"William, why do you seem a bit distracted? Look around; everyone here seems really happy," William White shook his head with a wry smile. The speaker was one of the big shots from Goldman Sachs, and he still had to maintain a certain level of respect.
"Hey, Hagg, don't you think those waiters are all ears, listening in? I mean, this doesn't seem normal. I'm feeling a bit anxious," he intended to joke, but after hearing William White, the others around him frowned.
"William, are you worrying too much?" spoke Nathan, the Vice President of Bank of America.
"Haha, maybe you're right, Nathan. I guess I'm a bit envious -- jealous, really. What do you think? I've taken quite a hit lately."
Nathan was speechless. No matter how much he lost, he was still the world's richest man; to him, that money was just a number.
This was a charity auction mostly attended by bankers. William White rarely participated; these were some of the shrewdest people in the world. If you were to be with them, you had to have your script ready.
"A significant interest rate cut is just around the corner; there shouldn't be any major issues," Nathan said uncertainly.
"Alright, I hope you all make some money. Cough, cough, is Greenspan coming?" William White hadn't planned to attend, but since the head of the Fed was present, avoiding it would have been quite disrespectful. Of course, he had no intention of pandering; arriving late to a charity auction was just out of the question.
"He's already here. Come on; let me introduce you."
"Sure."
William White's current status didn't require him to win anyone over. His ability to chat with people on equal footing was already quite generous. In fact, because of his approachability, his reputation was outstanding within certain circles.
It was natural for a new official to be energetic and full of enthusiasm. Speaking of which, William White wasn't a traditional investment banker; he ran more of a commercial group, and the bank was just a subsidiary with little business in the United States.
...
Talking to Greenspan was dull. They both knew how to exchange pleasantries smoothly. But Nastassja beside him was enough to turn heads.
A young, wealthy guy paired with a stunning beauty was bound to attract attention.
"Nastassja, you seem to enjoy these kinds of events," he remarked.
"Why wouldn't I? These are all successful people you only get to see on TV, right?"
"Successful? I feel like I'm just getting started," William White joked, causing some guests nearby to glance over in surprise.
They couldn't help but think to themselves, "Seriously? If you're just starting out, what does that make us? Just crawled out of a hole?"
Nastassja shot him a look, ignoring him as she handed him a glass of champagne.
"Thanks."
...
The auction was lively, with a painting William White had provided fetching a high price of three hundred thousand dollars. Sadly, he didn't get the chance to bid today. If he hadn't contributed a piece, it would have been quite embarrassing.
"Darling, why do I feel like the prices here have skyrocketed?" Nastassja exclaimed in astonishment. William rarely provided items for charity auctions; usually, he'd bid high on a couple of things he liked, making it hard for the owners to reclaim their own items.
"Skyrocketed? You know that painting I put up today? A few years back, it barely went for ten grand." Nastassja was quite surprised -- she was also a budding wealthy woman with some savvy of her own.
"William, stocks have been great lately. My financial advisor suggested I invest in IBM. What do you think?"
"What do I think? It doesn't matter; the important thing is to sell it when the time comes," William White shrugged disinterestedly.
Since he spoke softly, the people around them thought they were just flirting.
William White's words were straightforward but delivered in a tone that left no room for doubt. Nastassja understood his meaning perfectly. A woman who could make it in the world wasn't just some dimwit; if she couldn't grasp that, she was in for a rough ride.
William originally thought that the United States planned to exploit foreigners. But looking around today, it didn't appear that way. The majority of people present had an optimistic view of the US economy.
If the people at the top of the pyramid felt this way, it was easy to imagine what ordinary folks must be thinking.
Well, William White didn't deny it; the US economy did seem to be sharply rebounding, but did they really understand it? This new round of economic growth was quite different from previous recoveries.
What they called a strong rebound was fundamentally a misplaced notion. The US high-tech industry had maintained rapid growth, merely filling the gaps left by traditional industries.
A two-hundred billion dollar fiscal deficit and a two-hundred billion dollar trade deficit. Was this really a sign of economic recovery?
...
"Still coming? Nah, that's a temptation," he joked.
"Hmph, you always talk halfway. The money I make is hard-earned; everyone around me has become rich, some of them even mortgaged their homes."
"Haha, now you already know the answer and still ask me? Do you think a pretty face always comes with a sharp mind? Honestly, if beautiful women were all smart, we'd be back to matriarchy."
"I know? What do I know?"
"Well, bite down and I'll tell you."
William White was playing coy, leisurely enjoying a post-coital smoke.
"Hmph."
"Easy there; are you really biting down? Just think about it. Since the '29 crash, hasn't it always been this way? When enough people are reckless, stocks will crash -- there is no exception. I may not know when it'll fall, but I know it will," he concluded, stubbing out his cigarette and resuming his efforts.
*****
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