Hollywood Hunter

After the weekend, Simon arranged for Veronica to be in charge of the West Coast side of the upcoming financial audit of Ygritte first sign, and left Los Angeles again, followed by what will probably be another trip around the world, the first stop is still New York.

Manhattan.

It's the evening of April 9 at the Rayboulds' Upper West Side mansion.

A very small circle social reception is being held over here, and the people coming are basically the top wave of power players in the Big Apple.

"Simon, on the Nasdaq side, things seem to be going badly lately, if you have any financial needs on your side, feel free to ask."

The man who spoke was a taller, round-faced, gray-haired, middle-aged man named Thomas Lundy, with the position of CEO of the Bank of New York.

Simon smiled and raised his glass towards the other man: "Sure, Tom, I'm sure I'll be glad to help if needed."

The reason the two men were so warm at this time was because of that previous series of events.

After the February fiasco, the Bank of New York's takeover of Mellon Financial Group and the annexation of non-very smooth, plus the March Nifty collapse hit the financial markets, so that Mellon Financial Group side completely no resistance strength, the two sides have basically negotiated the merger price.

12 billion U.S. dollars.

Mainly after the initial rumors of Mellon Financial being taken over by Bank of New York and a series of other good things, Mellon Financial's share price rebounded again, from a low of $8.6 billion back to more than $10 billion.

Even so, Bank of New York has taken a godsend.

You know, last year, Bank of New York test the acquisition of Mellon Financial, taking into account the premium, the budget made then reached $20 billion. Now, it is equal to save $8 billion of the purchase price, how can not let people happy.

More importantly, with the tacit agreement between the two sides this time, the Bank of New York also hitched a ride on the line of the Westeros system.

Both shareholders, investors and the board of directors have responded enthusiastically to this benefit.

Because before this, only $ 70 billion in assets, the Bank of New York can not even enter the United States bank ranking former, this time, after the acquisition of assets of more than $ 40 billion Mellon Financial Group, not only the asset size exceeded 100 billion, considered to cross into the international first-class level, and the total asset size jumped to the United States bank seventh, which is also a very important threshold.

The combination of the two, coupled with the conceivable future and the many cooperation with the Westeros system, the Bank of New York's future impact on the United States and even the top of the World Bank pyramid is not a problem.

After continuing to chat with Thomas Lundy for a few minutes, Simon entertained some other guests and then came to James Raybould once again.

It was still the matter of the Bank of New York.

"After the merger, the new bank will be named Bank of New York Mellon, Simon, you should have no problem on your side, right?"

"Heh, of course not."

Simon laughed and shook his head, not expecting James to bring up this kind of cockamamie, or, should also be a bit too much on the side of the Bank of New York, thinking that his conflict with the Mellon family might be deeper, not knowing whether keeping the Mellon prefix would upset him.

This kind of thing, of course, Simon does not care.

James also expected, just smiled and said: "Also, after the merger, the new bank board will increase from the current seven to 11 members, I have talked with Thomas, we can get two places, Simon, what are your arrangements?"

Both the Bank of New York and Mellon Financial Group are private companies with mass shareholding, that is, the kind without an absolute majority of shareholders.

Such a company, it seems that many shareholders belong to the co-owner, in fact, it is equivalent to being controlled in the hands of the company's board of directors.

Just like before this, the entire Mellon family's combined shareholding in Mellon Financial Group was only 7%, but by virtue of controlling 5 of the 8 board seats, it maintained absolute control over the venerable bank for a long time.

Simon understood this rule hidden behind the scenes of many old corporate giants in the U.S. early on, so over the years, while maintaining absolute control over the core companies of the Westeros system, he has been fighting piecemeal for various board seats directly or indirectly through various companies in the system.

In fact, it is the same as quietly fighting for control of the U.S. economy.

This time the Westeros system to help lead the Bank of New York to annex Mellon Financial Group, of course, can not work in vain, even if the two companies do not have any shareholding, this side still put forward conditions, asking for the new bank after the merger of the board of directors. After all, pulling together a full-blooded moneybags such more fundamental purpose, in addition to the future cooperation between the two sides of the interests associated, but also need to rely on real power to support.

Even if the next new bank board members increased to 11, with two places, it is equivalent to get 18% of the voting rights, which is definitely not optional.

It is also clear that this is some kind of power at all, Simon, even though he has great trust in James, still did not casually hand over this kind of personnel power to the other side, but said, "I will think about it and will give you the list of candidates soon."

The two have not the first time to discuss similar things, James smiled, just smiled and nodded, and did not say anything more, because also gradually understand his daughter the man's mind. If it were himself, he would not easily let this power out, just as in ancient times no such king would let his subjects go to subscribe to the officials.

It was late at night, ten o'clock, when I left the party at Raybould's house and returned to my apartment on Fifth Avenue.

After entering, I quickly found two women in a small living room next to the bedroom on the third floor of the duplex, Grace, who was already six months pregnant, and Blaise Levison, who had followed Grace on the run again.

Seeing Grace still holding her belly while watching TV and waiting for herself, the other woman was sleeping on Grace's lap in a really good way, Simon went over and easily picked up Blythe, gently dropped her on the carpet and sat down in her place just now.

Blythe Levison woke up, opened her eyes confused, saw someone on the sofa and her own situation, discontented to explore a small foot on the man's leg kicked twice, before getting up, relying on the other side of the man, shrunken into a ball crooked down in Simon's lap to continue to sleep.

Simon did not throw her away this time, pressed on the woman's moist face and rubbed it, then let a finger be bitten by the woman, said to Grace: "How are you feeling tonight, did the little one make a fuss?"

Grace has not answered, Blaise has spit out the man's finger, grabbed: "can be fussy, I have been kicked a little, otherwise you think why Grace is not asleep now, not waiting for you."

Grace waited for Blaise to finish and explained with a smile, "She was on my stomach listening for the baby to move and then she got kicked."

Blaise added snidely, "He's going to be just like his daddy, bad guy."

Simon simply re-gagged Blythe's small mouth with his finger, allowing the woman on his lap to whimper without letting go, before he was able to have a little chat with Grace for a while, and a moment later, remembering what happened at the reception, he smiled and said to Grace: "By the way, the Bank of New York's acquisition of Mellon Financial, do you know about it?"

"Know ah, you manipulate the well."

"Is so, this time get two board seats, coincidentally, give you a bar."

Grace immediately shook her head: "How can this work, I do not know anything about the bank."

Hearing this time Blaise finally broke away from the man's clutches again and grabbed, "This kind of thing, there is no need to know anything at all, Grey, he just needs you to be a puppet."

Grace saw Blythe say that, but looked to Simon.

If that was the case, she certainly didn't mind, or was happy, to be his puppet.

Simon also nodded: "In fact, the board of directors of many large enterprises are like this, nominally to maintain the exclusivity, precisely will choose some people who are not related to the industry as directors, such as scholars, down politicians, athletes and so on. As for my side, indeed, what I need is someone I can trust, because when the time comes, you will have a vote."

Grace was about to say yes when she remembered the little one in her belly and gestured, "But, what about my pregnancy now, and Elite's side is not even too much in charge?"

"That's okay, it will take a while for the two companies to fully merge, and by then, the little one will probably be born."

The company is still pillowed on Simon's lap, Blythe said: "Actually, I can also ah, Simon, let me also earn a pocket money?"

Simon looked down and said with a smile, "Don't bother you, you want pocket money, you'll get a hundred million later."

Two places, Grace is absolutely trustworthy, the other person, certainly not to the arms of this lazy woman, but intends to choose a more professional agent.

Blythe froze, until Grace patted the man's shoulder and laughed lightly out, only to react, and to rebel, only to be quickly re-subdued by the man, the mouth was also blocked.

Because the man will leave tomorrow, rare to get along, even if also some sleepy, Grace but did not think to go to rest, continue to talk about another matter: "This year's Elite model competition has been launched in various divisions, mainly that former assistant of mine, Michelle, you met, she is in charge, I will also help you keep an eye on. However, if there is anything else you need, you can also speak to her directly."

Simon just nodded his head gently.

"Also, that Angela Lindwall, as well as Michelle Alves from last year, always don't see you touch it, why don't you take it to Europe this time, Fashion Week is not long past, they are very free now."

The company's main business is to provide a wide range of products and services to its customers.

The company's main business is to provide a wide range of products and services to its customers.

Don't care what I am.

As long as it was his 'whatever'.

This completely hopeless look makes Blythe even more annoyed, or, she does not know whether she is annoyed, or something else, see Grace also follow the man's example to reach over to plug their mouth bar, can not help but open their mouths, just, after the man gently glance, suddenly did not dare the slightest force.

Alas, is it hopeless?

The next day is April 10, Thursday.

After breakfast, farewell Grace two, Simon boarded the first stop to fly to London.

Britain will have a new general election on May 1.

Now the Westeros system, because of its increasingly large size, is increasingly affected by a country's macro policy, Simon had to spend more time on this.

This time is to communicate with some politician candidates in advance.

In fact, the construction of the network is this way, far from some people think so complicated, each other at the party reception to meet, even if you talk about some painless, as long as the mutual expression of certain tendencies will, a line is also considered to be built, of course, the next, want to maintain, you need a variety of substantial mutual benefit.

After the UK, it is Finland.

Nokia headquarters need to visit.

After that is Italy.

And, the last stop in Europe, Ukraine.

The schedule is still arranged in advance, during Simon's stay in Ukraine, Rivne FTA will be officially established, Kuchma has also confirmed that he will personally attend the official ceremony of signing the FTA agreement with the representatives of the first 17 countries that have been negotiated with Rivne FTA, of course, Simon will not appear publicly, but the two must contact each other in private.

After the Sherban assassination case last year, gradually found his Prime Minister Lazarenko not only increasingly restless, but also a threat to his power, Kuchma has basically determined that he will take down Lazarenko.

However, although the same belongs to the Petrovsk gang, but Lazarenko is not want to take down can be taken down, the two sides are playing at this time.

Simon and the Westerosi system in Ukraine, on behalf of the Rovno gang, are completely indifferent.

Of course, it is only the obvious cold eyes.

He does not want the evidence in Ukraine to be too stable, and once Kiev is stabilized, it is inevitable that the Rovno gang will become more and more eye-catching.

Or that saying.

People can not be too idle, too idle will be in trouble.

Inside the cabin of the Boeing 767, Simon is in the study looking through a copy of Anthony Blair's biography while casually writing and drawing with a pencil on the draft paper at hand.

Two names had already been written down and scribbled out on the draft paper.

The Spice Girls.

Harry Potter.

Old capitalist countries such as the United Kingdom, the political system has a fairly strong continuity, so even if he, a big butterfly, has not been able to influence the new British Prime Minister candidate Anthony Blair, according to the polls on the British side, will basically be the next Prime Minister.

However, such as the memory of the famous Spice Girls, as well as, another let a certain once down to the wealth of female writers living on the dole more than the Queen of England "Harry Potter" fantasy series, but was the butterfly drop.

Both of them also don't let Simon rush to the surprise.

The Spice Girls should have been born last year, however, after the "American Idol" fire, last year, the UK was quickly introduced and caused the same sensation. So, last year, the music circle over in the UK was "British Idol" attracted most of the attention, including the newcomers to music that rose as a result, and were all taken by Daenerys Records, which expanded to the UK in parallel.

With so many changes, it is not surprising that the Spice Girls have disappeared.

Then there is Harry Potter

The "Harry Potter", to put it mildly, is similar to the "Return of the Pearl" that Simon had just handed over to Ren Jingxi some time ago, and was inspired by a series of ideas that J. K. Rowling generated when she happened to see a little boy with black-framed glasses outside the car window during a train ride.

This time, J. K. Rowling wants to produce the same encounter again, basically no longer possible.