Chapter 117: The Second Turnover

Feeling the car door being pulled open, Janet, leaning on the steering wheel, slowly turned her head, losing the radiance she had during the performance. Her tone of voice hadn't adjusted back yet as she looked at Simon with soft eyes and said in a gentle, cooing voice, "You little rascal, you're bullying me."

Simon, observing Janet's appearance, instantly regretted it. The six hours of continuous shooting were evidently draining, especially for a woman with no acting experience. She had undoubtedly expended far more energy than anyone else present during the process.

Reaching out, Simon lifted Janet from the driver's seat before he could say anything. The woman cheekily rubbed her face against his arm a few times, seemingly finding a comfortable spot, and then bit him.

Simon was only wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt, and the feeling of her teeth made him jump.

After a moment, feeling that Janet was merely holding onto his flesh without much force, Simon relaxed.

However, the situation suddenly became awkward.

The film crew, who had initially gathered around thinking something had happened, now sported amused expressions.

Feeling the gentle bite on his bicep, Simon continued to hold the woman in his arms and nonchalantly directed everyone to wrap up. He then instructed Jennifer to have Neil Bennett bring the car around.

After all this hassle, Simon finally carried Janet out of the studio and directly into her Land Rover Range Rover at the door.

Neil Bennett escorted the two into the car, and Catherine also got into the passenger seat. Turning to look at the two in the back, she asked, "Simon, are you sure everything's alright?"

Simon slightly lifted his right arm, Janet's small head moving with it, and he responded to Catherine with a wry smile, "Look, she bit quite hard," then he bent down and cajoled, "Honey, it doesn't taste good raw, shall we cook it when we get home?"

"Hmm…"

Catherine rolled her eyes at Simon's words, seeing Janet snuggle further into the man, and finally relaxed. Just as she was about to exit the vehicle, Neil Bennett had already started the car.

Not planning to return with Simon to Palisades, Catherine was about to instruct Neil to stop when Simon's voice came from the backseat, "Let's go to our place. It's been a long time since we've all had dinner together."

It seemed like they hadn't spent much time together since the wrap of "Blood Night." Catherine also missed last Halloween when the three of them had dinner together and went to the carnival.

Hearing Simon's suggestion, Catherine no longer looked back.

Glancing through the rear-view mirror, catching Simon's eager look, she settled back into her seat.

The Range Rover exited through the north gate of Fox Studios and soon turned onto Santa Monica Boulevard.

As Simon began to hold onto Catherine, Janet's bite intensified slightly. Simon lightly tickled the woman's waist, and once she loosened her teeth a bit, he turned back to Catherine, "Speaking of which, how's 'Blood Night' doing at the box office?"

Today was July 30th, Thursday.

"Blood Night" was in its sixth week of release.

Remembering Simon's tendency to control everything, Catherine knew he must be aware of the film's box office numbers. Realizing he was just making conversation, she still replied, "Last weekend, the cumulative box office reached $31.9 million. It should hit $36 million before it leaves theaters," she said, glancing again in the rear-view mirror, "I haven't properly thanked you yet."

The involvement of the "little guy" not only enhanced the quality of "Blood Night" but also, riding the coattails of "Run Lola Run" and "The Butterfly Effect," helped the film achieve such high attention and box office success.

Thinking about it, Catherine somewhat regretted not taking this young man to San Francisco last Christmas.

Maybe she really should have.

Again looking through the rear-view mirror at Janet, who was cuddled up like a kitten in his arms, she couldn't help feeling a bit sorry for herself; she really was a failure as a woman.

The car soon returned to the mansion in Palisades.

Although Janet's tone of voice hadn't shifted back to normal, she seemed to regain some spirit after getting home.

It was 7:30 PM, and the sky had already darkened.

The three of them prepared dinner together in the kitchen, watched TV and chatted after eating, and around 9:30 PM, Catherine was planning to leave but was held back by Janet to stay overnight.

Simon was naturally sent to another bedroom.

In the master bedroom, after the two women had taken a shower and changed into pajamas, Janet pulled Catherine onto the large bed with an atlas in hand, pointing out, "Right here, Tasmania. Simon and I plan to buy the whole place.

 Kate, guess how big it is?"

Listening to Janet's unadjusted speaking tone, Catherine looked at Tasmania, which was still very prominent compared to the Australian mainland, and responded, "It's bigger than many small countries, how could you possibly buy it?"

"Land in Tasmania is really cheap. We've already bought a 1,300-acre farm there recently. The island has a total area of 16.9 million acres. If we keep at it, one day it'll all be ours."

Catherine, imagining the vast difference between 16.9 million acres and 1,300 acres, shook her head, "I don't know where you get these crazy ideas from."

Janet glanced discontentedly at Catherine, "It's not my crazy idea, it's that little rascal's dream."

"Alright, a dream," Catherine smiled, asking, "Then what?"

Janet blinked, confused, "What do you mean, then?"

Catherine pulled a pillow from behind to hold, saying, "I mean, even if you can buy the island, then what?"

Janet pondered for a moment, then confidently lifted her chin, "A dream being realized is enough, what else is needed? Besides, there will definitely be a lot of things to do afterward, and they're bound to be fun. It's such a big island."

Catherine didn't argue with Janet, instead changing the subject, "Are you planning to keep talking in that tone?"

Janet put down the atlas, rubbed her cheeks, and made some noises. After a moment, she spoke again, "How about now?"

Catherine shook her head, "Still sounds weird."

Janet nonchalantly replied, "Then I won't change it. The little rascal likes it anyway."

Eventually, after a long day, they casually chatted for a while, and Janet soon fell sleepy. Catherine turned off the light, and the two women lay down together.

In the dim light.

After a brief silence, Janet rustled closer, "Kate, I've gotten used to sleeping hugging the little rascal."

Feeling Janet's hand on her waist felt a bit odd, Catherine pressed her hand to stop her from moving and scolded, "Then go find him, why hug me?"

"Hehe," Janet simply clung to Catherine more boldly, saying, "You're the same."

The same?

How could it be the same?

Why would it be the same?

A series of chaotic thoughts flashed through Catherine's mind, feeling Janet making no further moves, she gradually relaxed.

It seemed.

This wasn't so bad.

Thus, she also slowly extended her hand, cautiously resting it on Janet.

Just as they were about to fall asleep, Janet spoke again, "Kate, the little rascal probably hasn't slept yet."

Catherine felt a bad premonition, "Hmm?"

Janet suggested, "Shall we call him over?"

Call him over?

For what?

To do… what?

That's not okay!

"Ah, that hurts."

"Don't talk nonsense anymore, or I'm leaving."

"Hmm hmm," Janet seemed to pout, "I just made a big decision, Kate, don't blame me for not giving you a chance."

Catherine lifted her hand again.

Janet quickly begged for mercy, "Okay, okay, I'll stop talking, let's sleep."

After a tiring day, Janet soon fell asleep.

However, Catherine didn't sleep well all night, her mind constantly drifting to various jumbled thoughts.

After a long time, she faintly heard some noises. Catherine opened her eyes to find the daylight peeking through the curtain gaps. Janet was still clinging to her, making Catherine wonder if she also held someone all night like this on other days.

Really…

Then she felt her cheeks heating up.

Completely awake, she quietly disentangled herself from Janet's embrace, checked the time, and it was only six o'clock in the morning.

After washing up, she stepped out of the bedroom to find the door to the neighboring study open, realizing that the noise she had felt wasn't an illusion; he was already up.

Perhaps.

This should be him.

If he hadn't been working so hard all these days, how could he possibly have everything he now owned?

Standing at the bedroom door, Catherine hesitated for a moment, then walked toward the open door.

Simon had woken up at five o'clock today, earlier than Catherine had imagined. He was standing at a corner of his desk, holding a coffee mug and speaking into the microphone with Noah Scott in Chicago.

The same 20-point rise, the S&P 500 index took a month and a half to go from 270 to 290 points, but only three weeks to go from 290 to 310 points.

Simon remembered that just before 'Black Monday,' the extreme of the S&P 500 index was around 330 points. Thus, starting from July 27, when the S&P 

500 index broke through 310 points, he once again ordered Noah Scott to switch hands.

Over the previous four days, more than half of the original 6,800 contracts in the Westeros company had been squared off. Meanwhile, they began to establish long contracts again at a rate of 1,000 contracts per day.

A total of 6,800 contracts, calculated with an average gain of about 20 points, each contract theoretically earned up to $10,000.

Completing this turnover, the capital in the Westeros company account would reach about $200 million, and Simon planned to increase this batch of long contracts to 10,000 shares. Following this, 10,000 contracts from 310 to 330 points, barring any accidents, by September, the Westeros company would have accumulated $300 million in capital.

The September delivery month was much more turbulent than the previous June.

However, with $300 million in capital, Simon could operate lightly in the overall downward trend in September and still make a small profit. Entering October, until the major crash on October 19, Simon had more than two weeks to make the final arrangements.

Noticing Catherine at the doorway, Simon smiled at her, mouthed a good morning, then continued discussing today's buying and selling plan with Noah Scott.

Seeing Simon on the phone, Catherine initially intended to step aside, but when he silently greeted her, she instinctively walked in, standing at the other corner of the large desk, pretending to be interested in his conversation with someone.

However, all those terms like long positions, squaring off, and switching hands were completely baffling to her.

She just couldn't help wanting to stand next to him.

Absentmindedly listening, noticing that he had changed into a long-sleeved shirt today, she almost wanted to laugh.

The bite mark left by Janet probably hadn't faded yet.

Then.

The man suddenly handed her the coffee mug he was holding.

She was puzzled but still took it, holding the half-full cup of coffee in her hands, wondering what it meant.

Was this for her?

It would definitely be rude not to drink it.

But.

It's obvious you've drunk from it, right?

Hesitating, she still brought the cup to her lips and took a small sip.

Nice coffee.

Just, it felt weird.

Why did her cheeks feel hot after drinking it?

Then.

As the fax machine in front of him began to buzz, he started to sort through the pages coming out of the fax machine with his free hand, and her cheeks suddenly felt even hotter.

And, although he was still acting all serious, couldn't he see the smile at the corner of his mouth?

You little rascal!

The fax machine soon stopped, and he reached out his hand again.

She really felt an urge to pour the coffee over him, but just thinking about it seemed too excessive, so she handed it back, showing no pleasant expression.

However, that hand didn't take the coffee mug back but instead grabbed her wrist.

She wasn't Janet.

What was this for?

Thinking about it, she felt herself being pulled in front of him, that annoyingly smiling face coming close and kissing her on the lips before pulling away. She hadn't even had the chance to react.

You!

She glared at him fiercely, with a warning.

Dare to do anything excessive again, and she really would lose her temper.

He really didn't do anything excessive after that.

As if nothing had happened, he continued speaking with emphasis to the person on the other end of the phone.

What was that supposed to mean?

So, she lost her temper.

She reached out and pinched him hard on his other arm, not holding back at all.

I might not bite people, but can't I pinch?

You little rascal!

A sharp pain shot through Simon's arm, and he gasped in pain.

Too harsh.

It hurt more than Janet's bite.

The phone was still connected, and he couldn't show any sign of discomfort, only silently begging the woman for mercy.

Catherine, seeing his pitiful look, quickly softened. She let go, glared at him again, then turned to walk out of the study.

However.

Her unconsciously quickened steps seemed somewhat like a hurried escape.