America's Road to Wealth

Chapter 112 Amanda's Favor? (710)

2000 years,
9 month 20 day.

This day is the day when Smith Capital moved.

Smith Capital, which was originally located in the Woolworth Building, moved to LIC next door to Manhattan Island as a whole.

LIC is what New Yorkers call "Long Island City".

People often confuse Long Island City (Long Island City) with Long Island (Long Island), but the difference is thousands of miles away.

Long Island refers to a long and narrow island southeast of New York City.

It is close to the island of Manhattan to the west and the sea on the other three sides.It is very large and is famous for its clear water beaches, coastal lighthouses, wineries, etc.

Abel's only manor house at present, No. 13, Huangdian 1th Road, is on this island.

In a narrow sense, Long Island City is a small area in the westernmost section of Long Island.

In 1870, this small city was born.Then it took 28 years for Long Island City to be incorporated into the greater New York area, following Queens.Everyone kindly abbreviated it as "LIC".

Strictly speaking, it actually belongs to the Queens District, which is an area below the Queens District.

In the 20th century, a bridge and a subway line became the necessary passages from Manhattan to Long Island, establishing Long Island City's important position as an industrial hub.

In the early urbanization process of New York, it played the same role as Brooklyn's Williamsburg and Dumbo communities, belonging to the city's docks and factories.

Until the manufacturing industry ushered in a cold winter in the 70s, artists took a fancy to the abandoned factories and rented them for creation. This area gradually became the area with the most intensive art activities in New York.

Finally, after entering the 90s, as the land of Manhattan was developed to the extreme.

More and more real estate developers are eyeing here, and a large number of commercial buildings and high-end CBD office buildings have been developed.

In addition, it faces Manhattan only across the East River.

It has gradually become a lot of companies that don't like the crowded Manhattan, or simply think that Manhattan is too expensive.

They all moved here.

The most famous is Citibank, whose headquarters are nearby.

The new headquarters building of Smith Capital is located on the periphery of LIC near the East River, and can directly see the opposite Empire State Building.

It is a five-storey building built in 1970.

It was once used as a museum, library, and supermarket, and was purchased by Abel last month.

It took about a month and cost $300 million to renovate.

It is now named [Smith Building] and is used as the headquarters building of Smith Capital.

Naturally, there is no need for Abel to do things like the company's relocation.

Even without the help of David Mellon, the Wall Street elite, the company's deputy general manager, Melio, had already arranged everything in an orderly manner.

Abel and David only need to stay in the office on the fifth floor opened up for them.

While drinking his favorite coffee, he looked at Manhattan across the street.

The two discussed the company's next investment plan.

"...Crude in New York is now at 34.96, Brent is at 35.16 and Oman is at 35.09.""

Office, David said: "Obviously, over the course of the month, it's gone up again."

"Analysts on Wall Street, as well as our own analysts, believe that crude oil has a high probability of breaking through $36, or even $37."

Abel shook his head.

Smith Capital, which has previously invested billions of dollars in international crude oil.

After receiving the funds from the first private placement, another 15 billion US dollars was invested in it.

Smith Capital currently has a total investment of more than US$25 billion in international crude oil.

In addition to leverage, the company can control and influence funds in crude oil futures, exceeding tens of billions of dollars.

Abel said, "What is our average cost?"

When he started investing, his requirement was that the purchase cost should not be higher than $31 a barrel.

But when new funds were invested later, oil prices had risen a lot.

On average, it's clearly impossible to keep the cost below $31 any longer.

Sure enough, David said: "At present, our average holding cost is a total of 32.3 US dollars."

After hearing this data, Abel said: "It's already good. Even with the lowest New York crude oil, we still have a profit of more than 2.5 US dollars."

"David, let the people below start preparing. In these two days, when everyone thinks it will go up and is bullish on it, start closing positions and selling."

David Mellon was stunned.

Abel's judgment obviously contradicts the current mainstream argument on Wall Street.

"It seems that crude oil is going to fall?"

David said softly: "No problem, I'll let everyone start selling immediately."

Abel nodded, "There's no need to be in a hurry. Just throw them out in a week. I estimate that within a week, they can still be at this price."

"Understood." David nodded.

In this way, David has relatively more time to operate.

This can at least make or save hundreds of millions of dollars or even more profits for Smith Capital.

After talking about the company's largest investment so far, David began to talk about another thing.

"I made an appointment for you with Isaac Perlmutter. The gentleman would be happy to meet you."

David said: "You have just become the chairman of an entertainment agency, you have established a sweater brand, and now you are in contact with the chairman of a toy comic company."

"Honestly, Abel. Sometimes I don't even know what you're thinking."

"Thank you, David. But I don't want to explain it to you now, you just need to know, and you will know the reason in a few years." Abel replied with a smile.

David: "You're always like this"

"But who called you a boss?" He added, "Isaac Perlmutter said he was available anytime. He's on the plane to New York now."

"Well, I remember the company he owns, wasn't it in New York before?"

"Yes. But you know, it almost went bankrupt and delisted in 1996. Although it recovered later, it has been very bad."

David said: "In 1998, in order to reduce expenses. Isaac Perlmutter moved the company to Los Angeles."

"Understood." Abel nodded, "Then let me know when this Mr. Perlmutter arrives."

As soon as David made an OK gesture, he saw Abbot paused and asked another question.

"By the way, David. I heard that this Perlmutter is a venture capital businessman, and he also likes to play stocks?"

David nodded: "Yes. Also, before I was working for Goldman Sachs, Isaac Perlmutter was one of my big clients."

"Oh~ what a coincidence?" Abel couldn't help raising his eyebrows, "Then you should be familiar with Isaac Perlmutter's investment?"

"Almost." David nodded.

"Hey." Abel had a meaningful smile on his face.

He said: "So do you think we can make some trouble for Mr. Isaac Perlmutter?"

"Um..." David Mellon looked at him, "What do you mean?"

Abel whispered something to him.

"Um..." David Mellon hesitated after listening.

"It seemed a little bit against my professionalism."

"Come on," Abel said with a smile. "This could potentially make you a few hundred thousand dollars."

"Okay." David nodded, "My current professionalism is all for Smith!"

"Ha~"

"That's right." Abel stood up, walked to David, and patted him on the shoulder: "Go. You are much more professional than me in this regard."

David made an OK gesture, and the two laughed at the same time, looking a little embarrassed.

At this moment, the door of the office was knocked.

Then a delicate voice sounded:

"Mr. Smith, Mr. Mellon, this is Amanda. May I go in? There are some documents that need to be placed with you."

After hearing this voice, David gave Abel a thumbs up.

This guy also said softly: "It's really you. Ask the eldest lady of the Hearst family to come and move our company!"

"Ha~" Abel laughed, "It's not my fault. I didn't do it on purpose. Who told her that when she came here for an internship, she happened to meet our company's relocation?"

"And." Abel added: "It's not that I told her not to do this kind of work, she insisted on doing it herself."

David shook his head and called out, "Come in, Amanda."

The door was pushed open.

Amanda still has a petite body, holding documents and files as high as her hair, and walked in with some difficulty.

She looked wobbly, as if the papers and files were about to drop to the floor at any moment.

Abel looked at David and motioned for the latter to help.

David shook his head and refused, his eyes wandered around Abel and Amanda, his eyes were a little ambiguous.

Abel had no choice but to shake his head, and walked over to catch the large amount of documents and files that Amanda staggered over.

"Be careful, Amanda. In fact, you don't need to do these rough jobs, someone from the company will do it." Abel helped her put the documents and files on the table.

"That can't be done." Amanda breathed a sigh of relief, and then laughed, "I'm your secretary now, although it's just an intern. But it's also my job, and of course I have to do it well!"

"Okay. As long as you like it." Abel waved his hand.

Amanda didn't stay long, she smiled sweetly at Abel, nodded politely at David, turned around and went out to work again.

After she left, the office door was closed.

David Mellon suddenly said:

"It seems that this young lady of the Hearst family has some kind of interest in my boss."

"Ha~" Abel smiled, "Don't say such things. She's only 16 years old."

David rolled his eyes, wanting to say something else in this regard.

Abel didn't give him a chance.

"Okay. Remember to keep an eye on the matter of crude oil. When the shipment is completed, let me know immediately. Also, don't forget about Isaac."

He chose to leave directly.

Just before leaving the company, he explained to David Mellon like this.

After leaving the Smith Building, Abe's motorcade quickly left the LIC, and soon headed for JFK International Airport, also in Queens.

An hour later, he was on a plane bound for Texas.

On the plane, he used a satellite phone to call another David who he had left in Tarrant County.

"David, I'm Abe Smith."

"Good afternoon, boss. I know it's you, and I have your satellite phone number."

"OK. So, I'm on my way to Tarrant County now. I'll be there in about two hours. David, tell me what's going on there."

"Ok."

A week ago, due to the surprise raid by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

Abel was forced to return from Texas early.

Afterwards, he found that it was nothing serious at all.

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office, on behalf of some people, a small warning—no, not even a warning.

Can only say compliments.

The other party is probably telling Abel that they can do this if necessary.

Abel was depressed and helpless about these people's actions.

However, he did not make it easy for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office who was regarded as a gun.

Afterwards he spent some money, sparking a small media firestorm against the Manhattan District Attorney's office.

Among them, the newspapers in the Los Angeles area were the most enthusiastic and rushed to the forefront.

Even now he has not continued to invest money.

The West Coast newspapers, led by the Los Angeles Times, are still making trouble.

In addition to this, he also let Caroline launch a lawsuit storm against the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

Compared with the previous storm of public opinion, it is obvious that this time-consuming and labor-intensive litigation storm.

For the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, the damage and repercussions are even greater.

According to Caroline, Robert Morgenthau had a headache.

The old guy wanted to find Abel for dinner, so he made an appointment with Abel through Caroline.

Abel pushed again and again, and this time he simply flew directly to Texas, so that Robert Morgenthau could not find anyone.

In fact, Abel also knew about these two means of revenge.

Doesn't really hurt the roots of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

It can only cause them some trouble, especially the former, it is estimated that it is not even trouble.

Because of the storm of public opinion originally aimed at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

It has now become some kind of low-level confrontation between the newspapers on the West Coast and the East Coast.

No Manhattan District Attorney's Office business at all.

That is to say, the lawsuit storm, this kind of straightforward krypton gold method.

Giving Robert a headache and trouble.

So much so that they all wanted to ask Abel to have a meal, probably because they wanted to reconcile.

Abel also knew that reconciliation would always come.

Because this time it really wasn't a big deal.

Strictly speaking, it should even be said that the Manhattan District Attorney's Office is acting impartially.

Those two employees of Abel really committed crimes.

It's just that these things are not done on Smith Capital's side.

He committed a crime at his previous company before coming to work here.

Abel has also made plans, when he returns from Texas.

As long as Robert is a little softer, he will cancel this lawsuit storm.

After all, the main purpose of launching this counterattack has also been completed.

It also freed him up to turn his attention back to Texas.

On the Texas side, Abe left David Jones and five bodyguards.

Five bodyguards, three of which were with Alexander Smith.

The other two were working for David Jones.

What David has to do is very simple. He represents Abel here and discusses with Devine how to help Alexander.

At the same time, the relocation of the rock security to this side has been done.

"First Aleswas and Electric."

On David's side, according to the boss's level of concern, the first thing to talk about is the energy company.

Although David didn't know it, the relocation of Rock Security was obviously more important.

But the boss seems to pay more attention to such a regional electrical company.

"I have been in contact with several shareholders and the board of directors of this company through Mr. Devine."

"Obviously the other party has a very urgent idea of ​​selling, and the offer is very low. Only 2000 million US dollars is needed to win 80.00% of its shares."

"But there is a problem, that is, the company has nearly 5000 million US dollars in debt. The debt has exceeded twice its market value, and this is the biggest problem."

The debt ratio is 250%. Abel on the plane was a little speechless when he heard this data.

He asked again: "What about other aspects?"

"Other things." David Jones:
"The company currently has about a thousand employees.

Three power plants, 21 gas stations, 555 miles of natural gas pipelines.

It provides electricity to 10 small farms in Tarrant County and has about 12 to [-] customers. "

Abel held the satellite phone and spoke again: "What is the reason for the serious debt?"

"I checked the information, the reason why I have so many debts."

"There are three reasons. One is that its three power plants are old-fashioned power plants. The technology is outdated and requires a lot of maintenance costs every year, and the efficiency is also worrying."

"The second reason is that Ales Company has recently acquired a gas company. This gas company is also on the verge of bankruptcy. Ales sees that it has two natural gas fields."

"The third reason is competition. There are 11 power companies in Tarrant County, and the competition is very fierce. Ales Company, which has no cost advantage, lost in the price war."

"Whoo~"

On the plane, Abel exhaled lightly.

"Understood," he said. "Then, wait until I arrive. Talk about the security migration of rocks."

"Relocation is not an issue." David said: "Tarrant County Council has welcomed the arrival of Rock Security.

It's just that Sunny Mountain Farm is still blank.

If you want to wait for the construction to accommodate more than a thousand people to settle in the training ground, it may take more than half a year of construction time. "

"Understood." Abel said again.

"Wait for me to pass."

After finishing speaking, he hung up the satellite phone.

Then he looked up and looked at the four beautiful flight attendants standing in front of him.

Unlike last time, he could only tell that one of the four stewardesses was familiar.

Not Maria, but another one.

He pointed to the familiar flight attendant, and said softly:
"Where's Maria? Isn't it Maria's turn this time?"

He kind of missed the Maria from last time.

Can blow and play, brush a good mouthful of teeth.

The stewardess who was named by him was taken aback for a moment, and then immediately replied:

"Oh, sir. You mean Maria, don't you? She's getting married this week, and she's taking leave of absence to get married."

"Ask for leave to get married." Abel felt a little regretful.

But after thinking about it, I don't want to collect it.

What a pity, at worst, we will meet again next time and experience it again.

Wouldn't it be more beautiful to have the blessing of Cao Cao's attributes at that time?
Just pay attention to safety, this occasional game.

It's okay to eat.

Thinking of this, he looked at the four stewardesses again.

The quality of the four people this time was not as high as the previous two.

The one with the prettiest body and the best body is the one who just spoke.

Now Abel, the requirements and appetites have become higher.

This kind of quality has made him not think much.

He even thought about getting off the plane later.

Let David complain to American Express.

The quality is getting worse and worse, bad reviews!
(End of this chapter)