Chapter 261: Chapter 261: Preparations
In Manhattan, high above Columbus Park, a white Bentley Continental GT was parked. Charles and Scarlett were leaning against the car.
Charles, wrapped in a black wool coat and scarf, kept his eyes on the Brooklyn Bridge in the distance where a film was being shot. Scarlett Johansson, draped in fur, looked equally captivating.
Each had a cigarette.
Charles puffed out smoke and pointed to the film set. "Warner Bros is remaking I Am Legend over there, with Will Smith starring. I actually have high hopes for this movie!"
A smoke ring slipped from Scarlett Johansson's red lips. From Charles's tone, she sensed a hint of regret.
She smiled, "Charles, is it really that good?"
Charles nodded. "Will Smith has the acting chops, the humor, the action skills. In my eyes, he's the top Black male star in Hollywood right now!"
"Better than Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, and Jamie Foxx? All three won the Oscar for Best Actor," Scarlett Johansson inquired since compared to them, Will Smith lacked an award.
Denzel Washington was the second Black actor to win the Oscar for Best Actor in 2002, filling a forty-year gap. Jamie Foxx won in 2004, and Forest Whitaker won this year.
"In terms of commercial value and international fame," Charles took another drag, then flicked the cigarette butt onto the ground. "Heh, the Oscars, just a toy!"
"Come on, let's go back. I really don't like New York weather," said Charles, and he and Scarlett got into the car.
"By the way, you haven't bought any houses recently, right?" Charles asked.
"Houses? No, you said house prices are too high now and not worth it, right?" Scarlett Johansson's main investment was in real estate, just like most celebrities.
While driving, Charles reminded, "If you can, sell any extra properties while the prices are high. With your celebrity status, you shouldn't have trouble finding buyers."
"Selling houses? I do have a few. Although they can't compare to yours, should I really sell them?" Scarlett sounded reluctant.
Charles smiled, "This is advice from Charles Capet, the genius on Forbes' Young Millionaires list. Are you sure you won't take it?"
"Oh," Scarlett's eyes lit up, and she quickly nodded. "Haha, I'll listen to you. Whatever you say goes in Hollywood now!"
This was indeed the peak of the American real estate bubble, and Charles had been looking forward to the collapse for a long time!
Of course, Charles hadn't forgotten his main business in New York.
"Boss, have you decided?" In the high-end office of Capet Fund in Manhattan's financial district, Lily Ying asked seriously.
Charles nodded. "It's decided. We can use Capet Fund's shares and Capet Entertainment as collateral to get at least $1 billion in loans!"
Lily nodded. Capet Fund had plenty of quality assets. For example, Capet Entertainment was like a golden goose with its revenue.
"I've had people reach out to J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Citibank, and Merrill Lynch. They're all interested in my assets," Charles said calmly, as if discussing a trivial matter.
"But boss, you're betting everything. Isn't that too risky?" Even a genius like Lily Ying found this too stimulating.
"Heh, there's an old saying: 'The young should be wild!'" Charles said, patting Lily's shoulder.
"Opportunities like this are rare - maybe once in a lifetime. Besides, I still have a chance to come back!"
Lily rolled her eyes, revealing a helpless expression. "Wild youth, huh? True, even if you bet $1 billion, you still have a chance to recover!"
Quickly, under Lily's operation, Capet Fund used shares in companies like LV, Google, Amazon, and took out a two-year short-term loan of a billion dollars from banks including J.P. Morgan, Citibank, and Royal Bank of Canada.
Lily initially opposed using Capet Entertainment as collateral, since Charles remained a Hollywood mogul as long as it stayed.
However, Charles Capet wouldn't listen. He directly negotiated with Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs, and Blackstone, using Capet Entertainment as collateral for a $500 million cash loan.
Given Capet Entertainment's $1 billion debt, Merrill Lynch and others needed to appraise its assets.
Charles Capet's maneuvers couldn't go unnoticed, especially in Hollywood, making many anxious.
Newspapers speculated about Charles Capet's big moves, as Capet Pictures was a coveted asset.
"Charles Capet aims to take back MGM Group from Sony, becoming one of the Big Seven."
"Charles Capet plans to make major investments on Wall Street."
"Charles Capet lost a fortune at Wynn Las Vegas this year..."
Speculations abounded, driving Evelyn Capet in Los Angeles nuts, with journalists constantly hounding her about Charles.
In Beverly Hills, at Capet Pictures' headquarters, Evelyn put down her phone. Charles, in New York, only told her not to worry and wouldn't reveal his plans.
Evelyn rubbed her eyes. She had to go to New York herself. A mother needed to know what her son was up to. Otherwise, she'd constantly worry about Charles.
She quickly instructed her assistant to arrange a flight to New York ASAP.
Many people believed the news about Charles losing money in Las Vegas.
*****
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