It was hopeless. A deadlock. I had spent the entire day in trying to convince Sergey and Larry that the takeover of Google was probably the best thing that happened to them, and it was best for the industry. Now older and probably used to bulldozing others into submission rather than being at the receiving end, I could understand what they were going through emotionally. But as the chairman and CEO of one of the world's largest software firms, and as someone who probably looked like a lone ranger on the planet Jupiter to two tiny guys standing on Earth, I had to do what would be better for not only this industry but also to instill stability in an otherwise rocky financial market.
Aboard my private jet with them, I was trying to gather my thoughts together. Larry looked lost in own thoughts. I was tempted to think that he was reminiscing his better days. I saw him looking outside the window. He chirped, "Well, it does look like a bright and sunny day today!". Sergey looked grumpy, but his eyes soon lit up when the beautiful stewardess got him his favorite chocolate sundae. I hoped that they would listen to a voice of reason now, rather than acting as 30-something spoilt billionaires that they were not so long ago. I set aside the official papers that I was holding and just observed them from across the table.
"How is the sundae?"
"Good. No better. Oh heck, best I have tasted in a long time."
"It has to be."
Larry, who was quiet till now, interjected.
"Where is my strawberry-topped vanilla milkshake?"
"It is taking some time to prepare. Worth the wait, you will see."
"Hmm-mmm."
I had to thank my stars that Chef Ashwin was flown in specially from Venice for this. He was expensive, but hell, the best in the business.
"Who made this? Heavenly, would be the right word."
"Aw, you will meet him soon."
Right then, a bespectacled chef with a majestic hat came in. He was HIM. The greatest chef of all time. Personally bringing Larry his milkshake.
Larry looked inquiringly.And reluctantly took a sip.
"Holy Google! It is FAN-T-A-STIC!"
The great chef took a bow. I snapped my fingers, indicating that we wanted to be alone. He took the cue and left.
I am always a believer in trusting one's instincts. The fact that there was a sudden change in the atmosphere was irrefutable. I sensed that something very very important was going to take place in a few moments. Larry looked at me with the slightly twitchy look which he always gave when he seemed excited.
"Well, Sergey, old chap, let us put the man out of his misery."
"I agree."
"Boys, boys. Thank you!"
And the rest as they say, is history.
Aboard my private jet with them, I was trying to gather my thoughts together. Larry looked lost in own thoughts. I was tempted to think that he was reminiscing his better days. I saw him looking outside the window. He chirped, "Well, it does look like a bright and sunny day today!". Sergey looked grumpy, but his eyes soon lit up when the beautiful stewardess got him his favorite chocolate sundae. I hoped that they would listen to a voice of reason now, rather than acting as 30-something spoilt billionaires that they were not so long ago. I set aside the official papers that I was holding and just observed them from across the table.
"How is the sundae?"
"Good. No better. Oh heck, best I have tasted in a long time."
"It has to be."
Larry, who was quiet till now, interjected.
"Where is my strawberry-topped vanilla milkshake?"
"It is taking some time to prepare. Worth the wait, you will see."
"Hmm-mmm."
I had to thank my stars that Chef Ashwin was flown in specially from Venice for this. He was expensive, but hell, the best in the business.
"Who made this? Heavenly, would be the right word."
"Aw, you will meet him soon."
Right then, a bespectacled chef with a majestic hat came in. He was HIM. The greatest chef of all time. Personally bringing Larry his milkshake.
Larry looked inquiringly.And reluctantly took a sip.
"Holy Google! It is FAN-T-A-STIC!"
The great chef took a bow. I snapped my fingers, indicating that we wanted to be alone. He took the cue and left.
I am always a believer in trusting one's instincts. The fact that there was a sudden change in the atmosphere was irrefutable. I sensed that something very very important was going to take place in a few moments. Larry looked at me with the slightly twitchy look which he always gave when he seemed excited.
"Well, Sergey, old chap, let us put the man out of his misery."
"I agree."
"Boys, boys. Thank you!"
And the rest as they say, is history.
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