Chapter 25: Coca-Cola Company

George returned to the hotel, instructed Paul to oversee company matters, and checked out again.

Two days later—Atlanta, Georgia.

The Coca-Cola Company, founded on May 8, 1886, would eventually become the world's largest beverage brand. A century later, it would control 48% of the global market. By 2021, its revenue would reach \$38.66 billion, but in 1919, it was valued at just \$2.5 million. With such an opportunity before him, even in the Marvel Universe, George couldn't possibly let it go.

"Hello, sir. Who are you here to see?" the receptionist asked, glancing at the well-dressed young man.

"Mr. Ernest Woodruff," George answered with a smile.

"Your name? Do you have an appointment with him?"

"My name is George Orwell. No appointment, but I sent someone from my company ahead. Please tell Mr. Woodruff that Paul Walker's boss is here."

"Alright, sir. Please wait."

A few minutes later, she returned. "Mr. Orwell, please follow me."

Led by the receptionist, George arrived at Ernest Woodruff's office. This seemingly ordinary old man had purchased Coca-Cola for \$2.5 million from Asa Candler's heirs in 1919. By 1923, his son, Robert Woodruff, would become CEO and revolutionize the company.

"Hello, Mr. Woodruff. I'm George Orwell," George greeted politely.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Orwell. You're very young," Woodruff said, shaking his head.

"Coffee would be great, thank you. And please, just call me George."

The secretary soon delivered two cups of coffee and left the room.

"So, George," Woodruff said, "you came from New York. Let's hear your purpose."

"Yes. Paul already conveyed my interest. I admire Coca-Cola and, with some luck, I've come into a sizable amount of money. I'd like to invest in the company."

"Looking to buy shares? The beverage market is booming, and I am considering expanding production. How much are you willing to invest, and for what percentage?"

George smiled. "You purchased Coca-Cola for \$2.5 million. Let's value it at \$3 million. I'll invest \$1.8 million for 60% of the shares. I won't interfere with management unless there's a catastrophic error. I also propose allocating 5% of shares for management bonuses."

Woodruff thought for a moment. "That valuation is acceptable, but I currently only hold 85% of shares. The rest are scattered among public investors. How about \$1.4 million for 45%, with 5% designated for management?"

"Agreed. I'll bring a cashier's check and my lawyer tomorrow."

"Perfect. I'll have the contract drafted today."

The next morning, after a lawyer reviewed the details, both parties signed. Woodruff accepted the check, and his team took over further formalities. George toured the production facility and had lunch with company leadership. He made clear he wouldn't meddle in daily operations.

Later, George suggested the advertising slogan "Enjoy a cool moment," a tagline that wouldn't emerge until a decade later.

Although he knew the stock would eventually drop to \$19 during the crisis, George chose not to wait. Timing could complicate things. Plus, securing 45% for \$1.4 million was already a steal—especially since the bottle design alone had a \$6 million patent. In time, he planned to acquire more shares.

Three days later, George returned to New York. Through American Bank, he began looking for a residence. Staying in hotels long-term was inconvenient, and with tax season approaching, homeownership offered deductions.

The next day, with Pietro's help, George toured five properties and chose a brick limestone mansion located between Park Avenue and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan's Murray Hill neighborhood.

Built between 1901 and 1903 by banker James Lanier, the mansion cost George \$450,000.

Designed by famed architects Hoppin & Koen, the residence featured 12 bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, and eight floors totaling 11,638 square feet.

Highlights included a stone portico, copper duplex roof with skylights, ornate carvings, a cornice, and a rose-domed entry ceiling. Reception areas, including a grand club room and a lavish dining room for 16, showcased Gilded Age grandeur.

The house also had a lush garden courtyard, two fully-equipped kitchens, five master suites, seven luxurious bathrooms, three powder rooms, a mahogany staircase, and a private elevator.

Additional spaces included a study, library, fitness room, swimming pool, sauna, massage room, hot tub, and a 1,000-bottle wine cellar. The staff wing housed three bedrooms and two baths. From the rooftop, one could see both the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings.

That afternoon, George hired four maids, a cook, a driver, and two cleaners through the bank. He wasn't about to clean 11,000 square feet alone.

Before their arrival, he transferred 1,000 bottles of wine from his collection into the cellar.

Once the staff had prepared the bedrooms, George moved in the next day. He contacted everyone he knew to update his address.

The mansion's only flaw? No garage. So, he purchased a nearby two-car space instead.

After Paul delivered the vehicles, George spent days in the garage modifying them. One Ford was for daily use; a new Lincoln was for experimentation.

Paul had finalized company registration and booked the tech expo booth. George instructed him to monitor the stock market closely and report any fluctuations.

For days, George focused on the cars. Despite his technical know-how, hands-on work still required effort. He planned to install a key-turn ignition system—a significant upgrade from crank-starts.

At the time, cars were started by cranking the engine. The method was physically demanding, prone to injury, and impractical for many.

George's "knife key" ignition replaced that. Turn the key, and the ignition, fuel pump, and motor power on. This system wouldn't be seen in production cars until 1949.

Security was an issue—duplicate keys were easy to make—but it was a leap forward.

The main barrier to this tech wasn't engineering—it was battery reliability. Early batteries were bulky and underpowered.

Using memories from his previous life, George sealed nickel-cadmium batteries into dry cells. These compact power sources revolutionized energy storage.

By solving this decades ahead of schedule, George made modern ignition possible.

After days of work, he completed his prototype. He also built two rechargeable batteries and added headrests to the car seats.

Each headrest was custom-stitched under Paul's coordination. These would all be showcased at the upcoming exhibition.

— End of Chapter 25 —

Translator's Note:

Thanks for following along with Chapter 25! Share your thoughts, spot any mistakes, and please offer me a Honey Power Stone! 🍯💎