Chapter 72: Shock on Wall Street

The Christmas of 1979 was bound to be anything but peaceful. The Soviets were poised for action, and Afghanistan, weak as it was, couldn't withstand their pressure. Although many nations were trying to mediate, it didn't seem to have much effect. The Soviet's thinking seemed off, as it was hard to understand what use they saw in such a barren place. "Strategic position important?" The Soviets had their big weapons like nuclear submarines and missiles, and those were safely back home. Who knew what they were thinking, trying to build a base right at America's doorstep, resulting in worldwide embarrassment and nearly triggering World War III. Now, not too long after, they were attempting another expansion stunt. Despite being isolated, they seemed unafraid of the consequences. Americans weren't faring much better financially. The treasury was truly empty, and even if they wanted to get involved, they couldn't. Without dollars, they couldn't fight a war. Besides, the public was terrified of conflict, and the wealthy were digging bomb shelters. If they truly got involved, the US economy would plunge into chaos. Word spread about someone snatching billions from the futures market, putting Wall Street in a standstill. This vague news set the market ablaze; everyone had suffered losses that year, and hearing of someone making a fortune left them speechless. Despite the vagueness, there was little doubt in the market. If the details seemed too clear, it would have been suspicious. In this type of high-stakes game, outsiders were never privy to the full story. ... Hunter was filled with bitterness; he'd taken a hard fall this time. The feeling of being pecked blind by a little sparrow was maddening and was the biggest shame of his life. "Breaking ties?" They had already broken ties long ago. Did he really think people wouldn't dare short him? If that young man went crazy, their support levels would collapse. They already had plenty of enemies, just waiting for William White to take the lead. Once he raised the flag, there would be no shortage of people ready to pile on. At this point, accepting the loss was the only option. Those White Oil shares they held were best given up; otherwise, they'd end very miserably. Angry? Maybe a bit, but mostly it was fear. From start to finish, it had been an act. Ever since the hostile takeover began, they'd been maneuvered into a trap they couldn't avoid. Now wasn't the time to cause trouble; the family had to prepare for an escape route. If something went wrong, tears wouldn't be enough. If it turned into a family feud, outsiders wouldn't easily take sides. If the fight got serious enough, innocent bystanders might get hurt. Luckily, the feud was still limited to the financial realm, without escalating further. ... Major players understood that money wasn't a problem for him. Attempting another takeover was out of the question. If he didn't mind investors, that was already good enough. Many firms like his were invariably private enterprises. Firms like Google only went public out of necessity because their value system revolved around sharing profits. Secretly making a fortune wasn't allowed; once shareholder numbers surpassed a certain limit, listing was mandatory. To retain top talent, White Software did offer stock incentives. Without those shares tying people down, the staff would likely have quit. William White's point system was a real pain. Those with high points were hard to poach unless you could offer significant compensation. Whether it was software or games, creativity was always king. High coding skills could only complement, but without a fitting idea, even the top skills would make one just a coder. As far as benefits went, there was no comparison. White Software's free lunches were considered luxurious, with alcohol being the only limited beverage; everything else was completely open. The current office building was leased, and some things weren't the most convenient. The new office was even more outrageous, with over half the amenities for entertainment. For a boss like that, if there was any complaint left, it was laughable. ... William White was living leisurely. Life had settled into a routine, and there was no need to be overly aggressive; a gradual approach was better. Everyone felt jealousy; besides the frustrated Hunter family, there were Wall Street sharks envious to madness. The most unwilling was Soros. At that time, Soros was still quite inexperienced, nothing like the terror he'd become. He knew he wasn't qualified to participate in that battle. But reality was a harsh teacher; how big your heart is dictates how big your world is. William White was also an ant, albeit a strong one. How did he do it? He brought down the Hunter family without losing his family business, causing Hunter to take a nasty fall. The most aggravating part, he walked away when the time was right. In Wall Street's eyes, William White was just lucky. They eagerly anticipated him investing more, assuming the money he made would eventually belong to sharks like themselves. Unfortunately, he backed out, shutting down all involved accounts as if the trades had never occurred. This made the elite grind their teeth in anger. If you don't play, you can't lose; that's a brutally simple truth. Want a showdown? Great, head to Hollywood. He was flourishing there, with another blockbuster poised to hit theaters soon. If anyone wasn't happy, they could compete there. ... William White's strength lay in foresight. Only a madman would engage in unreliable ventures. History had its fluctuations, and with bold enough actions, many things could change. This time, the Hunter family suffered a heavier loss than in history. Previously, they remained well-off for quite some time, losing their grandeur yet still a family of wealth. The securities market was still limited; many famous companies were seedlings. A minor investment might not matter, but heavy investments could result in unpredictable troubles. If he wanted to avoid causing waves, the best way was to cut in line, like buying Coca-Cola before Buffett. As for other companies, that depended on fate. If the opportunity was right, he could become a minor shareholder. As long as it didn't exceed 5%, it likely wouldn't be a problem. Morgan Stanley once again raised Apple's valuation. This time Jobs didn't react too much because he was already a billionaire, even if just on paper. Jobs now just wanted to show off in front of William White. After all, in that era, his youthful exuberance made him seek society's recognition as his primary pursuit. ***** https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.