America's No. 1 financial conglomerate

Chapter 675 Bitch, Wall Street

The idea of ​​making a quick buck and earning a toll at the last minute naturally came to nothing.

The offering price of $385 and the estimated market capitalization of over $5000 billion are like two insurmountable barriers, standing in the way of all potential cronies who want to take advantage of Google's IPO to make a quick buck.

Especially now that the internet bubble has formed, no one is willing to take over Google stock at this sensitive time.

"What are you thinking? Do you think this movie is too boring?"

Inside the dark theater, only the flowing light and shadow projected from the screen in front illuminated the few couples in the room.

Ernst and Ivan sat in the last row, with his bodyguard in front of them, separating them from the other audience members in the theater.

"This is Titanic, a timeless classic. You can watch it countless times and never get bored." Ernst snapped out of his thoughts, turned to Ivan, and gave him a gentle smile.

He was also surprised that almost two years after its premiere, the movie was still showing in theaters.

However, this is currently the off-season for the North American film market, lacking the support of major blockbusters, resulting in a sluggish box office.

Compared to those poorly made, low-budget films that go unnoticed, "Titanic" still manages to attract many consumers who prioritize nostalgia to the theaters.

"So it's my fault for bringing you to the movies?" Big Ivan raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone tinged with a hint of coquettishness, his gaze fixed intently on Ernst's eyes. A little, but not much.

A private cinema at home is so much better; I don't understand why the other person insists on watching something at a movie theater.

However, this woman is currently in the final stages of Ernst's pursuit, so he will definitely have to make concessions.

"No, I was just thinking about work, so I was a little distracted." Ernst gently stroked Ivan's hair, his voice so gentle it was almost dripping with tenderness, perfectly concealing his true thoughts.

Recently, all tasks have been progressing in an orderly manner.

The acquisition of AXA Group is still under negotiation, but it has entered the final and crucial stage.

Two hundred million dollars, Wenger issued an ultimatum to Arthur Andersen on his behalf.

Taking over AXA is now just a matter of time.

Andersen dared not refuse to sell. Ernst knew little about Enron, and they dared not gamble.

Moreover, from a developmental perspective, acquiring those companies under his control was something Andersen had always coveted.

The key was that AXA's lawsuit in New York State, with the help of Wall Street, was a resounding success.

Besides Arthur Andersen, Ernst Asset Management also dispatched a professional team to Madoff Securities to conduct initial contact and due diligence, paving the way for a subsequent acquisition. Furthermore, Madoff has been urging PayPal to proceed with its financing, and is already pushing forward with the process.

He, on the other hand, transformed into a diligent little bee, flitting around various women.

Using work as an excuse, Christy managed to mooch off him three meals a day in just a few days.

Upon learning that Ernst had returned to New York, Paris Hilton couldn't wait any longer and confronted him at his home the night before last.

However, he was severely reprimanded by Gisele Bündchen and Monica Bellucci, who were in his bedroom at the time, and probably still has some psychological trauma.

When these two women teamed up, the whip really lashed, the props were really used, and the force was real.

As a result, when it was his turn, the other person was already crying and screaming because of the chafed skin, even though it had only just begun.

Ernst understood why the two women were so ruthless; they wanted to teach each other a lesson so that the other wouldn't try to steal his food in the future.

He didn't care anyway; it was just a plaything to relieve loneliness and satisfy desires.

If one is ruined, another will naturally come to replace it.

For rich people, they lack everything except women.

Beautiful, free women. Aside from these few, Ernst has spent the most time these past few days with Big Ivan, who's currently nestled against his shoulder.

The news of Google's IPO already generated a lot of buzz, and no matter how low-key Ernst was, the exposure couldn't be suppressed at will.

The two are now frequently seen together in shopping malls and restaurants, which has given the media an opportunity to see them.

You're reporting career news, and now I'm reporting gossip. Is that alright?

Not to mention outside media, even MGM's own media outlets are now chasing after him to report on him.

In an instant, his playboy image was once again firmly established in people's minds.

"Because of Google?" Big Ivan's voice rang out again, with a hint of cautious confirmation.

She knew today was a crucial day for Google's Dutch auction, as it was time to finalize the list of underwriters and officially announce the offering price.

In her view, this was a landmark day, both for Google and for Ernst himself.

At such a crucial moment, Ernst was still able to accompany her to see a movie. It would be a lie for Big Ivan not to be moved; she would absolutely not admit that it was vanity at play.

Ernst looked at her sweet expression; at this moment, even if it wasn't Google, it was still Google.

"So how are you going to reward me?" Upon hearing the word "reward," Big Ivan's cheeks instantly flushed red, but fortunately the lighting in the theater was dim, so it wasn't too obvious.

Over the past few days, Ernst used these two words to gradually push her boundaries and trick her into having countless firsts.

It can be said that, except for the last line of defense which has not been breached, Ernst has almost completely taken over her.

Now, just hearing those two words makes her feel itchy and burning all over.

"What...what reward do you want?" Her voice was barely audible, and with the powerful sound effects in the theater, it was almost inaudible.

However, Ernst heard it clearly and even took action.

He reached out and pulled Big Ivan into a tight embrace, feeling her soft body and rapid breathing.

But this was just the beginning. He lowered his head, his lips almost touching Big Ivan's earlobe, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Look at those boys in front of me. I think I deserve the same treatment."

The boy in front?

Big Ivan had never paid attention to or observed this.

After all, this movie has been out for a long time, so even if there are viewers, the number is not large.

Moreover, she had noticed when she came in that everyone was scattered in various corners, and she hadn't had time to observe them. Now, hearing Ernst say this, she subconsciously stood up and looked in the direction Ernst indicated.

The ambiguous scene and sounds made her instantly understand Ernst's unspoken meaning, and her cheeks flushed again, almost burning.

"Shall we go back?" she asked, her face flushed, her voice pleading, her eyes filled with shyness and unease.

"The movie is only halfway through, how can you leave?" Ernst shook his head gently.

go back?

He's just discovered the benefits of movie theaters, how could he possibly leave now?

At another location in Queens, New York, at Google's New York branch, a completely different scene unfolds.

A group of well-dressed, usually impeccably dressed, influential figures from Wall Street were unleashing a torrent of abuse at him.

When the major underwriters on Wall Street heard Hamilton announce the offering price, they all seemed to be hallucinating.

Then came the collective outburst, a deluge of filth.

"Are they treating Wall Street like a whore?" Richard Fuld of Lehman Brothers' face was contorted with anger, clearly enraged by Google's actions.

"No," Philip beside him slowly shook his head, his tone filled with resentment and indignation. "Even prostitutes at least pay after they're done! Google doesn't even have the most basic respect!" "It's utterly absurd!" Bear Stearns' Kane slammed his hand heavily on the table. "Google is clearly raping Wall Street! Not only that, they're using Wall Street as a tool to make money, squeezing every last drop of value out of us before they're satisfied!"

Google's required underwriting model is a firm commitment, which means that no matter how many shares are underwritten, the underwriters must subscribe to all remaining shares, forcing them to use their own funds to cover the losses.

Although Google's roadshow sparked a subscription frenzy.

But if the issue price were the current one, whether those who subscribed would still buy it is another matter entirely.

What Wall Street found most unacceptable was that Google, with such a high offering price, was still going to use a Dutch auction.

"This is too much of a risk for us. Even a 0.5% underwriting fee would pose a huge risk to us."

"So, is Morgan Stanley planning to withdraw?" Hamilton asked with a smile.