[Chapter 655: Soros's Frustration]
Although Soros had been more composed over the past couple of years, he couldn't help but feel enraged upon hearing this news. His people had informed him about the situation in Hong Kong.
In his view, the blatant monopolistic practices were completely ridiculous. He had no idea who set these foolish standards.
The decision to publicly auction the operating licenses seemed perfect. Besides, Hong Kong Telecom really could only choose one of the two. Given the monopolistic advantage already in place, even with a new auction, one company would still dominate.
However, that wasn't his concern. His interest was piqued because of William White. This guy, who had caused him trouble last year, was truly irritating.
Now it turned out that the head of Morgan Stanley told him that William White was holding back a big move. The target, most likely, was the U.K.
Soros was frustrated; he only had a vague outline of what was coming, and nothing definitive. Just because he didn't have a plan didn't mean William White didn't either. It seemed quite likely that this time, he would once again be chasing after whatever William was concocting.
Being upset made it hard to enjoy a round of golf. Having a set of high-end clubs meant nothing when you were getting crushed every step of the way.
"Sir, this is speculative. Yes, there's a good chance. But this isn't the right time. They've just rolled out a comprehensive monetary plan. If we jump in now, our odds of winning are barely fifty-fifty. What if William White pulls a reverse on us...?"
That was Soros's biggest worry. The odds were low but could not be ignored. Anyone could tell a tall tale, but without seeing hard cash, he couldn't get comfortable.
You see, even though he loathed it, he still had to praise Hong Kong's decision. And it came with a 'progressive' label too.
As for whether the British would publicly vent their anger, only time would tell. If you still believed that William White was joking, that was up to you.
...
Well, it was clear that the U.K. was extremely displeased. Come on, you would think he'd know better than to speak like that. If you take a hard look at the statement, isn't he essentially saying that we can't keep up for long?
Of course, if you were to come out and voice that opinion now, congratulations, you'd earn yourself the "super idiot" hat without a doubt.
Regarding the billionaire's statement, the U.K. could only respond with a welcome. As for the alleged loss of the spirit of the contract, they chose to ignore it.
"Dad, the U.K. clearly lacks any sense of contract spirit. It's unreasonable, yet you guys formulated this policy just a few years ago, and now intend to scoop up more money?" Bush Sr. didn't take his son's complaints seriously. Interests dictate positions. If you were buddy-buddy with William White, you would certainly voice support for him.
"Contract spirit? Son, when has the U.K. ever had such a thing? There are no eternal friends, only eternal interests. They've been saying that since the nineteenth century."
Young Bush was at a loss for words; when someone has no shame, they're unbeatable. Those ancestors did things that way; what could you do?
"However, William White is not that easy to deal with. Something's off about this whole situation; that kid must be concocting something devious. I just hope he doesn't go overboard."
Bush Jr. smiled, genuinely enjoying himself. That's how Texans are; they don't care about fairness during competition. They're not scared of anyone.
...
In reality, William White wasn't planning on making any moves just yet. He knew the timing was all wrong. Still, keeping these guys hanging on would be a delightful pastime.
"Fulton, I've decided; it's not suitable to keep the child on Lanai Island. It's best to return to Texas. Please arrange for someone to take care of it."
"Alright, young master. Athena is getting restless here; there aren't many playmates, so it's pretty boring."
"Well, she deserves a happy childhood, but I've got a lot on my plate. Ah, never mind; just go tell her."
"Sure thing, young master. The little lady will be overjoyed."
William White realized that he had taken things a bit for granted. Little kids enjoy excitement, not the dullness he dealt with as an adult.
...
"Sir, Mr. Stan Lee is here. Do you want to see him now?"
"Ha! Did the old guy tease you? Let him in. As for you, let me check something after this."
This little old chap was quite comfortable around William White. He had dreams of the big screen, and William knew it well. After seeing the success of The Lion King, the old guy couldn't sit still and was all over William's door every day.
"Stan, if you're here to mess with my cigars, I happen to have two boxes right here. I consider myself unlucky; I haven't even touched one."
"Ooh, don't waste the good stuff. Only we old timers know what's good about them. I won't lie; I can't bear to smoke them."
"Stan, I have a script here, Blade, that I plan to work on first. I'll take care of it myself; you don't need to worry."
Stan's eyes lit up with excitement; it seemed like the boss still needed a push now and then.
"William, why this one?"
"I can't pull off the others, Stan. When have you seen me chase after Transformers? Our superheroes can hit the big screen now. Don't worry; I promised you can make a cameo in any superhero movie. But, buddy, don't hold your breath for a paycheck."
"Thanks, William, really. I'll take the script back with me."
"Alright, I'll start casting next week. If things move quickly, we might just make the Christmas release." The best window was, of course, the summer blockbuster season. But, as you know, everyone else was aware of that too. The collision of major movies rarely ended well.
Fortunately, some consumer habits could be cultivated. White Pictures hadn't missed a Christmas release since Home Alone. Over time, that previously less significant year-end window began to heat up.
"Lisa, why is it wet here? You are so naughty. How did the old man tease you?"
The young assistant rolled her eyes at the guy and said that it was a normal reaction. It wasn't as scandalous as he made it seem.
"Well, it's break time now. Seriously, how can there be so much happening every day?"
"Sir, that old Stan seemed quite happy. Did you agree to something with him?"
"Yeah, if I hadn't agreed, he would have driven me crazy."
"That's great! Are you planning to film that superhero movie? Is it Captain America? If you act, it'll surely be amazing."
William was a bit taken aback; he hadn't thought girls would be into superheroes.
"Ha, I get it; you must like the muscle-bound types. You know, the ones who hit the punching bag." Seeing the young assistant blush, looking a bit flustered, made William quietly scoff. If a guy were really that strong, she might need a serious repair.
An hour later, when the young assistant found out that the movie being shot was Blade, she couldn't help but pout and say, "Why isn't it Captain America? That one's way cooler. Sir, who do you plan on casting? It better not be that Eddie Murphy guy, right?"
"Ugh, could it be true what they say? When things get big, the brain doesn't work as well anymore. If he's in the role, I might just lose my mind."
"Impossible! Everyone says that as long as it's your movie, it won't lose money."
*****
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