Chapter 22: Pierre Beaumont Travels to New York. 11th May 2021.

"I would like a glass of Penfolds Grange Shiraz 2015." Pierre said with a smug voice. Pierre sat onboard his private jet, headed from Geneva to New York and he felt amazing. He sipped the wine. It didn't taste as good as the 2012 vintage despite it costing $200 more. Regardless of this temporary setback, Pierre felt excitement. He would soon become the richest man on the planet and he would never need to worry about money again.

Pierre had considered whether he needed to travel to New York at all. He could do all the trading from the safety of his home in Geneva. He had decided that his presence in New York was advantageous. Pierre was a control freak, and he couldn't relinquish control of the entire operation to Vladimir. He needed to be there himself. Pierre had invested billions in CFD-s and shorting the market. He had used the World Bank's money as a security for all the anonymous letterbox companies that he had set up. If the outbreak didn't happen, he would have lost most of the money that he had invested, and the entire world would come after him. Even with his heightened intelligence, Pierre would be in serious trouble under such scenario.

Struck by his fear of failure, Pierre lashed out at his servant:

- 2015 is not a good vintage. Bring me 2012, now.

Servant:

- I am sorry, sir. We didn't bring any 2012 vintage. Can I suggest 2014?

Pierre:

- 2014? I'd rather drink this cat piss that you served me. Go away.

The servant rushed off without a word.

Pierre felt remorseful. While he didn't mind the prospect of murdering thousands to enrichen himself, he shouldn't treat his staff like they were dogs. Such was the behaviour of that brute and simple idiot Jing Xi, but Pierre was a superior human. A superior human didn't allow minor setbacks to change his behaviour to that of a lesser animal.

Pierre took out a few 100-swiss-francs banknotes and he got up from his seat. He walked over to his servant, and spoke:

- I am sorry, Michel. Your transgression didn't warrant such a brutish behaviour from me. Here is a token of appreciation. Buy your daughter Eva a present from me.

Michel:

- Thank you, Pierre. That is very generous of you.

Pierre:

- But don't allow complacency. We will return to Geneva in two days, and I need you to get me the 2012 vintage by then. Money is, as always, not an issue.

Michel:

- Thank you, Pierre. I will do everything that I can, to satisfy your request.

Pierre nodded and didn't reply. A minor dilemma struck him. He didn't want his servant to die, but he worried that it would expose him if he warned Michel. He shrugged off the notion and decided that he could save his servant, while maintaining his alibi at the same time.

Pierre:

- Just a heads up. I have heard that New York tap water is unsafe to drink. Only drink bottled water from our Swiss Alps while you are there. Take enough bottled water from the plane to last for two days.

Michel:

- Thank you, Pierre. I will.

After warning Michel, Pierre felt a bit worried. What if warning Michel would affect his plan? Pierre shrugged off the notion. A lot of people had warranted and unwarranted objections towards drinking tap water. As long as he didn't tell Michel, why the tap water was dangerous to drink, his statement would not implicate him.

Pierre calmed down and took another sip of the red wine. On second thoughts, 2015 was a good vintage, even better than 2012. But he wouldn't tell Michel about his new conclusion. Pierre had already given an order, and for this command, Pierre was ready to live with the consequences.

Pierre smiled as he anticipated his 'suffering' on the way home. Life could be worse!