People in America: My Uncle Don Quixote

"Very professional, no wonder you're the head of the special supervision team." Li Wei nodded in satisfaction. "Thank you."

Hearing Li Wei's affirmation, Colin's tense nerves finally relaxed a little.

"However, Director Colin, let's go all the way and see this through to the end," Levi suddenly said. "I need a few more things. Substantial evidence that Julian instructed you to issue the freeze order and interfere with the federal investigation."

"Sorry," Colin shook his head, "I don't have that."

"I'm currently working with Johnson & Johnson to establish a large youth sports rehabilitation fund, and my personal business empire will also expand rapidly afterward. Whether it's dealing with the IRS or financial regulators," Li Wei said after thinking for a moment. "I need a truly knowledgeable compliance advisor who understands federal tax and anti-money laundering laws. So even if I offer you a high consulting fee, you still won't have an answer, will you?"

For a billionaire like Li Wei, a "high" sum of money is certainly very high, high enough to solve all problems.

But Colin shook his head with a wry smile. "I'm sorry, Mr. Levi, I have no recordings or evidence to prove that he instructed me to issue the temporary freeze order."

“He is very cautious,” he explained. “Julian gave me a USB drive containing unpublished, organized information. Even if we use this to sue him, we cannot prove his motives. He can easily explain that it was my own judgment after I received the information.”

Li Wei nodded. "Okay, I understand. Go back and lift the temporary freeze now. Thank you for your help."

Friday noon, lunch break.

The senior partner's office in the JPMorgan Chase headquarters building in Midtown Manhattan.

Julian stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, a glass of Scotch whisky in hand, overlooking the bustling traffic of Wall Street. He was already planning how he would celebrate once he secured the $5 million asset management package.

Once he's promoted to Asset Manager for the North American region, his future will be different, he thought.

Just then, an email notification popped up on the encrypted terminal on the table.

Julian walked over with a smile and opened the email:

[System Notification: Change to Cross-Border Funds Clearing Pre-Review. The associated Fin Temporary Freeze Review (SAR) has been voluntarily withdrawn by Colin, head of the Special Supervision Group. Funds are expected to enter the New York Clearing House next Monday.]

"Wodefa!!!!!"

Julian's hand trembled, and the whiskey spilled directly onto Briony's suit trousers.

He stared at the screen in disbelief, then grabbed his phone from the table and frantically dialed Colin's private number.

All he got was a mechanical recorded phone call saying that Colin had taken annual leave and gone on a family trip.

"Colin, you son of a bitch, how dare you play me!"

Julian roared in his office in a fit of rage, slamming his phone down on the desk, shattering it into pieces.

Julian glanced at his watch subconsciously; it was already Friday.

Once the funds enter the New York clearinghouse, it will be difficult for him to stop them once he has the authority to do so.

Damn it, he had enough time when he approached Mark, but not only Mark, even Colin, that coward he raised, turned into a cowerer.

Just then, his other cell phone suddenly rang.

Julian groaned, feeling as if a rhinoceros was dancing on his temple.

"Adam," he answered the phone, sounding exasperated, "I'm listening."

"Julian, what's wrong with you?" Adam's voice sounded as sharp as a knife. "How come Elizabeth's foundation is still operating as usual after all this time? Have you even been paying attention to that fund?"

Julian suddenly wished he could be a coward like Colin.

"I...I'm looking into it. I've asked a few friends, but none of them could help—"

"I don't care what methods you use," Adam's voice was indifferent. "Before the New York Clearing House conducts its final settlement for the day, make sure that $5000 million bridge loan goes smoothly through the system and into that blonde girl's account, and my client will transfer that $5 million asset management package to Goldman Sachs."

Julian opened his mouth, about to explain, when Adam delivered the final blow.

"Not only that, my client will also reassess JPMorgan Chase's eligibility as a clearing bank," Adam paused, "I believe that even if I don't reveal who my client is, you should be able to tell how big he is. At that point, your board will skin you alive without me even lifting a finger. Good luck, Julian."

Beep—beep—beep.

The call was abruptly ended.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"

Julian gripped his hair tightly with both hands, constantly throwing tantrums in the office, elbowing the air.

He opened his laptop and stared intently at the clearing terminal inside.

With only a few hours left before the New York Clearing House closes for settlement today, if he wanted to, he could simply insert his senior managing director's (MD) digital key and use JPMorgan Chase's internal anti-money laundering compliance rules to forcibly stop the money on the grounds of "suspected high-risk funds."

However, without warning from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), which Colin represents, he rashly used his authority to intercept the operation across banks. If the matter comes to light, he will bear all the legal risks and blame alone!

This is also why he was initially unwilling to leave his digital signature and instead approached Colin's supervisor—he didn't want to give anyone any leverage over him.

To sign or not to sign?

Should they intercept it, or watch $5 million slip away and ruin their careers?

Julian felt as if an invisible hand was gripping his heart tightly. Intense anxiety and fear made him tremble all over, and his temples throbbed as if they were about to explode at any moment.

He looked at his hands and found them trembling uncontrollably. (Latest plot update: Click to follow.)

"No..." He slammed his right hand down on his left. "I need to calm down, I need to concentrate... I can't panic..."

He muttered to himself, walked to the desk, and opened the drawer below.

He searched for his winning formula, something he needed to provide confidence, focus, and decisiveness whenever he faced life-or-death gambles.

However, when he rummaged through the drawers and took out the small box, he found that he had used up all his stock at some point, with only a pitiful little bit of white powder left at the edge, which looked like not even enough for one use.

"Damn it! Damn it!"

Julian rummaged through the box, then eagerly dabbed the meager amount of powder on his gums with his finger. But this tiny dose did nothing to quell the raging storm of anxiety in his brain; instead, it only intensified his agonizing craving.

It's empty! And it's empty right at this most critical moment!

Veronica!

He thought of this woman, his muse, who had been racking his brains. If Veronica was willing, he could immediately divorce his wife and marry Veronica.

If she agrees to sign a prenuptial agreement.

He glanced at the clock on the wall; there were still a few hours until the final liquidation before 6 p.m., and he needed to calm down.

He slammed his laptop shut on his desk, stuffed it into his briefcase, and rushed out without even changing out of his whiskey-stained suit trousers, carrying the heavy laptop bag.

"Mr. Julian, you have two executive meetings this afternoon..." Liu Kai, who was at the door reporting to Julian, was startled when he saw Julian rush out like a madman (Chapter 120).

"Cancel everything! Don't contact me today!"

Julian roared without turning his head.

Midtown Manhattan traffic is always maddening on Friday afternoons, but Julian's new Ferrari was like a raging beast, forcibly weaving through the traffic, his trousers still stained with unsightly wine, but he didn't care at all.

"Bang!"

He rudely pushed open the door to Veronica's penthouse apartment without any prior appointment.

In the living room, a portly man who looked like a tech company executive was frantically fastening his belt.

"Get out!" Julian felt like his head was about to explode.

"Hey! Who the hell are you? Don't you know any rules?!"

"Get out!"

The middle-aged man was intimidated by his predatory gaze and scrambled to grab his coat and leave.

Veronica, wearing that familiar silk robe, emerged from the inner room. Seeing Julian's appearance, she frowned slightly. "Julian, have you gotten yourself into serious trouble? You look like a complete madman!"

"Do you still have the medicine?" Julian didn't waste any words. "Ketrazol."

Veronica sighed, turned around, took a small box from the drawer and handed it to him, then watched as Julian made a complete fool of himself in front of her.

After being reborn, Julian suddenly felt like a lion, and desire swelled within him.

He turned around abruptly, like a wild beast regaining its strength, and pounced on Veronica, pinning her down on the large sofa.

His actions were anything but gentle; they could even be described as abusive. Veronica endured the discomfort without making a sound.

A few minutes later, accompanied by a muffled growl, Julian rolled over and fell onto the sofa, his eyes gradually regaining their senses.

"I need your opinion," Julian said, "regarding the matter from last time."

Veronica straightened her disheveled robe and sat up.

"You're terrifying right now, Julian," she lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, "You look like a gambler who's lost everything."

“Yes,” Julian sighed, “I’ve lost everything.”

"No," Veronica said. "I still say no."

"No," Veronica said. "I still say no."

“But there’s no turning back now,” Julian rolled over and lay on his side looking at her. “It’s too late. I have to make a decision before 6 p.m. today.”

"It's a good thing you're not one of the special customers I've encountered," Veronica sneered. "They last longer in one session than you do in a year with me, and by the time they're done, the sun has already set."

Julian ignored Veronica's sarcasm and stared at her profile. "I'm going to take a risk," he said. "I have to."

"Since you already know the answer in your heart," Veronica exhaled a smoke ring, "then why did you come here like a madwoman to ask me?"

“Just wanted to confirm,” Julian said calmly, sitting up and straightening his disheveled shirt. “Many times, when you’re faced with a tough choice and decide to flip a coin, the moment it hits the air, you already know which side you truly want. I need to hear you say ‘no’ so I can be even more certain that I fucking want to go all in on this gamble.”

He stood up, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and looked at the traffic below.

Unlike the bustling, noisy, and crowded Manhattan, the Upper East Side has always been a quiet place.

"Once this is over," he turned and said earnestly, "marry me."

"Are you crazy?" Veronica shrugged. "I'm a..." "You know, you just kicked out my last guest."

“I’m not crazy,” Julian said. “I’m very serious.”

"So you're going to play those Wall Street tricks again," Veronica teased, not taking it seriously, "making me sign a prenuptial agreement, then taking advantage of me for a while before kicking me out? My answer is, no!"

“No,” Julian stared into Veronica’s eyes, “no prenuptial agreement.”

Veronica paused, looking at Julian with some seriousness for the first time, before continuing to smoke.

"Let's talk about it after this matter is settled."

She said, lightly flicking off her cigarette ash.