to this rule.

Yet, before André and his team approached LVMH’s board of directors, no notifications had been sent, and Bernard Arnault had only caught wind of the situation a few days prior.

Before he could verify the rumors, the takeover had already happened.

If this wasn’t a hostile takeover, then what was?

"Have you read the latest report in Le Monde?" Chirac asked with a calm expression.

Shaking his head slightly, Chirac continued, "It outlines seven legal methods to achieve such an outcome."

Before Arnault could respond, the President of the Élysée Palace added, "I must admit, our country’s financial regulations still have some loopholes. This incident has reminded me that I should propose amendments to Parliament to address these gaps."

Arnault, feeling helpless, realized that the Élysée Palace was likely taking a neutral stance on this matter.

But in this scenario, Bernard Arnault was at a disadvantage, while the Americans held the upper hand.

For the French government, represented by the Élysée Palace, to remain neutral in such a situation was effectively siding with the Americans.

Taking a deep breath to regain his composure, Arnault fixed his gaze on Chirac. "Amending legal loopholes is the work of Parliament. What I want to know, Mr. President, is whether you will simply stand by and watch a major French enterprise fall into American hands."

"You’re mistaken, Mr. Arnault. Regardless of who its shareholders are, LVMH’s factories, headquarters, and most of its employees will always remain in France. In essence, even if all its shares are owned by foreigners, LVMH will still be a French company."

"My apologies for not being of more help. I have other matters to attend to. Good evening, Mr. Arnault," Chirac said, dismissing him.

Despite his frustration, Arnault had no choice but to leave with a grim expression.

Shortly after Arnault left, a beautiful young woman entered the meeting room where he had met with Chirac.

Looking at her, Chirac couldn't help but comment, "His final question left me somewhat unsettled."

Claude, Chirac’s daughter, didn’t need to ask; she knew her father was referring to Arnault’s parting words: "Will you stand by and watch a French enterprise fall into American hands?"

Claude replied, "But it was never truly Arnault’s company. He took it from the Vuitton family. And, Father, is Bernard Arnault entirely clean? His funding also came from America."

"Besides, compared to the more significant national interests at stake, I don’t think a luxury company is worth jeopardizing the credibility of the Élysée Palace."

"Father, this is a deal. We haven’t lost; in fact, we’ve gained something."

Chirac nodded slightly in agreement.

Then, turning to his daughter, he asked with a skeptical expression, "Claude, I heard you had an argument with Nicolas?"

Nicolas, Chirac’s daughter Claude’s boyfriend, worked for an influential newspaper and was a renowned young social commentator. The couple had been together for over a year.

Hearing her father’s question, Claude looked visibly uncomfortable.

She shook her head gently. "Nicolas is overly sensitive."

"Is it that Nicolas is too sensitive, or that you’ve been getting too close to the Americans?" Chirac’s tone grew serious. "I heard from Lawrence that you were acting as a guide for them yesterday."

Claude’s unease deepened.

Changing the subject, she said, "Father, I was doing it to help you. Just like this deal—he promised to change his stance toward us in Africa. Isn’t that something that’s been troubling you? And now we’ve resolved it."

Chirac remained silent.

Indeed, this was why he had refrained from intervening in the questionable LVMH stock acquisition.

Through his daughter, the Americans had conveyed a message:

As long as the Élysée Palace remained neutral in this matter, the globally influential PMC United Worldwide would start accepting contracts from the French in the CFA franc zone in Africa.

This would resolve a year-long headache for France—a challenge the previous administration had been unable to tackle.

Chirac easily resolved the issue.

This earned him favor with the French military and the major domestic financial conglomerates with enormous interests in the CFA franc zone.

Compared to those, what is a luxury goods conglomerate that doesn't affect the global economy? It's not like they’re dealing with giants like Airbus or Louis-Dreyfus, which are critical to the nation’s economy.

If the Americans were targeting such companies, anyone in power would fight tooth and nail to resist.

"I also heard he acquired multiple newspapers. But what surprised me was that Le Monde actually spoke on his behalf this time," Chirac shifted the topic.

Le Monde is one of the most influential newspapers in France.

It prides itself on independence, aligning with no political party or corporate interest, and it doesn’t accept government subsidies.

The shares of the newspaper are entirely owned by its staff and editorial board.

Historically, about 49% of the shares were held by journalists, editors, and management staff, while 11% were "automatic shares" belonging to the leadership.

These automatic shares, referred to by the French as "dry shares" or "profit shares," grant dividends but cannot be sold. Whoever serves as the newspaper’s director holds these shares.

Moreover, the paper focuses heavily on international and political news.

Yet this time, it reported extensively on the acquisition of LVMH by Americans and, from Chirac’s perspective, was clearly biased toward the Americans.

If there wasn’t a hidden story here, Chirac absolutely wouldn’t believe it.

“Klein Jodet’s wife holds dual citizenship in France and the United States,” Claude whispered.

Klein Jodet was the current director of Le Monde. 

Chirac instantly understood what was going on.

He waved a hand, signaling Claude to leave it at that.

---

For Bernard Arnault, things took a drastic turn for the worse.

With transactions happening between both sides in Africa, the Élysée Palace’s stance became crystal clear.

Especially after the head of the Securities Commission received a special notice through internal channels, they knew exactly what to do.

With such directives, even if Paladin Investments had engaged in irregularities, the Securities Commission might have covered it up.

But with Milo's meticulous methods, the acquisition was flawless on paper, leaving no trace of violations.

The Securities Commission displayed unprecedented efficiency!

So efficient, in fact, that the public was stunned!

From receiving the report to concluding the investigation, only 29 hours had passed!

Shortly after the stock market closed for the day but before the Commission had wrapped up work, they publicly released the entire investigation’s results and conclusions.

The results were also sent to the whistleblower, Bernard Arnault, and the accused, Paladin Investments.

Seeing the conclusion, “Your report is unfounded; Paladin Investments’ acquisition process was legal and compliant,” Bernard Arnault’s face darkened.

Since yesterday’s meeting with Chirac, he had considered the possibility of an unfavorable outcome.

But he didn’t expect the conclusion to come this quickly!

What’s more, when he read the Securities Commission’s attached notice about the administrative penalties for his false accusations, he was so furious he nearly spat blood.

After calming down, Bernard Arnault regretted filing the complaint, realizing it was a grave misstep.

Because now, from a legal perspective, it essentially proved the Americans’ acquisition was legitimate.

The one acting illegally was, in fact, himself, the chairman of LVMH.

This had a massive impact on public opinion and worked against his attempt to rally French citizens in his favor.

Sure enough, the next morning, as many French newspapers reported on the investigation results, Bernard Arnault became the laughingstock of readers.

Meanwhile, Paladin Investments became a household name in France, and the positive repercussions of their actions would continue to unfold...

---

Time flew by, and soon it was the day of LVMH's emergency shareholders' meeting.

When the meeting convened, Bernard Arnault didn’t attend. Instead, he sent a representative to gather information.

As for resisting?

Impossible.

He couldn’t resist even if he wanted to.

Yes, he held 33.4% of LVMH’s shares.

But in just a few days, the Americans had increased their stake from 48.5% to a staggering 57.5%!

More than half.

And where did this new portion come from?

From the 9% shares held by the Vuitton family.

Previously allies of Bernard Arnault, this time, they betrayed him under the Americans’ persuasion and incentives.

Not only did they receive a 30% premium on the sale of their shares, but they also secured a permanent seat on LVMH’s board.

Though it was just one seat, similar to the other two major families, they got both money and prestige.

The key was that they all knew Bernard Arnault’s ambitions.

Putting themselves in his shoes, if he gained control of LVMH, he’d never treat them this generously.

So, when the conditions were right, and with the other two families and Alain lobbying them, the Vuitton family decisively jumped ship and stabbed Bernard Arnault in the back.

Now, with Paladin Investments holding more than half the shares, they had an absolute majority in the upcoming vote.

How could Bernard Arnault resist?

The emergency shareholders’ meeting became a one-sided affair for Paladin Investments. The board was re-elected, and the majority of seats went to Paladin Investments.

Immediately afterward, an emergency board meeting was held, and Paladin Investments naturally controlled it as well.

The board elected Alain Chevalier as the new chairman and appointed him as CEO.

The chairman position, originally held by Bernard Arnault, was abolished.

Arnault’s representative sat through the meeting with a dark expression until the privatization resolution was passed. At that point, they stormed out in anger.

After the meeting, Alain, in his capacity as LVMH’s chairman, submitted a delisting and privatization application to the Paris Stock Exchange.

The privatization price was set at 350 francs per share, significantly higher than the last market price before the company’s trading halt.

Thankfully, Paladin Investments had preemptively suspended trading under the guise of insufficient floating shares.

Otherwise, once the privatization announcement came out, the share price could’ve skyrocketed to 500 francs or more.

Now, at 350 francs per share, just 10% above market value, it was essentially a bargain.

Although many investors were dissatisfied, Paladin Investments’ actions were within the rules.

And since they had already offered a premium, investors had no choice but to accept.

According to the board’s decision, the privatization buyback was handled exclusively by Paladin Investments.

Bernard Arnault could only watch as Paladin Investments gradually acquired the remaining institutional and retail investors’ shares.

Until... Paladin Investments’ stake rose to 66.6%!

When the stock buyback was officially declared complete, Bernard Arnault, who had been closely monitoring the situation, instinctively grew nervous.

If nothing unexpected happened, the Americans would soon target him personally!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 248: Give Him Seven or Eight Kids

*Morning*

In an apartment complex in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, the chirping of birds in the surrounding woods was exceptionally noisy.

Claude opened her sleepy eyes, feeling a bit dry-eyed. She reached up to rub them and noticed a heavy weight on her chest. Looking down, she saw the large hand resting there.

No wonder, she thought with a mix of emotions.

Gently moving the hand away, she carefully sat up. The blanket slid down, revealing her beautiful curves.

Claude was a classic example of the Mediterranean phenotype among the French population, primarily found in the south, with black hair and dark eyes.

Among Western Europeans, this group tends to have the finest and smoothest skin. Comparatively, women from this background also tend to retain their youthful looks longer than the Nordic Anglo-Saxon types.

At 32 years old and unmarried, Claude’s appearance rivaled that of many 20-year-old American Anglo-Saxon women.

As she looked at Milo, who was still asleep, a slight smile tugged at the corners of her lips. He looked so adorable…

But Claude quickly shook her head in frustration. This little scoundrel was a total jerk.

Although, she couldn’t deny she was somewhat addicted to his charm and... capabilities.

Too much, she thought. He’s a monster.

Last night’s activities had been quite intense. Wrapping herself in a robe, she tiptoed out of the bedroom, closing the door softly behind her. She entered the bathroom to freshen up.

Looking at her radiant, beautiful face in the mirror, memories of the previous night’s madness made her unconsciously lick her lips. However, a tinge of melancholy quickly followed.

She thought of her ex-boyfriend, the disdainful look in his eyes, and his cruel words.

Her hands clenched slightly, anger flickering in her gaze.

Then she let out a soft sigh.

After washing up, Claude tied her dark brown-black hair into a ponytail and headed to the kitchen.

Seeing a large bag full of groceries, she began organizing them one by one.

Claude was born into a small family with only one older sister.

She had been pampered by her family since childhood and had never needed to do any chores.

But after moving out to study on her own, she’d learned how to cook.

Taking out the bread machine, she placed slices of bread inside, then glanced at the coffee Milo’s people had bought. She opened a cabinet and took out a coffee maker.

As coffee brewed, she turned on the stove, placed a frying pan on it, and added olive oil, eggs, bacon, and butter. She arranged everything methodically.

It wasn’t difficult—basic everyday skills for most people.

Sometimes Claude wondered: if she had been born into an ordinary family, with her current abilities and actions, would she pass as a good wife and mother?

Probably not.

Fortunately, she wasn’t from an ordinary family.

The Chirac family was one of the wealthiest in Paris.

They had long dominated the cheese supply in the city and, even after economic reforms, remained one of the main suppliers of cheese in Greater Paris.

They also ran businesses in real estate, supermarkets, and fishing vessel manufacturing.

While their name might not appear on France’s richest families list, they were undeniably wealthy.

Her father, who had devoted his life to politics, was now the master of the Élysée Palace. How could her life ever be considered ordinary?

Suddenly, Claude, focused on making breakfast, was enveloped by Milo’s towering presence. He hugged her slender frame from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder with a grin.

"Wow, I didn’t expect this. Who knew you could make breakfast yourself?"

Claude pouted and said, "Get up. You’re heavy. Go brush your teeth and wash your face—your morning breath is awful..."

Milo, indignant, retorted, "Nonsense! I don’t have morning breath. Smell for yourself if you don’t believe me."

Claude immediately wrinkled her nose and leaned back to dodge. No way would she smell him. Even if he didn’t have morning breath, the stale air was still unpleasant.

Annoyed, Milo pretended to pounce on her, but Claude held a spatula defensively in front of her.

"Stop it! Go away! I’m making breakfast!"

Reluctantly, Milo left the kitchen, muttering, "I was thinking about having a kitchen battle…"

Claude, wearing an apron over her pajamas, was a sight to behold. If she just took off her pajama pants…

Sure, compared to Hollywood beauties or local French actresses, her looks and figure might not measure up.

But when combined with her identity as the "First Counselor of France" and the daughter of the Élysée Palace’s master, the situation changed.

For Milo, women with stunning looks and incredible figures weren’t rare—he could have them at will.

But noble status and an intriguing soul? Those were harder to come by.

Take Claude and Eileen from next door, for example.

Claude was the daughter of France’s president. Eileen was the granddaughter of a British duke.

Winning over women with such backgrounds would be nearly impossible without Milo’s outstanding qualities as a man.

Money and power alone wouldn’t suffice.

At the dining table, Milo grinned as he ate breakfast.

He had been eating for about 20 minutes now.

The upward curve of his lips indicated just how pleased he was.

Was it Claude’s extraordinary cooking skills that made this simple breakfast so satisfying?

Of course not—this wasn’t Food Wars.  

The real reason lay in Milo’s eating demeanor.

Between bites, his breathing was uneven, and his grip on the knife and fork alternated between firm and relaxed.

"Ahh..."

Milo exhaled deeply, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

From under the table, a flushed and stunningly beautiful Claude emerged, quickly running into the bathroom.

That was the real reason for his satisfaction with breakfast.

It seemed the French were indeed better at embracing romance than their stiff British counterparts.

For instance, Eileen would never do something like this for Milo.

Claude, however, had initially refused as well.

But after a bit of coaxing—talking about love, emotions, and art, followed by a little persistence—

Thank you, romantic French women, Milo thought. Half-hearted protests turned into reluctant acceptance.

At the table, Claude glared at Milo, who wore a smug expression.

"Finish your meal and get out of here! I must be insane—oh, God..."

Milo leisurely ate his eggs, sipping coffee with a serene expression.

"Honestly, Claude, your cooking is excellent, and the coffee is perfect. I almost don’t want to leave."

"Don’t act so smug! You called me your muse, your goddess! Is this how you treat your goddess?"

Flustered, Claude slammed her knife and fork onto her plate.

Milo awkwardly scratched his nose but inwardly felt quite triumphant. Suddenly, his expression turned serious, and he fixed his gaze on her.

"About what I said last night—have you thought it over?"

Claude’s captivating eyes briefly lost focus as a contemplative look crossed her face.

*“There’s no doubt, Claude. Your father would make an excellent leader of France. But can you guarantee his successor will be competent? And honestly, this French system of governance is even more unstable than elections in the United States.”*

*“And then what? After your father steps down, who will safeguard the Chirac family’s interests? Your sister? Come on, even though I haven’t been in France for long, I can see that she’s too weak-willed, to the point of self-destructiveness. Or maybe your brother-in-law, who’s just as soft-spoken as your sister?”*

*“I don’t think any of that will work.”*

*“So, when your father steps down, where will the Chirac family go? And more importantly, where will you go?”*

*“That’s why I think you should diversify your investments. And the soon-to-be-established European Union—I think it’s an excellent opportunity.”*

Seeing Claude’s thoughtful expression, Milo smiled, thinking to himself: If Europe can one day have someone like von der Leyen leading it...

Why not his own Claude?

*“Americans probably won’t like the establishment of the European Union, will they?” Claude suddenly asked.*

Milo shrugged. *“Of course not. If there’s any country that’s least eager to see European unity, it’s definitely us Americans.”*

*“Then why would you want me to join the EU? Wouldn’t that make Americans wary of me?”*

*“Europe isn’t dictated by Americans—at least not right now. And what we oppose isn’t just a united Europe, but the possibility of the EU actually uniting all of Europe into a cohesive whole. But just think about it—imagine the centuries-long relationships between England, France, and Germany, not to mention the countless ethnic groups causing headaches. True European unity? That’s impossible.”*

Milo shook his head. *“We’re concerned, yes, but not overly worried.”*

Claude fell silent.

The European Union was, of course, the so-called European Union. Its predecessor was the European Communities, which itself originated from the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Atomic Energy Community, and the European Economic Community (or the Common Market).

In December 1991, the Maastricht Summit of the European Communities adopted the Treaty on European Union, commonly known as the Maastricht Treaty.

On November 1, 1993, the Maastricht Treaty officially went into effect, marking the formal birth of the EU.

In other words, at the end of 1997, the EU had already existed for nearly four years.

Even the euro, its official currency, was being prepared for issuance.

It had been announced that, after the turn of the century, it would replace the existing currencies of all member states, becoming a truly unified European currency.

*“And here’s the simplest fact...”*

Milo smiled. *“If you work within the EU, whether for President Chirac or for the benefit of the French people, you’ll have the chance to make a real impact.”*

*“Conversely, since President Chirac resides in the Élysée Palace, your work in Brussels is bound to be smoother.”*

It was an obvious conclusion.

France was, without a doubt, the leading power in Europe at the time.

Its international status even surpassed that of a declining Britain, let alone a Germany still struggling to recover from decades of division.

For the daughter of Europe’s most powerful leader to work in Brussels...

It would be absurd to think she wouldn’t receive preferential treatment.

Conversely, Claude could also serve as a de facto representative of Élysée Palace’s interests in the EU.

What was even more crucial... Claude couldn’t help but glance at Milo.

It seemed Milo would support her. That meant she’d also have the backing of some American forces, at the very least.

And there was no doubt—American influence in Europe was incredibly strong.

Claude was tempted.

*“I’ll seriously consider it...”*

She wanted to discuss this with her father.

Before Milo brought it up, she’d never even considered this possibility.

Her original plan had been to assist her father as a close advisor.

Then, when her father eventually left the Élysée Palace and she was of the right age...

She’d walk the same path he had.

But now, Milo’s proposal seemed quite appealing.

It was clear to any astute observer that, after the fall of the Soviet Union, America’s attempts to weaken Europe were no secret.

That’s why this current generation of capable European politicians was working so hard to promote the establishment of the EU.

They were all trying to strengthen the EU’s authority in various ways.

And with greater power concentrated in the EU, it naturally benefited those working within it.

Moreover, neither EU regulations nor French law prohibited someone who had worked in the EU from returning to a political career in their home country.

So even if her stint in the EU didn’t go as planned...

She could always return to Paris and continue her work in France.

Claude finished her breakfast in contemplative silence.

Milo checked the time—it was already past 9 a.m.

He glanced at his robe, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. He dashed into the kitchen and grabbed Claude, who was tidying up, refusing to let go.

Claude struggled to break free, but with Milo’s strength and build, it was futile. Blushing furiously, she yelled, *“Damn you! Let go of me! I’m serious, I’m sore! Next time, I promise, next time I’ll let you...”*

Milo reluctantly let go of the red-faced Claude, pouting. Only after she kissed him tenderly did he head back to the bedroom to change.

He imagined how, if everything went smoothly...

In ten or twenty years, the woman he now held might be one of Europe’s most influential leaders.

And just imagining her as the future face of Europe, bearing seven or eight of his children...

A von der Leyen of his very own!

The thought alone was exhilarating.

Not to mention the immense benefits—both to America’s national interests and his personal goals.

That’s why Milo was determined to push this forward.

If it worked, great. If not, he wouldn’t lose much.

And along the way, he could even leverage U.S. resources to support the initiative.

Washington, without a doubt, would welcome such developments.

Pulling out his phone, he made a call. David and Kenny were already waiting downstairs with their team.

This was Claude’s home in Paris’s 16th arrondissement. She lived here alone, only occasionally staying at the Élysée Palace.

Last night, Milo had shamelessly invited himself over, and his security detail had naturally followed, securing the area.

Putting on his shoes, Milo turned to Claude with a smirk. *“Aren’t you forgetting something?”*

"..." Claude, filled with shame and anger, threw a bunch of keys at Milo. Milo caught them effortlessly with a smile. "Alright, I’m leaving. Don’t forget to call me. I must say, I really miss last night’s wildness..."

"Get out!" Claude growled in a low voice, his face flushed with embarrassment.

Milo chuckled a few times, took a step forward, and pulled Claude into a tight embrace, kissing him passionately. He only let go when Claude started pounding on him. In a soft voice, he said, "I’m leaving. Take care of yourself. If anything comes up, call me. Think carefully about what I told you last night. If you agree, I’ll do everything in my power to help you."

Milo affectionately stroked Claude’s cheek as he spoke, then turned and left the apartment.

As the door closed behind him, Milo caught a glimpse of the reluctance in Claude’s eyes.

Milo shrugged and quickly descended the stairs, opting not to take the elevator—who knew what kind of people he might run into there?

Unlike the stairwell, every floor had one of his bodyguards stationed.

After reaching the ground floor, he pushed open the apartment building’s security door and saw a locally adapted Renault commercial vehicle waiting with its door already open.

Milo nodded at Kenny and quickly climbed into the car.

(End of Chapter)