Chapter 224: A Frustrated Encounter Website Boss - Detective Chuck, This Isn't Over!
Chuck left with Alex.
Erica, the wife of the other party in the conflict, quickly arrived.
"Alex, are you alright?" Erica asked with concern.
"I'm fine," Alex said with a wry smile. "I just never expected this to happen. Andrew seemed perfectly normal at the time; there was no sign of anything wrong."
"Don't think about it. It's not your fault," Erica reassured her, then glanced at Chuck. "It's not anyone's fault either; nobody wanted this to happen."
"Yes," Alex nodded. "Now we can only give Andrew's family more money."
"Speaking of money, I heard you asked John to pay a huge sum of $12 million in compensation?" Erica asked, puzzled. "Where did that number come from?"
Alex looked at Chuck, equally confused about the figure.
"The maximum estimate from the law firm," Chuck stated. "Do you think there's a problem?"
"Of course there's a problem," Erica couldn't hold back any longer. "This number is too high—too high for Encounter.com to support. We can't possibly pay this money."
Then, worried that her tone was too harsh and she might argue with Chuck like her husband had, she quickly looked at Alex, appealing to her emotions. "Alex, you know Encounter.com's situation. It's not that I don't want to pay this money, it's just that we don't have that much. I've done everything I can to keep other people's jobs. If we pay this money, even more employees will be laid off. Who knows if another tragedy like Andrew's will happen? You don't want that, do you?"
"Chuck..." Alex also looked at Chuck with concern.
"You have the money!" Chuck said calmly. "You have to pay this amount, and you can't fire employees for this reason."
"Why?" Erica finally understood why her husband was so angry. Even she was annoyed by Chuck's attitude. "We don't have the money!"
"Don't be angry. This isn't necessarily a bad thing for you," Alex liked Erica and didn't want to create conflict, so she subtly hinted.
"..." Erica saw Alex winking at her and instantly understood what Alex meant. Her face darkened.
Paying such a large sum of money wasn't necessarily a bad thing? Alex was clearly referring to Erica's earlier complaint about her husband having a real escort service guidebook hidden in his Bible.
Well, the logic was that less money meant fewer opportunities to buy services from those women, right?
"Alex, do you really think a man would deprive himself for someone else?" Erica bluntly pointed out, sneering. "You can't be that naive, can you? It's one thing for others to suffer, but do you really think it's possible for him to sacrifice his own pleasures?"
"Ah, this..." Alex hadn't expected Erica to be so direct, catching her off guard. At the same time, she felt Erica's words made sense, and hesitated before looking at Chuck again.
For a man, it's true that he wouldn't want to deprive himself!
Erica felt a surge of smugness.
She might not be able to handle Chuck, but controlling Alex was easy. As the owner of the dating website, she naturally stood with her husband on this matter and wouldn't agree to pay the exorbitant $12 million in compensation.
However, compared to her husband, who was furious, smashing things and making threats, she was much calmer. She guessed that Chuck must have a reason for saying that, so she proactively came to gather information to make the most rational choice.
"You've got plenty of money!" Chuck's attitude remained unchanged. "Websites like X Art, in which you hold shares, provide you with a steady stream of cash flow. If you're willing, it's not impossible for your wealth to surge by $12 million in a short period."
Erica's eyes narrowed; she immediately understood Chuck's implication.
Adult websites like X Art are legal businesses in the US, and compared to other businesses, this one has unique advantages.
It's closely related to the adult entertainment industry, boasts high profits, and, more importantly, leverages the "Internet Plus" model, upgrading a traditional service industry into an internet industry, instantly granting it unlimited potential.
Furthermore, it has some ties to art and film—otherwise it wouldn't be called an "art website."
As everyone knows, the art and film industries are rife with financial manipulation; high premiums and valuations are the norm, and inflated transactions are commonplace.
An industry with unlimited market expansion and boundless imagination, capable of unlimited high premiums and valuations, is incredibly easy to manipulate, making it particularly suitable for money laundering.
After all, on the other end of the computer, nobody knows who you really are.
Moreover, many of the website's content providers are people who need to launder money.
Think of the chaos during Hollywood's heyday; expand upon that chaos and you can apply it to this situation.
John Foley owns shares in numerous websites like X Art; a little thought reveals he must have intricate connections with some dangerous people.
Such a person can't withstand scrutiny.
"Are you serious?" Erica looked at Chuck in disbelief. "You're going to this extent for someone you don't even know?"
Offending a billionaire is already risky business, but Chuck seems unconcerned about offending even more dangerous people, all for a dead stranger. She couldn't understand it.
"I don't like going back on my word," Chuck said calmly.
"Wait a moment," seeing Chuck's seriousness, Erica hesitated, then picked up the phone and went out.
"Or maybe we should just forget about it?" Alex had guessed there was more to this than met the eye and advised. "I know you're trying to make me feel better, but $2 million is enough—don't ask for more. I'll listen to you from now on and I don't plan to do this anymore."
"Don't worry, they'll change their minds," Chuck said confidently.
"What if they don't?" Alex asked worriedly.
"Then I'll make them agree," Chuck said expressionlessly. "Like I said, the words have already been spoken, and I don't like changes."
After a while, Erica returned with a grave expression.
"What did he say?" Alex's heart sank.
"John still disagrees," Erica said with a wry smile. "He's furious this time, feels like he's lost face, and doesn't care at all. He says he's not afraid of Chuck investigating because there's nothing to hide. Even if there are problems, he's only a shareholder and doesn't know anything else. Besides, his legal team isn't pushover."
She looked at Chuck. "What do you think? How about you both compromise and ask for less?"
"No, I won't go back on my word," Chuck shook his head. "He might be able to say he only has a stake in websites like X Art and doesn't know anything else, but what about Encounter.com?"
"Encounter.com?" Erica's eyes widened in alarm. "What does this have to do with Encounter.com?"
The profits from websites like X Art belong to her husband and have little to do with her, but Encounter.com is her life's work. If it has this much trouble, she can't just stand by.
"You really don't know?" Chuck looked at her.
"What do I know?" Erica forced a calm demeanor.
Alex noticed Erica's unusual mood and wondered what was wrong with Encounter.com. Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind, and she remembered Erica talking about the origin of Encounter.com. She seemed to understand something and stared at Erica in shock.
"What is an encounter? An unexpected meeting," Chuck said. "If there's prior expectation and arrangement, is it still an encounter? And what is the ultimate form of such an 'encounter'? It's nothing more than going back from 'Internet Plus' to a traditional service industry."
Alex showed an expression of certainty.
She had just remembered Erica mentioning her husband's initial motivation for founding Encounter.com. As the founder and a long-time user, Encounter.com inherently possessed the characteristics of an escort service. It wasn't so obvious before, hidden under the guise of finding true love for ordinary people, but upon closer reflection, wasn't there also 'premium service' for high-end paying clients?
For example, what kind of service would wealthy people like John Foley want?
Then she couldn't help but wonder if Erica knew about these things. She guessed that Erica knew, or at least tacitly approved.
Because in this bad market environment, with the need for large-scale layoffs, the good days of endlessly burning investor money are over. In order to keep the website alive, some paid services must be implemented.
But how easy is it to earn money from ordinary people compared to the money from the wealthy?
No wonder she had seen Erica personally working with attractive female members, teaching them makeup techniques, image consulting, and even giving them coaching on conversation skills and discussing their dreams...
"This is a misunderstanding from outsiders," Erica forced a smile. "Anything can be attacked if someone nitpicks, but we at Encounter.com aren't afraid of that."
This was the truth.
Various groups had already publicly expressed their dissatisfaction with Encounter.com, pointing out the possible issues behind their practices, but the results were always lukewarm; instead, it attracted even more people curious about this new world.
"You weren't afraid before," Chuck said, looking at her. "Because no powerful figure challenged you, and you could handle these issues with just your law firm, without using any connections. But things are different now.
With just lawyers, you'll have a hard time getting rid of this trouble.
However, you still have your strengths because you have extensive connections, especially through the dating website, which allows you to quickly accumulate very advantageous relationships. I think this is Mr. Foley's biggest asset.
I'm sure that in court, no matter how unfavorable the evidence is, the outcome will be in your favor.
But unfortunately, every advantage has its disadvantage. Once the media exposes concrete evidence of this possible operation, under the storm of public opinion, those connections that benefit your arrangement will turn against you to maintain their image and avoid being seen as your 'high-end paid clients.'"
"What concrete evidence?" Erica asked, startled.
"I think you should tell your husband about this," Chuck reminded her.
Erica remained silent, took out her phone, and went out again.
"Do you have concrete evidence?" Alex asked.
"No," Chuck shook his head.
"...Then why did you say that?" Alex was stunned.
"It doesn't matter whether I have it or not," Chuck said. "As long as I investigate, I'll find it."
"What if they still don't agree?" Alex's lips twitched.
"Then continue," Chuck said bluntly. "With all their flaws, I can always persuade them."
"You have other leverage?" Alex looked at Chuck in amazement.
"Too many," Chuck nodded.
This time, Erica didn't return for a long time. As soon as she entered the door, she turned away to wipe her tears.
"Erica," Alex was startled and quickly went over to ask. "What's wrong?"
"I'm fine," Erica wiped away her tears and forced a heartbreaking smile at Alex. "John and I argued again. We might really not be able to make it."
"He still won't compromise?" Alex looked at her with pity.
"I asked him to put aside his ego for the sake of Encounter.com, but he wouldn't agree," Erica said, her eyes brimming with tears. "Encounter.com is everything to me, but not to John. He'd rather Encounter.com go bankrupt than lose face again."
She reached out and grabbed Alex's hand, pleading through her tears. "Alex, how about this? I'll give Andrew's family a million dollars myself, and that'll be the end of it. I want to give more, but I really don't have any more money. Encounter.com is everything to me; I can't watch it go bankrupt... Waaah!"
"Erica," Alex said, embracing Erica who had collapsed into her arms sobbing. She looked at Chuck with conflicted emotions.
"Not bad acting," Chuck said unmoved. "But you've chosen the wrong audience. If you really care about the future of Encounter.com, then you should put that same performance on for your husband. There are less than seven hours until tomorrow."
"..." Erica stared at Chuck in disbelief. Even after all this, Chuck wouldn't budge. Did he have no sympathy whatsoever?
"Alex?" Erica looked at her pleadingly.
"Chuck's decision is final. No one can change it. Why don't you go back and try to persuade your husband again? Hurry," Alex sensed Chuck's firmness and completely abandoned any thought of backing down. She sincerely advised, "What if someone tries to set you up... not everyone is as easy to deal with as Peter Florrick."
Erica's eyes changed as she looked at Alex.
She truly hadn't expected Alex to utter such a veiled threat.
Peter Florrick was the husband of Alicia Florrick, the famous "good wife," the former Illinois State's Attorney, and a potential future political figure. His recent downfall was due to his involvement in prostitution scandals, which was exposed.
Fortunately, this had nothing to do with Encounter.com.
But if it were related to Encounter.com, the problem would be serious. Encounter.com and her husband's businesses weren't exactly too big to fail. If they were involved in a major scandal like this, Encounter.com and their clients would definitely be in serious trouble.
Sex scandals are the least sophisticated yet most effective, because once exposed, it's incredibly difficult to prove one's innocence and severely damages a public figure's image and family relationships.
Peter Florrick was able to run for office again after his release because his wife didn't divorce him like most wives would; instead, she used family values as a shield to save him.
But others might not have a lawyer wife who is so rational and knows how to calculate the costs and benefits.
If Encounter.com is exposed, it will be mutually destructive, and the retaliation that the website and the couple might suffer would be unbearable.
And this isn't just paranoia; Encounter.com, now focusing on cultivating high-end paid clients, has already attracted criminals who are targeting its selected user base for blackmail through hidden recordings.
Aside from the potential retaliation, just the way their reputation would be destroyed—how will they earn money from these high-end paid clients in the future?
"I'll go back and try to persuade John again!" Erica could no longer feign vulnerability, quickly wiping away her tears and walking out.
The Foley family estate.
Erica explained the pros and cons, repeatedly urging her enraged husband to compromise. "John, don't be angry. $12 million is a lot, but it won't cripple us. However, if we provoke Detective Chuck, just listening to his casual remarks is enough to make us unable to bear the potential consequences... Just give it to him, consider it a charitable donation, and you'll get a good reputation."
"...Fine, I'll give it to him," after venting his anger, John Foley finally calmed down a bit, gritted his teeth, and nodded, his face full of anger and resentment. "Chuck Wolfe, I'm not done with you!"
"Don't provoke him," Erica breathed a sigh of relief when her husband agreed to pay, and advised. "It's not like you're the only one who's had conflicts with him. Senators, congressmen, billionaires—who's worse off than you? Where are they now?"
"..." John Foley was speechless. He watched as Erica called Alex, agreeing to Chuck's demand of $12 million. After hanging up, he angrily cursed again, "This is absolutely not over!!!"
(End of Chapter)
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