Money, Money, and More Money

I sat on my couch in my apartment, with Carter, my financial manager, seated beside me. His eyes were on me as I read through the monthly financial reports. The growth was impressive—everything was on the rise. But that was expected, given that having knowledge of the future certainly helped guide my investments.

Still, I wanted more.

I had realized recently that I needed more money—not for luxury or any personal needs, but for influence. In this industry, influence was everything, and more money meant more power, more leverage, more opportunities to shape my career and the industry itself. If I wanted to rise to the top, I needed to think bigger.

I put the reports down on the table. "Alright," I said, leaning forward slightly. "Carter, have you heard of Bitcoin?"

Carter looked up, blinking in slight confusion. He nodded slowly. "Yeah, I've heard of it. It's that cryptocurrency, right?"

I nodded, a smile playing at my lips. "That's right. I want you to start buying it."

Carter's brow furrowed, and he hesitated for a moment, leaning back in his chair. "Wait, are you serious?"

I didn't smile, keeping my gaze steady. "Why wouldn't I be serious? I'm giving you a million dollars to make this happen."

Carter looked at me as if trying to gauge if I was joking, then shook his head in disbelief. "A million dollars... for Bitcoin? Do you really think this is a sound investment?"

I leaned back, my smile fading. "Listen, Carter. Buy the Bitcoin as if each coin is going to be worth around $60,000 in nine years. And create a strategy that ensures maximum profit without disrupting the market. I want steady growth, but I don't want anyone catching on to what we're doing too soon."

Carter stared at me, bewildered by my words. "Sixty thousand... per coin? Daniel, I mean, this is unproven. There's no guarantee it won't all just vanish. You could be flushing this money down the toilet."

I shrugged, looking at him with calm confidence. "Maybe a few years ago, I would have worried about something like this. But think about it, Carter. If I lose a million dollars right now, would that really make a difference to me?"

Carter hesitated, then slowly shook his head. "No, it wouldn't."

"Good," I said. "Then do it. Start buying now."

Carter gave a reluctant nod. "Alright, Daniel. But I hope you know what you're doing."

I smiled, a glimmer of certainty in my eyes. "Trust me, Carter. I know exactly what I'm doing."

I went back to reading the reports. Bitcoin was a long-term investment, a seed planted for the future—much like another venture I had in mind: real estate. The value in real estate wasn't just about buying properties; it was about buying the right properties at the right time, and I had an edge there—knowledge of what was coming.

I had an acquaintance from my previous world and life. A man I had met while on breaks at a lousy job. He would talk endlessly about real estate, always saying how he'd become rich if only he could travel back in time and invest in the right places. At first, I barely paid attention, writing him off as just another idiot, a dreamer—a man who had lost at life. But over time, his stories started to stick, and I even found myself enjoying the conversations. The guy had a way of making real estate sound like some kind of treasure hunt.

Unfortunately, one day he jumped in front of a car. It was a terrible day and not a memory I liked to revisit, but it had left an impact. Despite everything, the man's vision of what he'd do with a second chance stayed with me.

Now, I had the chance he only dreamed about.

I knew that there would be huge opportunities in certain markets in the next few years. San Francisco and the surrounding areas were on the brink of a tech boom that was still expanding. With giants like Facebook, Google, and Apple continuing to grow, real estate prices in tech-heavy areas like Mountain View, Palo Alto, and even San Francisco hadn't yet reached their peak. I knew the value of buying early, and I was ready to jump in.

Then there was Austin, Texas. Soon, it would become one of the hottest tech hubs in the country, with companies relocating there for tax benefits and a better quality of life. I had to strike before the rush began, securing properties that would be worth a fortune in just a few years.

Denver, Colorado was another city that was about to see a rise in desirability. By 2019 or 2020, Denver would be one of the most attractive places to live in America. Residential investments there would be a goldmine.

Other locations were on my radar too—Nashville, Seattle, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Phoenix. Many of these places were still recovering from the 2008 crash, and prices were low. This was my opportunity to buy before they inevitably rebounded, driven by migration and economic growth.

"Now," I said, leaning back on the couch, putting the report down on the table, "let's talk about real estate. What did you think of my recommendations?"

Carter didn't look convinced, wearing the same skeptical expression as when I first mentioned Bitcoin. He rubbed his temple, clearly not on board. "I know you want to diversify, Daniel, but some of these markets... Austin, for example, it's not exactly booming right now." His brows furrowed, and I could see him trying to wrap his head around my choices.

He looked at his notes, listing out the other cities I had mentioned—Denver, Nashville, Tampa, Phoenix. "These places... I mean, they were hit pretty hard by the 2008 crash. I'm not sure if they're going to recover anytime soon. It's risky, Daniel."

I smiled, leaning forward. "Carter, listen. Trust me on Austin. I have a feeling tech companies are going to go there for the tax breaks, quality of life, among other reasons. It's going to be the next big tech hub. You can even look into it yourself—companies are slowly eyeing Texas because of the favorable environment."

Carter looked down at his papers, chewing his lip in thought. "But what about Las Vegas? And the others? The market's still recovering from the 2008 crash. The risk is there, the volatility... Prices are low now for a reason."

"Exactly." I nodded, my eyes steady on him. "That's precisely why we're going to jump in now. Vegas is bouncing back faster than people realize. In a few years, it'll be back on the rise, and those home prices are going to reflect that. All those foreclosed properties we're buying for dirt cheap now? We're flipping them when the recovery peaks."

He sighed, shaking his head slightly but starting to jot down notes. "I get what you're saying, but this is a bold move. If it doesn't pan out..."

"Oh," I said, suddenly reminded of something. "Carter, there's something else I want you to look into: Airbnb rentals."

"Yes, that's something I was going to tell you about. There's a trend where people are ditching traditional hotels and opting for short-term rentals," he said.

"Yes, exactly," I said. "We get in on prime locations now, especially in cities like Orlando and San Diego, near major tourist spots, and we can make a killing."

Carter furrowed his brow, looking a little unsure. "Okay, but there is a problem—some local governments have been cracking down on them. I've already heard some rumblings in places like New York."

"There'll be some pushback, sure," I admitted. "But we diversify. If one city becomes too restrictive, we shift focus to another. I believe this will be very flexible."

"Daniel, you're really pushing for more risky investments lately. I mean, Bitcoin, these real estate plays, now short-term rentals... why the sudden urge? These are very risky moves."

I met his gaze directly, raising an eyebrow. "Have any of my risks failed yet?"

He paused, then shook his head. "No. None of them have."

"Exactly. And these won't either." I leaned forward, my tone sharpening. "Look, Carter, I need more capital. A lot more…" I paused. "I want to start my own production company," I added after a moment.

His eyes widened slightly. "Oh..."

"Yeah. I want fewer partners," I said, my voice growing firmer. "I'll get Stardust involved a bit, sure. But I want full control. And the more money I have, the more weight I can throw around in the industry."

Carter sighed, considering. "Daniel, if you don't take these kinds of risks, your current growth trajectory will still make you a billionaire in a few years, especially with how companies like Netflix, Amazon, and Apple are growing."

I shook my head, a smile tugging at my lips. "These investments, Carter... they'll make me a billionaire even faster. And there's more—I've got plans to invest in startups, and I might even set up a private equity firm eventually."

Carter raised an eyebrow. "That sounds... extremely risky."

'Not for me. Not with what I know,' I thought with a smile.

Carter nodded. "Alright. I'll look into these things for you."

"And I need you to put together a team to help with the production company. We're starting on that soon."

Carter closed his notebook, giving me a smile. "I'll get on it."

"Good." As he stood to leave, I called out, "Oh, Carter—what about the money I asked to move? The... 'noted text,' shall we say?"

Carter chuckled, understanding the veiled reference. "I've created offshore accounts for that purpose. I'll also be using some other tactics to make sure it's untouchable."

I nodded, my expression turning serious. "Be careful, alright? I don't plan on spending any time in prison."

He gave me a confident smile. "Relax, Daniel. I'm a professional, and you pay me far too much to make mistakes."

I laughed as Carter walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

A moment later, my phone buzzed with a notification. I pulled it out and saw a message from Julie.

Mr. Kolstad is interested in our offer and is willing to negotiate.

I smiled at the message, quickly typing a response.

Great. Go ahead and set it up.

I put the phone back in my pocket, laying back on the couch with a satisfied grin. This was all coming together. That movie... it was going to be a great debut for my new company.

The future wasn't just bright—it was mine.

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