Victory Without Mercy, Then Make Them Pay

“Bernard Arnault has won. Others in his position would extend a hand to yesterday's adversary to heal the wounds. It is a fundamental law of the business world that the winner spares the loser. But it is a mistake to believe that the exterminating angel is capable of doing so. For him, victory is only complete if he can make his opponents pay.”

“The two men go up to the sixth floor to check the press releases that have been prepared. Arnault eliminates without hesitation the one that pays a strong tribute to the previous management in favor of the more sober one, which nevertheless briefly praises Alain Chevalier and Jean-Louis Masurel. Masurel? That's too much for Arnault, who crosses out the sentence with a stroke of a pen: it's not good to come from a prominent family in the north. Arnault hates Masurel, whom he has always perceived as condescending towards him. On the other hand, next to "Bernard Arnault, elected...", he adds: "unanimously". And it will take Racamier's communication services to insist that Arnault finally accept his title of vice-chairman of the executive board in the final press release.”