[Chapter 327: The White House Dinner]
As November rolled around, it was time for the annual White House Dinner hosted by the President and First Lady, inviting close friends, social elites, and influential figures from various industries.
This year's White House Dinner took place on November 24.
Known as the most prestigious dinner, it's the event everyone aspires to attend but few get the chance. The dinner itself might not feature extraordinary dishes, but the real value lies in the high-level networking and the subtle power plays, negotiations, and intrigues happening behind the scenes. Every ambitious person finds it hard to resist.
Moreover, it was a night where women dazzled, attracting attention from across America and the world.
There's a saying in the U.S.: "If you refuse an invitation to the White House Dinner, it can only be for one of three reasons -- serious illness, family death, or marriage. Otherwise, no excuse is acceptable, as it concerns the authority of the nation's institutions."
Attendees could bring a date. Upon hearing that Linton was invited, all his female companions except Sophie Marceau (who was abroad with publicity) hoped to be his date -- Madonna, Naomi, Cristiana, Catherine, Jennifer, Winona, and others. Even newcomer Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron expressed interest.
However, since his farm discovered a spy from Arkansas, Linton knew the Clinton family had ill intentions toward him. This dinner might be a trap, and he wouldn't let them risk his companions. Besides, if so many women wanted to attend, bringing any one of them would cause jealousy and conflict.
He was fine attending alone, confident he could handle any tricks the Bill and Hillary might throw. He also had a plan -- if they kept their distance, all would be well. But if they provoked him, he had four Soul Slave Marks left and could assign some to them.
...
On November 24, Linton flew to Washington with his bodyguard Carter and assistant Meena, staying at the Waldorf Astoria.
Though called a dinner, it was actually held in the afternoon.
Before leaving, Meena nervously checked Linton's attire multiple times to ensure perfection.
Arriving at the designated White House parking lot in a hotel Rolls-Royce, security thoroughly inspected their invitations before escorting them to the red carpet entrance.
Like other top events, the White House Dinner featured a red carpet segment. Men usually passed quickly, but women lingered to show off their elegance.
Unlike other shows, there were no screaming fans -- only sharply dressed reporters in suits lined on both sides, maintaining composure.
...
After a brisk walk down the red carpet, Linton greeted the Clintons at the White House front door. To his surprise, Hillary used her pinky to gently wiggle in his palm during their handshake. He thought, 'Is the First Lady really that coquettish?'
Guided upstairs by servers, he entered the oval-shaped yellow hall. Taking a cocktail, he scanned the room and recognized many famous billionaires, tech elites, and politicians: Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Jack Welch of General Electric, Louis Gerstner of IBM, oil magnate John D. Rockefeller, Morgan Stanley's CEO Bassacks Morgan, Goldman Sachs CEO Messade Hanton, and Vice President Gore among others -- all surrounded by groups engaged in lively discussion.
Unfortunately, he couldn't spot anyone he knew well except Bill Gates. Thanks to his ongoing acquisitions, he was a minor shareholder in Microsoft.
...
As Linton was about to greet Gates, two excited women rushed over, "Wow, you're the big star Linton! So happy to see you -- can we hug you?"
Soon, a crowd of women gathered around him, enthusiastically greeting and hugging him. Unlike other celebrities, women surrounded him exclusively.
...
At 5 PM, President Clinton gave a speech titled "Making America Great Again," officially starting the dinner.
Soft music played as guests chatted, clinked glasses, and mingled -- reconnecting with old friends and making new ones, expanding their networks.
Linton moved around with his wine glass, meeting many influential figures, officially entering America's top network.
When he approached Bill Gates for a toast, Gates warmly said, "Linton, big star, I know you. My wife and daughter are fans."
"Thank you, Mr. Gates, it's an honor."
"You're quite sharp and have great investment vision."
Thanks to the National Information Superhighway program, Microsoft's stock skyrocketed this year, now with a market cap exceeding $55 billion.
Just recently, Forbes listed Gates as the richest man in the world with $23.6 billion.
Today, Gates was the real star of the dinner, more popular than Linton and nearly rivaling President Clinton himself -- that's the power of wealth.
After continuous stock purchases, Linton's charity fund owned 2.7% of Microsoft shares, a significant holding that naturally caught Gates' attention.
What Gates didn't know was that, through leveraged capital and Mangrove Capital, Linton actually held 4.8% total.
"I'm very optimistic about Microsoft's future, and under your leadership, its market value will grow substantially," Linton complimented.
"Well said. Microsoft loves investors like you. Your career is impressive too -- we'll keep pushing forward together."
Throughout the event, there were no fans screaming around the red carpet, only formal reporters. The only surprise was Hillary's coy pinky in the handshake.
Linton navigated the opulent setting, taking note of the top billionaires and political figures present. When women eagerly approached him, it was a different kind of power play compared to others surrounded by men.
After President Clinton's speech and the elegant mingling, Linton had cemented his place among America's elite social circle, the White House Dinner proving to be a pivotal moment in his rise.
*****
https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.