novelraw Chapter 634: Giving In and Softening Up, Shorting the Wall Street Journal
Chapter 634: Giving In and Softening Up, Shorting the Wall Street Journal
[Chapter 634: Giving In and Softening Up, Shorting the Wall Street Journal]
While Linton was at his manor, with Christiana in his left arm and Monica in his right, occasionally sharing a passionate kiss with Nicole Kidman who was draped over his back, enjoying himself immensely with the members of his Harem...
The outside world was once again shaken by the bloody massacre that occurred at the Los Angeles Times.
This mysterious killer was simply too terrifying; coming and going like a ghost, killing silently and at will in broad daylight and under the watchful eyes of the public, without leaving a single trace. It was as if they could kill whoever they wanted.
In fact, by now, except for Linton's brain-dead fans, most people had formed a basic judgment in their hearts: these murders were definitely related to Linton.
Because the situation was too obvious; all those killed were people who had attacked or smeared Linton. There couldn't be so many coincidences in the world.
Consequently, everyone developed a deep-seated fear of Linton, and his image became even more mysterious.
Specifically, after the incident, all internet media, television, and radio stations reported the murder at the Los Angeles Times immediately.
However, they were all straightforward reports; not a single media outlet conducted any commentary or analysis. Everyone was terrified, fearing that an inappropriate remark would bring about their own death.
While the public followed the news, they no longer dared to casually analyze who the killer was. Even on internet forums, threads discussing these murders decreased sharply.
Occasionally, one or two anonymous posts clamoring that Linton was the killer would gain no traction, with almost no one replying. Some moderators would even delete these posts promptly and blacklist the posters.
...
The board of Variety magazine was also scared witless. Facing a plummeting stock price, death threats to senior management, and panicked employees... They had no choice but to convene another emergency board meeting, attended by the newly appointed General Manager and Editor-in-Chief.
They were all secretly relieved that they were a semi-monthly publication rather than a daily one; otherwise, this morning's massacre would have surely been unavoidable for them as well.
The meeting urgently revised yesterday's resolution, making a 180-degree turn in their attitude toward Linton.
They cancelled the plan to print an extra issue within the next three days and demanded that the new management team must absolutely stop publishing any attacking or smearing remarks against Linton.
Furthermore, regarding the response to Linton's lawsuit, they instructed the Public Relations and Legal Departments to take the initiative to communicate with Linton Media Group, striving to resolve the matter through a public apology and private compensation.
...
The hardest hit was the Los Angeles Times, where all work had come to a complete standstill.
Their stock plummeted even further. After this morning's murder, the stock price took an immediate dive, dropping 30% and triggering the circuit breaker mechanism.
Combined with yesterday's decline, the total market value had fallen from $8 billion to just over $4 billion. In just two days, the market value had been halved, and the decline was far from over.
Moreover, it was certain that as long as the threat of the murders wasn't lifted, the Los Angeles Times could not resume normal operations and might even remain paralyzed. The credibility the newspaper had built over more than 100 years would be completely destroyed.
Faced with such heavy losses, the attitudes of the shareholders began to change drastically. No matter how important the collective interests of the jewish people were, they couldn't let themselves go bankrupt to support them. Moreover, there were many non-Jewish shareholders among them.
That afternoon, the Los Angeles Times reconvened its board. Three non-Jewish board members fiercely accused the Jewish members of infringing upon their interests.
They criticized them for using public instruments for private ends, improperly using the Los Angeles Times to speak for the jewish people, disregarding facts, and recklessly attacking and smearing Linton without any factual basis, thereby bringing such a massive disaster upon the newspaper.
They strongly demanded that the newspaper cease its smear campaign against Linton, issue a public apology, seek Linton's forgiveness, and strive for an out-of-court settlement of the lawsuit.
Not only that, they also proposed a re-election of the board to effectively protect the interests of non-Jewish shareholders.
In fact, it wasn't just them; other Jewish directors were also heartbroken by the heavy losses. Additionally, they worried that if the Los Angeles Times continued to stubbornly attack Linton, the mysterious killer might not be satisfied with just massacring the management. If the killer really came for them, the consequences...
Therefore, the meeting smoothly passed most of the resolutions.
Like Variety, their attitude toward Linton took a 180-degree turn, shifting from aggressive attacks to giving in and softening up.
Effective immediately, they would stop publishing any attacking or smearing remarks against Linton. Furthermore, regarding the response to Linton's lawsuit, they instructed the Public Relations and Legal Departments to take the initiative to communicate with Linton Media Group, striving to resolve the matter through a public apology and private compensation.
Of course, the subsequent board re-election wouldn't be completed in a short time.
Next was selecting new management, soothing employees, and resuming the newspaper's normal operations.
Even with the timely change in strategy, the Los Angeles Times remained stalled for a full three days, and the newspaper's publication was interrupted for three days before it resumed.
The newspaper's reputation and influence plummeted, and its market value dropped from the original $8 billion to just over $2 billion.
The Los Angeles Times rapidly declined from being a top-tier American newspaper to a second-rate one, kicked out of the ranks of the Big Four American newspapers.
But that is a story for later.
...
Only the Wall Street Journal continued to high-profilely attack and smear Linton as always.
Perhaps it was because all the board members were Jewish, or perhaps because being far from Los Angeles and having no personnel harmed led them to mistakenly believe they were safe enough and that Linton wouldn't dare to slaughter them.
Although some board members and newspaper staff had concerns, their voices were too small to make any waves within the organization.
Furthermore, jewish people throughout New York and even the entire United States were throwing their support behind the Wall Street Journal.
This included the stock market. Yesterday, because Linton publicly launched a lawsuit for astronomical damages against the newspaper, the Wall Street Journal's stock price was affected, dropping 7%. However, a large influx of capital from Jewish interests soon poured in, stabilizing the price. By the close of the market, the stock price had even risen slightly.
This morning, as news of the successive bloody massacres at the Los Angeles Times spread, the Wall Street Journal's stock price was actually affected, but capital from Jewish interests was quickly injected, and the stock price ended up rising instead of falling.
As the fifth-largest newspaper in the United States, the Wall Street Journal's market value had previously stabilized around $6.5 billion. However, by the close of the market today, its market value exceeded $7 billion.
...
The party with Linton and the beauties of his Harem didn't come to a temporary close until 3 PM. This was because at 4 PM, Linton and Kate Winslet were to attend an Oscar PR cocktail party at the Hilton Hotel.
When Linton finally managed to extricate himself from a sea of slender arms and legs, Monica, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer, Charlize, and the others all urged him in seductive voices, "Dear, come back early tonight. We'll be waiting for you all clean and ready."
Even Xu Qing and Li Xiaoran, who were usually more reserved, hugged him from both sides and gave him a lingering kiss, saying, "Dear, we'll continue tonight."
Madonna, in the tone of a big sister, said coquettishly to Linton, "Dear, go ahead and attend the event with peace of mind. I'll go out with the sisters later to buy various props. Come back early tonight; we guarantee you a surprise."
...
After getting dressed, Linton briefly learned about the outside situation from his assistant, Jennifer Roberts.
The fact that the Los Angeles Times and Variety had given in and softened up was completely within Linton's expectations.
Under the dual threats of death and seeing vast wealth go down the drain, even those with the firmest faith in judaism probably couldn't hold out for the sake of the ethereal collective interests of the jewish people. It would be a miracle if they didn't surrender.
Hearing that the Los Angeles Times and Variety had both sent people to the company to seek peace and discuss apologies and private settlements, he instructed Jennifer Roberts, "Inform the Public Relations and Legal Departments not to bother with them for now. Let them wait for a few days. If they want to apologize, let them speak through their actions."
"Alright, I understand. Now only the Wall Street Journal is left, still continuing to attack you..."
When he learned that the Wall Street Journal was still courting death and that its stock price had actually risen instead of falling, he had only one thought: if they want to die, then let's just play a big game.
...
Linton called for Winnie, and they walked into the study together. He picked up the phone and called Hillary, "Hillary, it's me."
Unknowingly, Hillary's child, Brian, was already three months old. Receiving the call, Hillary was full of joy. She first let Linton talk for a while with little Brian, who was babbling on the phone.
"Dear, public opinion seems to have been quite bad for you lately. It won't affect you, will it?"
"Don't worry. Don't you know my capabilities? They're just a bunch of jumping clowns."
"That's good. I've been worried about you since yesterday."
"I'm calling you today because I want to deal with the Wall Street Journal."
"Dear, just tell me what you need me to do."
"Alright, I don't need you to do anything. On the contrary, I have a piece of business to cooperate on with you."
"What business?"
"I'm preparing to short the Wall Street Journal."
"Oh, it seems you already have a complete plan to deal with the Wall Street Journal. I'm willing to join and fully cooperate."
"Good. I just took a look. The Wall Street Journal's stock price has risen recently, and its total market value has reached $7 billion. I'll have Winnie transfer $500 million to you later. You also prepare $500 million, making a total of $1 billion. Using five times leverage, arrange for people to go all out in shorting the Wall Street Journal for me."
"Alright, is there a deadline? When do you want it completed?"
"You handle that yourself. Once your shorting layout is complete, notify me. Then we'll go to New York together to witness its collapse with our own eyes."
"Alright, dear, this is so exciting. I can't wait. You'll have to comfort me properly then." Unconsciously, Hillary's voice began to grow seductive.
...
Seeing Linton put down the phone, Winnie looked at him with some concern. "Dear, will doing this be too much? I'm worried it will trigger dissatisfaction among the public toward you."
Linton reached out and pulled Winnie into his arms. "It's not that I'm ruthless. I've never proactively provoked them. It's they who have been looking for trouble with me and challenging my bottom line.
There's a saying: 'One punch thrown can prevent a hundred from coming.' For these vampire-like villains, you have to completely knock them down while instilling fear in other enemies so they don't dare to oppose us at will. Only then can we avoid more trouble in the future.
Otherwise, with such vast wealth in our hands and a Health Care Company that the whole world covets, who knows how many enemies are eyeing us in the shadows. The trouble in the future will only increase."
Winnie nodded in understanding. "Alright, I'll contact Hillary later and transfer the money. You must be careful; nothing must happen to you."
"Sigh, I was originally kind-hearted, but the world is like this. There are too many bad people, so I have to use thunderous methods to combat violence with violence and play the role of the great villain for once."
...
At the Oscar PR party in the afternoon, Linton felt a distinct change.
The male guests were even more respectful to him. Even the white-haired old men, when facing Linton, addressed him as 'Mr. Anderson' at every turn, their expressions faintly tinged with awe.
The female guests were different. Their eyes lit up when they saw him, and they were even more enthusiastic than before. Each one seemed to want to stick to him and not let go, with all sorts of kisses, wandering hands, and various hints and overtures. It troubled him greatly, yet he couldn't very well lose his temper.
The effect of the PR party was also exceptionally good. Everyone expressed that they would fully support Linton and Titanic in winning major Oscar awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress.
Unfortunately, there were no beauties with particularly high looks. The most beautiful person on the scene was Diane Lane. At 33, although she wasn't a top-tier beauty, she still possessed a unique charm.
Under normal circumstances, Linton might have accepted her invitation and gone upstairs with her for a one-night stand after the banquet to sample a different kind of charm. After all, every Hollywood starlet has her own unique features.
Unfortunately, today there were more than 20 seductive beauties at home who had set aside their work and made a special trip back to provide him with warmth. Any one of them was more than a grade prettier than Diane.
In this situation, how could he leave the beauties at home to mess around with Diane? It could only be said that Diane had bad luck and the timing was wrong.
By the latter half of the banquet, he was truly annoyed. He called Kate Winslet to his side and had her tightly clutch his arm, staying with him the whole time, which finally dispelled the unrealistic fantasies of the other women.
...
As the lights came on and the cocktail party ended, when Linton and Kate Winslet returned to the manor, the sisters had indeed made preparations. They had specially decorated the gym, karaoke room, ballroom, and cinema on the first floor.
What made his eyes even more dazzled was that each of them had put on particularly sensual pajamas — some hazy and translucent, some passionate and fiery, some noble and cold...
Another unique party began...
The cheerful singing did not cease all night...
*****
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