After dinner, we took a helicopter to Long Island to attend a reception for Time Warner’s senior executives. It was already past ten o’clock in the evening when we left Time Warner Chairman Gerald Levin’s mansion in East Hampton.
Grace was almost completely obedient to Simon, but she still refused to spend the night with him.
Simon was not reluctant and returned to Manhattan with the woman.
Black Hawk helicopters take off from the easternmost tip of Long Island, and the distance of more than 100 kilometers takes about half an hour.
Inside the spacious Blackhawk cabin.
The four accompanying bodyguards sat in the front row very sensibly. At the back of the two rows of empty seats, Grace put her arms around Simon's neck and sat on his lap. Although there was no more intimate action, the woman's face was still blushing.
"I really have to go back, but I will go to San Francisco often in the future. You know, the new media operations department has set up a special office there to cooperate with Instagram," Grace whispered, fascinated. He stroked the handsome face of the little man who was close at hand and asked: "When will you return to the east coast? This week or next week, I can arrange the time with you."
Simon felt the pleasant feminine fragrance in his arms and said, "I don't have time this week. I'm going to Japan tomorrow, maybe next week. I'll let you know then."
Grace nodded and asked curiously: "What are you going to do in Japan?"
"The construction of Universal Studios Osaka has begun to be completed, and I need to go and take a look."
Grace thought of the rumors of a certain 'Westeros Effect' and smiled: "Will your visit this time cause the Japanese stock market to plummet again?"
Simon understood what the woman was referring to and smiled: "It's hard to say, because of the recent Mexican currency crisis, global financial markets are in shock."
Entering October, international currency speculators led by Soros Quantum Fund began to take action on the Mexican peso. This time, Cersei Fund Management, a subsidiary of Cersei Capital, is also involved, and the Mexican economy is destined to escape disaster.
As for the deeper reason for this matter, we still have to start with the North American Free Trade Area promoted by the Bush administration two years ago.
In December 1992, after negotiations, Canada, the United States, and Mexico formally signed the North American Free Trade Agreement, declaring the establishment of the North American Free Trade Area. This was originally a political achievement promoted by the Bush administration in order to win re-election during the election of that year. , but it’s a pity that it didn’t work.
After taking office, the Clinton administration was dissatisfied with many provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Especially after the elimination of tariffs between the three countries, Mexico's low-cost industrial and agricultural products formed a strong price advantage for the United States and Canada, resulting in an annual trade surplus. Significant improvement.
Bill Clinton is a very rule-abiding politician. He wants to maintain the credibility of the US government. Of course, the trade agreements that have been signed cannot be changed at will.
Hence the Mexican currency crisis.
As the Mexican peso plummeted, Mexico had to turn to the U.S.-controlled World Bank and International Monetary Fund for help if it wanted to avoid a complete economic collapse. At that time, if it wants to obtain financial assistance, the Mexican government must make many commitments and concessions in terms of opening up the domestic market, which can be regarded as a disguised re-revision of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
The 1992 pound crisis, the 94 Mexican peso crisis, and the 1997 Southeast Asian economic crisis are all, in the final analysis, a routine.
Globalization has led to the interconnectedness of the world's economies.
Although the Mexican economy is small, because it involves the United States, the country's currency crisis inevitably triggers stock market shocks around the world, and Japan, far across the ocean, cannot stay away.
Grace was also aware of the recent Mexican currency crisis and heard this: "If it falls again this time, the Japanese may really refuse your entry in the future."
Simon said indifferently: "If you don't want to go, I won't go. I don't like Japan anyway."
"Why don't you like it? I've been to Japan many times, for tourism or business, and it feels very good." Grace said, with a hint of teasing in her tone: "Besides, Japanese girls are very docile, you must like it."
Simon did not respond to Grace’s subsequent questions.
Whether a woman is docile or not often depends on the person. The most indispensable thing around him now is 'docile' women.
Simon couldn't help but think about why he didn't like Japan.
Japanese culture is widely recognized in the West and is very positive.
However, Simon has never felt much about Japan, so he rarely goes to that country on the other side of the ocean.
As for why
There are naturally some reasons for the past life, at least, there are obviously others.
Seeing that Simon was distracted, Grace didn't bother him. Although she felt a little weird and shy sitting on the man's lap, she was reluctant to leave and even twisted slightly to change into a more comfortable position.
After a moment, Simon finally understood. Under Grace's curious gaze, he took the initiative to say: "Japan is too closed and its overall strength is very strong. Whether it is politics, economy or culture, there is no chance for the Westeros system." .”
Grace was confused.
Simon asked: "Have you read Gone with the Wind?"
Grace didn't know why the little man suddenly mentioned this again, and said with a smile: "I will start reading it tomorrow."
"The male protagonist Rhett Butler in "Gone with the Wind" has an argument, which is that times of war and change are the paradise for capitalists and careerists." Saying this, Simon sighed: "The more I think about it, the more reasonable it becomes. , war will bring about drastic redistribution, and change will create a lot of wealth. These are the best times for the rise of new rich. If it were not for this great change in the information age, the most I could do is control a major film company in Hollywood, owning millions of dollars. A net worth of tens of billions of dollars is already the ultimate, and it is impossible to achieve everything now.”
Grace realized something: "So you don't like Japan because this country is too stable, too closed, and its own strength is too strong to give you the opportunity to invade and control."
Simon nodded: "Yeah, except for Japan, I don't like the United Kingdom, France, Germany, etc. In comparison, I prefer Eastern Europe and Africa, as well as other countries in Asia except Japan."
Grace felt the strong aggression in the little man's tone. She was not disgusted at all. Instead, she was more obsessed. She said softly: "The more powerful the goal, the more challenging it is. I believe that as long as you are willing, no matter it is It won’t be a problem for countries like the UK or Japan.”
Simon said confidently: "Of course it's not a problem, or it's just a matter of time. I need to first accumulate strength through a series of relatively simple goals, roughly like... the countryside surrounds the city, do you know this?"
Grace shook her head honestly.
Simon joked: "It's really hard to talk to an uneducated woman like you."
Grace feigned anger and leaned forward, opened her mouth and gently bit the man's ear.
The helicopter arrived at the helipad on the east side of Manhattan along the East River, where two luxury cars were already parked. Simon took Grace into one of them, and was about to tell the driver to go to Greenwich first. The woman mentioned her new address, and the luxury car turned north after leaving the tarmac.
Stopped at the street corner as usual.
In the car, Grace reluctantly kissed the man on the lips, whispered a few words in a whisper, and then opened the door and got out of the car.
Unlike the bustling middle and lower cities, the Upper East Side at eleven o'clock in the night seemed very quiet, even a little deep. Walking alone on the street, Grace did not feel insecure at all. When she came to her villa, she took out the key and opened the door. She turned around and saw that the Bentley at the corner of the street was still parked there.
Even though he knew he couldn't see it, he still couldn't help but smile in that direction before entering.
"Mom, you are finally back."
After hearing the commotion, her daughter Rita came over first, greeted and hugged Grace, then sniffed on Grace's shoulder, and sniffed her mother's chest. She seemed to have discovered something, but couldn't tell for the moment.
Grace pulled away from her daughter's embrace without showing any signs of discomfort, and asked with a smile: "What are you doing, like a puppy."
Rita Spurter took her mother's arm and walked towards the living room, tilting her head slightly with a thoughtful expression: "Mom, you have some, um, other smells on you," she said, looking around carefully and then leaning in in a low voice. Mother's ear: "Mom, you won't have an affair, right?"
Simon does not have the habit of wearing any men's perfume. He is in good health and does not have the common odor common to Westerners. However, everyone actually has a very specific personal aura, and Grace rubbed his ears and temples on the way back from Long Island, so it was inevitable that she would get some of it. At this time, my daughter was sniffing so close again, so it was inevitable that she would notice it.
When Grace heard this, there was still nothing strange in her expression, and she pinched her daughter's smiling face: "Mom worked hard so that you can live in a big house and go to a good school, and this is how you repay me? It seems that I can put you under Weekly pocket money saved.”
When Rita Spurter heard that her mother was about to deduct her pocket money, she immediately stopped worrying about the little discovery that she just didn't understand. She hugged Grace's arm and begged for mercy: "Mom, I was wrong. Are you hungry? I can do it." Let me make you a midnight snack."
"Just prepare a glass of milk for me. By the way, where are dad and brother?"
"Lei has gone to bed. Dad is in the study upstairs. When I brought the coffee up just now, he said he might be busy until 12 o'clock. So, mom, I am the only one waiting for you."
Grace guessed that her daughter might have gone to a class reunion tonight and came back late and was still awake now. She warned: "Forget it this time, you must go home before 10 o'clock in the future. I will let Glenn keep an eye on you." , one week’s pocket money will be deducted every time you are late.”
"Okay, okay, I promise," they said, and the two sat down on the sofa in the living room. Rita Spurter brought up an old topic again: "Mom, I can actually work part-time to earn some pocket money. For money, can you let me be a model?"
Because her parents' genes are pretty good, 16-year-old Rita Spurter is already 176cm tall. She wanted to make some money as a model through Grace's channel as early as 13 years old.
Although she has been in the industry for many years, Grace was just an agent before. She is well aware of all the troubles in the industry and will certainly not agree to her daughter getting involved in this industry.
It's different now.
However, even if she had 100% ability to protect her daughter, Grace still didn't want her to get involved in this circle, so she refused again without politeness: "No."
"Um, mom, mom, I'm begging you."
Grace was being shaken by her daughter, but her mind was not swayed at all. However, after thinking about it, she added: "If you want a part-time job, mom can help you find another job. Modeling is definitely not an option."
Rita Spurter's eyes lit up and she asked: "What job?"
Grace said: "I need to ask you first. Besides, if you want to work part-time, you won't have free time to play around on weekends."
Rita suddenly hesitated: "Huh?"
If you work as a model part-time, you only have to take photos and walk on catwalks during free weekends or evenings. You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to do it. This is Rita Spurter’s ideal part-time job. What's the point of earning pocket money if you don't have weekends anymore for part-time work
Grace didn't force it: "You can don't do it and just study well, or I can help you make arrangements for next summer vacation."
Rita bargained: "Well, mom, can I see what the job is first?"
Grace nodded in agreement, gently stroked her daughter's blond hair, and said, "Okay, go upstairs and sleep. You are not allowed to play on the computer secretly. I will go up to check the ward later."
Rita rubbed her mother's body coquettishly again, then jumped up and said, "I'll help mom prepare milk first."
Grace said: "Drink a drink yourself, it will help you sleep."
"Yeah."
Seeing her daughter jumping and running to the kitchen, Grace took out her mobile phone from her bag, turned it back on and started checking the phone messages from the past few hours.
After a while, Rita came back with two glasses of milk. One was placed in front of her mother, and the other was held in her hand. She drank a glass of milk in small sips by her mother's side before being driven upstairs by Grace.
After checking all the phone messages and answering some more urgent calls, it was past twelve o'clock.
Grace returned the two empty cups to the kitchen, cleaned them, and went upstairs. She first went to the children's rooms to take a look. Her son was already asleep, and her daughter, who was a bit of a night owl, was caught huddled in bed talking on the phone, sneaking around. appearance.
Sitting next to Rita's bed, Grace helped her daughter tidy up her hair on her forehead and asked softly: "In love?"
Rita wanted to quibble, but feeling her mother's gentle gaze, she hesitated for a moment and nodded: "Captain of our school's football team."
Grace smiled and said: "It seems that our Rita is very charming and can catch the most outstanding boys in the school so quickly."
Rita was also a little proud, and a little happy to be recognized by her mother. She couldn't help but offer her treasure and said: "Mom, do you want to see his photo?"
"OK."
Rita immediately took out a photo under her pillow. Seeing her mother's mocking expression, she was a little embarrassed, so she showed it to her: "His name is Michael Levison."
Grace took it, looked at the tall and handsome blond boy in a baseball jersey in the photo, praised it a few times, returned it to her daughter, watched him put the photo under the pillow again, and said, "Mom will not interfere in your private life. However, remember to protect yourself. If he bullies you, tell your mother."
"Mike won't bully me," Rita retorted subconsciously. Realizing that something was wrong, she stuck out her tongue and agreed obediently: "I know, but if Mike bullies me, I'm afraid even my father will be beaten." But as for him, Mike is 6 feet 3 inches tall. Not only is he the captain of the football team, he also learned boxing, which is very impressive."
Grace listened to her daughter's small arms turning outwards, and said angrily: "How can you compare your father and your boyfriend like this? Your father will always be the one who protects you the most, but your boyfriend may not."
Rita insisted, "Mike will."
Grace was helpless, stretched out her hand and pinched her daughter's wrinkled nose, and whispered softly: "Go to sleep, it's very late."
Rita didn't dwell on the little argument she had just had with her mother, and shrank into the quilt: "Good night, Mom."
"Good night."
Watching Rita close her eyes, Grace turned off the lamp and left her daughter's bedroom with gentle steps.
When they came to the study next to the master bedroom on the fourth floor of the villa, Bill Spurter was still busy. There was a pile of information spread out on the table, the phone was still connected, and the video call was still on the computer screen. Grace didn’t ask any questions and just helped. The husband heated up a pot of coffee, chatted for a few words about daily life, said good night, and went to his room to rest.