Chapter 315: Sweeping the Globe

"Darling, shall we go back?" Charles Capet found Ivanka Trump at the party and noticed she was conversing with Jared Kushner.

"Sure!" Ivanka, seeing Charles finally by her side, kissed him on the cheek, then turned to Jared with a smile, "Let's have dinner together another time. I need to head out now!"

Charles also acknowledged Jared with a nod and smile, "Congratulations on the record-breaking purchase of 666 Fifth Avenue. The Kushner Companies sure is a big player."

Jared, despite some discomfort, smiled back, "If Capet Group ever needs office space in Manhattan, we can work something out."

"Is that so? We'll think about it. See you!" Charles said as he wrapped his arms around Ivanka and prepared to leave.

Leaving the hotel, they returned to Trump World Tower on Park Avenue, where Ivanka had a small studio apartment. It was a two-bedroom unit, not large, remodeled in 2004 as Ivanka's personal space, though she didn't use it much.

Back in the apartment, Charles admired Trump's various properties in New York, "Fifth Avenue's Trump Tower, 40 Wall Street in the Financial District (formerly the Manhattan Bank Building), Trump International Hotel and Tower at the southwest corner of Central Park, and Trump Park Avenue on the Upper East Side!"

"Only partial ownership, and a lot of the Trump International Hotels are just brand licensing," Ivanka, in her silk nightgown, with an enticing allure, walked over to Charles on the sofa, straddling him in his robe, "You seemed quite chatty tonight?"

"News Corp executives, other TV and newspaper execs, and many politicians and bankers were there. Of course, I needed to network!" Charles said, caressing her thighs, "What's up, though? You seemed eager to leave Jared Kushner's side."

Ivanka, now aroused and breathing heavily, replied, "It's my father, trying to matchmake me with Jared Kushner for marriage!"

"Didn't they consider that their family is deeply traditional in Jewish beliefs? They ideally want a Jewish match, right?" Charles pointed out.

"Well, both our families have major real estate holdings in New Jersey and New York. A marriage alliance does seem practical," Charles remarked as a bystander, seeing the larger picture clearly.

"Yeah," Ivanka pouted, "Would you want your woman to date other men?"

"Of course not," Charles laughed, reminding her, "But do you only want to be a pampered bird in a gilded cage? Haven't you thought about having your own career?"

"I do have my own businesses - jewelry, accessories, shoes, and handbags under my name," Ivanka retorted.

Charles shook his head, "But they're all subsidiaries of the Trump Group. You know your father's style. The Trump brand has its pros and cons!"

"Not utilizing this platform would be a waste," Ivanka looked at Charles, "What do you suggest? Running a golf club needs a lot of investment!"

"Can you handle managing a private resort or a golf club?" Charles asked.

Ivanka thought for a moment and responded, "I can try. We already have a private golf club and manage hotels. Plus, my father plans to expand hotel operations - new ones in Chicago and Soho, Manhattan."

"I actually want to create Capet Picture's own theme park and resort, like Disneyland or Universal Studios," Charles admitted with a shake of his head, "But it's a huge challenge!"

"Wow, that's ambitious," Ivanka said, kissing Charles, "I'll help you when the time comes."

Charles nodded, kissing her back passionately. For now, the future could wait; it was time to enjoy the present!

...

After August 2007, the subprime mortgage crisis swept through the U.S., the EU, and Japan, impacting major financial markets globally.

On August 1, 2007, Australia's Macquarie Bank announced a 25% loss for investors in two of its high-yield funds.

On August 3, Bear Stearns, one of America's top investment banks, declared the U.S. credit market was at its worst in 20 years, leading to continued stock market crashes in Europe and America.

On August 5, Bearn Stearns' President Warren Spector resigned.

On August 6, the real estate investment trust company American Home Mortgage filed for bankruptcy protection.

On August 8, BNP Paribas, France's largest bank, admitted to involvement in the U.S. subprime mortgage issue, causing a global drop in stock indices and a severe drop in metal, oil futures, and gold prices.

On August 10, the European Central Bank intervened due to the spreading crisis.

On August 11, central banks worldwide injected more than $326.2 billion into the markets within 48 hours, while the Federal Reserve injected $38 billion three times in one day to stabilize the stock market.

On August 13, companies like Walmart and Home Depot announced significant losses due to the crisis, leading to a sharp decline in U.S. stocks to multi-month lows.

On August 14, the central banks of the U.S., Europe, and Japan injected over $72 billion again to support the market.

On August 16, the largest commercial mortgage company in the U.S. faced a stock price collapse and potential bankruptcy as the subprime mortgage crisis worsened, affecting Asia-Pacific markets profoundly.

Charles, at his newly purchased estate in East Hampton, Long Island, heard the daily reports of the stock market's disastrous performance and found it to be music to his ears.

After a passionate aria of O Sole Mio by Luciano Pavarotti ended, Dona Williams turned off the record player and smiled at Charles, "Boss, Freddie Mac's stock is down to $50 a share!"

"Oh, why?" Charles pretended to be perplexed, "Why must I make so much money?"

"Come on, let's go surfing at the beach, ha-ha!"

*****

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