Chapter 474: Chapter 474
By late February, Charles arrived in New York after New York Fashion Week ended.
Every February and September, Paris, Milan, London, and New York host two major global fashion weeks, one for autumn/winter and one for spring/summer.
Hundreds of fashion and jewelry shows occur, making it a prime time for brands to release new items and a chance for models to showcase themselves!
Currently, though, Wall Street was buzzing about the biggest financial fraud case in history, the Madoff Ponzi scheme. The investigation, evidence gathering, trial, and compensation retrieval for investors were all ongoing.
In the Capet Capital headquarters at Capet Center in Midtown Manhattan, Charles stood by the window after getting up from his chair.
"Bank of America and Citibank becoming like Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae? No wonder their stock prices dropped; who spread this?" Charles was indifferent.
"But boss, Bank of America's stock has dropped from $30 to $21 per share, Citibank from $30 to $21. Other banks have smaller declines, but we've lost over $400 million in just over ten days," Dona Williams was worried. "And stock prices are still falling!"
"Don't worry, the government is debunking the rumors. The banks won't be nationalized. Bank of America and Citibank are in talks with the Fed, the Fed will provide asset guarantees to restore public confidence," Charles said calmly. This was just the darkness before dawn!
It's hard to believe that when Charles first came to Los Angeles and worked as a waiter for half a month on Hollywood Boulevard, he was thrilled to earn $2,000.
Now, hearing numbers in the billions, he felt nothing.
"Don't worry, the show must go on. There's a party at the Plaza Hotel tonight. Let's get ready to go!"
...
New York, Plaza Hotel. Charles had just finished talking with Barry Meyer, the chairman of Warner Brothers, and then called his assistant Phyllis Jones: "Gossip Girl Season 3 will continue to air on CW Network!"
"Got it!"
Previously, Charles renegotiated the broadcast rights for Gossip Girl on CW Network (a joint venture between Columbia and Warner Brothers) to cause some trouble for Sumner Redstone.
Unexpectedly, Barry Meyer brought it up today. CW Network is a nationwide network formed by the merger of CBS' Paramount Network (UPN) and Warner Brothers TV Network!
Initially, the merger was due to low ratings. As a new national network, they desperately needed high-rating shows. As the flagship series of this new network, Gossip Girl absolutely couldn't be canceled just like that.
"Good evening, Charles," Richard Parsons, the current chairman of Citibank and former chairman and CEO of Time Warner, approached Charles.
"Good evening, Richard," Charles shook his hand. Citibank's stock price was still dropping, and Charles had just bought 5 million shares, so he wasn't in the best mood.
Richard Parsons was of mixed African descent, with brownish skin and a full beard that highlighted his heritage.
"I'm quite confident in Citibank, but can't the Citigroup stop the stock price from continuing to fall?" Charles shrugged.
Richard Parsons laughed, "Don't worry, we have strategies in place. You should keep holding onto your shares, Charles."
Not just Citibank, but Bank of America had also contacted Charles, hoping he wouldn't sell to cut losses now, as that would drive the stock price even lower.
"Don't worry, I still believe the financial industry will recover soon. Now that those unregulated financial derivatives are gone, it's actually good for investors!"
Richard Parsons could sense Charles' complaints about the previous major investment banks and the unrestrained financial derivatives, often associated with Jewish financiers.
"Charles, you know, too much government intervention isn't good for the free market. It only harms the market itself," Richard Parsons smiled.
Over the past year, due to the financial crisis, many Americans blamed greedy Jewish financiers, fueling anti-Semitic sentiments.
Richard Parsons didn't want someone like Charles Capet thinking that way!
Charles shook his head and smiled, "Of course, I support market freedom. I'm just sorry for the ordinary investors whose savings have been wiped out by these financial derivatives."
He then patted Richard Parsons on the shoulder, "We'll chat again later, I need to step out for a bit!"
Richard Parsons watched Charles walk away towards a tall, attractive blonde, and couldn't help but smile.
Charles Capet's romantic escapades were a highlight in Hollywood. Young, handsome, and wealthy, who wouldn't like him?
"Charles," Ivanka Trump said warmly, hugging Charles, "When did you get to New York?"
"I arrived just yesterday," Charles said, holding the blonde's waist as they walked towards the lounge area.
"Guess who I met today?" Ivanka leaned in and asked Charles.
"Who?" Charles asked, puzzled.
"Carlos Slim, the Mexican tycoon, Telecom magnate, and second on the Forbes billionaire list!" Ivanka was a bit excited. Carlos Slim had a net worth of $60 billion last year, second on Forbes' list, behind Warren Buffett's $62 billion, and ahead of Bill Gates' $58 billion!
"Carlos Slim? Do you know him?" This seemed unlikely, even her father couldn't make such connections.
"It's because of the New York Times. The print media industry has been suffering, and the Times Group is facing financial difficulties due to the financial crisis, nearly going bankrupt," Ivanka looked at Charles. "You knew that, right?"
Charles nodded, "Of course I knew. Didn't the Tribune Company, which owns the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune, just file for bankruptcy protection?
The Times Group recently sold part of its Times Square building and then leased it back to get a billion dollars in cash, right?"
"It is not enough. The Times Group is in such a bad state that it's hard to attract investors. Only Carlos Slim provided a billion-dollar credit loan. However, last year, Carlos Slim bought a 6.9% share of the New York Times for $127 million, becoming a major shareholder," Ivanka said, kissing Charles on the cheek.
"I'm a loyal reader of the New York Times. I even wrote a long thank-you letter to Carlos Slim. Recently, Carlos Slim came to New York and actually asked to meet me!"
Charles was speechless. What's so exciting about this? He probably just thought of you as a kid.
What's happening this year? It's a financial meltdown. Buffett and Carlos Slim's wealth each shrank by around $25 billion, while Bill Gates' wealth shrank by less than $20 billion.
Carlos Slim would fall to the third place on the billionaire list, and Bill Gates would reclaim the top spot!
"Well, the New York Times situation is just a minor thing for Carlos Slim," Charles said, pulling the blonde towards the window to overlook the Central Park night scene.
"How's the contact with the New York Congress members going?"
"We already know quite a few state legislators and city officials," Ivanka said, leaning close to Charles' ear. "When we get a chance, we can arrange for these politicians to take overseas vacations. And current New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is likely to win a third term this year, starting his third mayoral term next year!"
Charles nodded. Michael Bloomberg, a significant Jewish figure, as the founder and major shareholder of Bloomberg LP, was also on the top Forbes billionaire list.
After managing New York for many years, he had influence in politics, business, media, and even the underworld. Like George Soros, he was one of the major Jewish icons!
No wonder only 7 million Jews were one of America's two major powers; the power of Jewish capital was indeed formidable.
*****
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