Becoming a Russian Oligarch After Rebirth
Chapter 746 Girls Going Out_1

Chapter 746: Chapter 746 Girls Going Out_1

Seeing that Wang Ye looked a bit uncomfortable, Constantin laughed and asked, "What, facing some financial pressure recently? Want me to help sort out some capital for you? We’re old acquaintances after all. I don’t need to mention anything further, but we can leverage your Yukos Group shares..."

Before he could finish, Wang Ye quickly waved his hand, "Thanks for your kind offer, Mr. Constantin. But I can handle my financial issues. You don’t need to trouble yourself.

This old fox, having just invested in the Xiao Ying Group, now wants to take a shot at the Yukos Group shares.

How could Wang Ye let him get his way?

Besides, even though Wang Ye couldn’t muster that amount of money in a short period of time, it’s not like there aren’t any solutions.

Don’t forget, people like Khodorkovsky and A Bu are loaded with cash.

Given Wang Ye’s relationship with them, he could simply borrow some money. Those two wouldn’t take a shot at Wang Ye’s shares.

Seeing his plan fall apart, Constantin was slightly disappointed, but he understood that if Wang Ye were truly that "naïve," he wouldn’t be where he was today.

Refusal was expected, If Wang Ye had agreed, then Constantin himself would have had to think hard about what he was really after...

Sitting to one side, Rossiyana also understood her grandfather’s games and rolled her eyes, interjecting, "Misha controls many group companies, among them the Xiao Ying Group, New Sun Group and Siberian Gold - which are cash cows. He could easily pull funds from any one of them to cover the cost."

She was exaggerating a bit with that. If Wang Ye only needed two hundred million US dollars, then he could easily scrape that together.

But this was two billion dollars...

Besides, it was only the end of March. It wasn’t the dividend time for the group companies yet.

Additionally, some of the group companies’ profits had specific uses, it wasn’t as if Wang Ye could spend them as he pleased.

Constantin shook his head and forced a smile. Girls grow up eventually. His granddaughter had already begun defending Mikhail.

She even argued with him over certain clauses during the Petersburg discussion on investing in the Xiao Ying Group, for Mikhail’s sake.

...

Two billion dollars indeed was no small sum, it would be difficult for Wang Ye to easily amass such an amount even from his myriad group companies.

But he could borrow from Khodorkovsky and A Bu.

So, the next day, Wang Ye made a call to Khodorkovsky.

"Uncle, what have you been up to lately? It’s been a while since we last met, why don’t we have a meal and chat today?"

A hearty laugh came from the other end of the line, "Haha, you must be in need of a favor. Otherwise, with your usual busy schedule, you wouldn’t have the time for a meal with a semi-retired old man like me."

After the successful restructuring of the Yukos Group, Khodorkovsky semi-retired.

He’d been abroad on a vacation with his family and had only returned a few days earlier. Since Wang Ye was busy at the time, they exchanged only brief phone calls and didn’t meet in person.

Therefore, Khodorkovsky wasn’t wrong to say so. He wasn’t blaming Wang Ye, because he knew just how busy he was, overwhelmed by a mountain of work daily.

As for what Khodorkovsky has been up to, Wang Ye hadn’t kept track recently.

At the agreed time, Wang Ye arrived at Khodorkovsky’s residence.

Khodorkovsky no longer lived in the Yukos Group Headquarters but in a high-end apartment southwest of the city center.

This apartment, located next to a park, was quiet and well-maintained.

For whatever reason, Khodorkovsky didn’t like living in suburban mansions. His wealth was such that it wasn’t a matter of being unable to afford it.

Perhaps living alone in such places was too lonely. So he preferred to live in livelier areas...

...

Wang Ye had visited this apartment once a long time ago, shortly after he’d met Khodorkovsky.

Being a super-rich, his apartment was naturally not average. Khodorkovsky had even purchased two entire floors and combined them into a duplex.

The security was tight. As Wang Ye stepped out of the elevator, he noticed several armed guards pacing down the hall. At the sound of the elevator, they all looked in his direction.

However, upon seeing it was Wang Ye, they all smiled and greeted him.

All these people were from the Wagner Security company. They naturally recognized their boss.

Before Wang Ye could reach the apartment door, it was pulled open, a suit-clad butler with immaculately groomed hair was already waiting by the entrance.

Obviously, it wasn’t possible for such a large apartment to house Khodorkovsky alone.

Although his family wasn’t with him, he still had plenty of staff, like butlers and housekeepers.

Khodorkovsky was seated on the large living room sofa, leisurely crossing his legs, enjoying his coffee and cigar while reading the newspaper.

"Sir, Chairman Mikhail has arrived," the butler led Wang Ye into the living room, announcing to Khodorkovsky.

Khodorkovsky had already put down his newspaper and cigar, stood up, and greeted Wang Ye with a smile and a hug.

"Misha, it’s been a long time since you last came here. If you’re not pressed for time today, stay awhile and chat."

Wang Ye nodded with a smile. He came today mainly to have a meal with Khodorkovsky... and possibly to borrow some money...

He certainly couldn’t run off immediately after borrowing money. That would seem too opportunistic.

...

The two sat down, and the butler brought coffee and a cigar box for Wang Ye.

"When in Rome," Wang Ye also chose a thick Havana cigar from the box, cut and lit it, and took a couple of satisfying puffs.

"What have you been busy with lately?" Khodorkovsky casually asked.

Wang Ye paused before answering, "Uncle, have you heard? The Russian Gas Industry Group is planning a share reform, introducing new shareholders. The state-owned assets are stepping down from their position as the major shareholders with absolute controlling rights."

Khodorkovsky looked surprised, clearly unaware of this development.

He furrowed his brow and asked, "I just returned to the country and haven’t been paying attention to such matters. But the Russian Gas Industry Group worked hard to finally become state-owned and even caused quite a fuss to get absolute controlling rights. They’re giving up now?"

There must have been plenty of "blood and thunder" when the Russian Gas Industry Group was established, but Wang Ye didn’t know the details and wasn’t interested in knowing them.

He just smiled and said, "This reform was proposed by the current chairman of the Russian Gas Industry Group. Anyway, after discussions and compromises among all parties, an agreement was reached. After the reform, state-owned assets will still be the major shareholders, but they will no longer have absolute controlling rights."

Seeming to realize something, Khodorkovsky looked surprised and blurted out, "Wait, are you trying to acquire shares in the Russian Gas Industry Group?"