[Chapter 92: FBI Visit]
More than a week later, early morning.
The atmosphere in a Manhattan penthouse felt strangely mixed. The bluish morning light painted the jagged skyline of Manhattan. The rooftop terrace garden was like an oasis suspended above the hustle and bustle of the city.
Frank had just sent off Charles Stuart, who was in charge of Orlando's investment, and the excitement on the latter's face had not yet faded. Yesterday, their precise short selling before military industry stock prices plummeted brought in astronomical paper profits. The military sector dropped 12% in just one day.
The catalyst for this was that Saddam Hussein, across the ocean, suddenly softened his tone. His spokesman at the United Nations declared that Iraq was willing to accept mediation from the General Assembly, and they would withdraw their troops from Kuwait before January 15th the following year.
As soon as the news broke, the entire U.S. military industry sector, along with international crude oil futures and gold, suffered significant declines. Following Orlando's instructions, Charles Stuart had bought a large number of military stocks and futures like international crude oil and gold in the market before Saddam's forces entered Kuwait on August 4. Just half a month later, these investments soared.
...
A few days ago, at the end of August, Orlando suddenly called Charles. He wanted him to sell or liquidate all military stocks and futures. After three days of work, Charles managed to turn hundreds of millions of dollars in floating profits into real profits. Then Orlando asked him to start trading Air Force stocks and futures. The market at that time was favorable, with military stocks and international futures remaining high, and the White House and Pentagon appeared determined to engage in conflict.
Logically speaking, investing in military stocks and international crude oil futures during such uncertain times could be disastrous. However, since the money belonged to Orlando, Charles had no choice but to follow the instructions despite his reservations. Only two days later, on September 2, 1990, Saddam's envoy capitulated at the conference.
The Orlando Investment Company had already sustained a paper loss of nearly $30 million due to their short selling, but the market made a wild turnaround overnight. The floating profit increased to over $80 million. When combined with the original long profit, the total earnings in just over three months reached nearly $200 million.
Although Charles acknowledged that most of the credit belonged to Orlando, he was still thrilled. With such an impressive resume, even if he decided to leave Orlando Investment Company one day, he could firmly establish himself on Wall Street.
---
Thinking it was merely a phone call, Charles still went to report the good news to Orlando in person. In the middle of the Sky Garden, Orlando, dressed in loose sportswear, faced the city, which was gradually waking up in the morning light, conducting his regular morning vocal exercises. He opened his hands slightly, palms facing up, as if embracing the grand urban stage before him. With every deep breath, his chest rose and fell; with each exhalation, he produced a clear and controlled vowel: "Ah----"
Nearby, Shania sat in a white rattan armchair with a blanket on her knees, holding a cup of steaming herbal tea, quietly watching him. Her eyes, filled with admiration and a touch of warmth from their passionate night before, were gentle and focused. Orlando concentrated on the subtle turns of sound, matching the rhythm of his body to the peaks of the notes, as a pure artistic energy flowed through him.
Not far away, the study door swung open. After seeing Charles Stuart off, Frank returned and immediately discussed the wording of a statement for the media and subsequent lawsuits with Orlando's two lawyers, Melvin and Kurt.
More than a week prior, after a secret meeting with John Gotti on a yacht, the Gambino family acted swiftly. Regarding Eve Construction, a subsidiary of Kushner Properties, scandals erupted overnight. These included high food safety risks, insufficient worker insurance, and cement adulteration. On ordinary days, such issues would have been minor.
However, as these issues surfaced, workers at the Kushner's Eve Construction Company publicly declared that they were unwilling to continue working for a company lacking professionalism and ethics. They quit their jobs en masse, forcing Kushner Properties to suspend work on four major projects.
While it might not seem serious at first -- there were countless construction workers in New York -- things escalated. When the recruitment manager of Eve Construction contacted the New York Construction Workers Association for new hires, he learned that Kushner Properties had been blacklisted. Workers belonging to the union were prohibited from taking jobs with companies associated with Kushner until the blacklist was lifted.
When this news reached Charles Kushner, he was no fool; he had a savvy intelligence network. The reason for the debacle became clear. Instead of backing down, Kushner launched a media offensive, connecting the situation to the mob and implying that a powerful entertainment star was pulling strings behind the scenes. While Orlando wasn't explicitly named, Frank and the two lawyers recognized their boss's firm stance and began preparing for the potential public relations fallout.
---
"Boss, George Smith, the director of the FBI's New York office, is downstairs. It's confirmed to be him, and he wants to come up to see you." The intercom broke the morning stillness as Washington's voice chimed in.
Orlando paused, setting down the coffee that Shania had just brought him. "FBI? What are they doing here?" He quickly adjusted his sportswear, made his way to the study door, and gestured for Frank and the lawyers to pause. "The FBI is here. I need to make a few calls first."
...
When George Smith finally arrived, he appeared impatient and somewhat displeased -- half an hour had passed. The special agent was clad in a dark gray suit that signified authority. He was followed by a young assistant holding a recording device.
"Mr. Keller," George Smith extended his hand, a polite smile on his face, but his gaze instinctively scanned the surroundings, searching for clues. "I'm the director of the New York field office, George Smith. Thank you for your time. I know your schedule is busy, especially after seeing off your friends on Wall Street?"
His words had dual implications as his eyes flicked over a military stock price chart still resting on the coffee table and several analysis reports bearing the logo of Orlando Investment Company.
"What's on your mind, Mr. Smith?" After shaking the FBI director's hand, Orlando returned to his chair, with Frank sitting to his side and two prominent New York lawyers on the other.
'Fuck!' George Smith thought, 'I hate dealing with these rich people!' Yet, he had to be there. He had a good relationship with Charles Kushner, which had even helped his son get into one of New York's top high schools, thanks to a recommendation from Kushner.
Despite knowing the potential complications, George proceeded with his visit. It didn't take long for him to realize the nature of his visit. "It's about the sudden addition of a yacht to your assets."
George Smith took a deep breath, remaining calm. "Oh? I made tens of millions from singing in just six months, plus over $100 million on Wall Street. Is it a crime to buy a yacht?"
"Of course not," George replied, his expression unreadable. "But our information indicates that you only spent one dollar to purchase this luxury yacht worth millions!"
"This has nothing to do with the FBI, right? If anything requires investigation, it should be the IRS. Mr. Smith, are you also the director of the IRS now?" Orlando raised an eyebrow. "Or has jurisdiction changed and IRS matters now fall under the FBI?"
"No, it has nothing to do with that. The FBI doesn't control the IRS," George clarified quickly, the tension palpable. "I assure you."
His tone darkened. "Mr. Keller, we suspect you have a secret deal with Gambino, the underground crime organization in New York!"
"Really? Does the FBI have any evidence?"
Suddenly, a voice chimed in, but it wasn't Orlando's; it was Melvin, the brother-in-law of one of New York's senators, sitting beside him.
The lawyer smiled at the FBI director, "Although the FBI targets criminal organizations, even FBI cases require evidence. And, Mr. Smith, I doubt you have relevant documents. You didn't have the approval from your superiors for this visit, did you?"
"Am I right, Mr. Smith?" Melvin's smile only deepened, while the color drained from George's face.
As he noted, he lacked the relevant documentation from the higher-ups; he had come to visit Orlando purely in a private capacity. As for bringing an assistant and recording equipment, that made sense only in a casual setting.
Suddenly, George realized he had hit a wall. The other party was evidently prepared for the tricks he had thought to execute.
Before George could respond, Melvin produced a recorder from under the table. "Mr. Smith, everything we just said was recorded. Whether I decide to sue you depends on my boss's mood."
'Fuck!' George felt a surge of anxiety; he had to make a hasty exit.
As he stood to leave, he heard Orlando's assistant declare, "Go away. This whole thing turned out to be disappointing; I thought it was a big fish, but it was just a tadpole lured here mistakenly."
George opened his mouth to protest, but..
"Get lost! And, you idiot! Next time, remember to use your brain before doing something like this!"
Orlando's bodyguards, who had accompanied him, stepped forward, signaling for the FBI team to leave.
"Okay, I'm leaving." George took a deep breath as he composed himself and walked out. He had traveled privately, not on official business, and if any conflicts arose, he stood to lose greatly.
At that moment, he understood he had likely been tricked by Charles Kushner.
---
Once George Smith and his assistant had left, Orlando noticed his two lawyers and the agent were still puzzled. He shook his head, "Charles Kushner sent them here to intimidate me. Their methods were blunt, but that's because they didn't understand my background yet."
Two or three months ago, even before Hillary got pregnant, if they had pulled these kinds of stunts, Orlando might have worried about their connections. But now, he had his own strength. Such petty tricks may work on other celebrities in the entertainment industry, but they were meaningless to him.
"But since they came here, let's not let this go unaddressed." Orlando instructed his litigation manager, Melvin, "Help me sue him. Let's spend some money and show him how perilous this world can be."
"No problem," Melvin replied cheerfully, clearly the most delighted person in the room. "Dear Orlando, I will ensure your satisfaction!"
---
Having dealt with the pesky FBI, Orlando exited the study. Shania approached, concern etched on her features.
"Orlando, why was the FBI here?"
"Don't worry, it's just a nuisance. And I'm all yours for the day."
His reassuring words lit up Shania's smile.
The rest of the day, Orlando was by Shania's side. They dressed incognito and enjoyed their time together, meeting intimately multiple times. This was the first time they had connected as a couple since her demanding schedule.
This also marked Shania's first real break in three months, as her grueling work barely allowed her more than four hours of sleep. Her fame was skyrocketing, and her single sales reflected her hard work.
If it hadn't been for Orlando's knack for stirring up publicity, her popularity would have rivaled his in the record industry. With her stunning looks, charm, and talent, she had become a valuable asset. Warner even approached Orlando about the possibility of signing her, recognizing her potential as a burgeoning star.
Orlando was happy to take a day or two to support her emotionally, thus cementing their relationship further.
The two spent the entire day visiting New York's top museums, starting with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which showcased thousands of years of human history and various cultures.
They wandered through modern art museums admired for their avant-garde appeal, featuring art masters from the late 19th century to contemporary artists like Van Gogh, Picasso, and Warhol.
After lunch, they strolled through Central Park, a vast green oasis in the city, enjoying a boat ride, exploring the small yet classic zoo, and taking a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride through the park's scenic spots.
This was an experience neither Hillary nor Daisy had ever enjoyed before.
*****
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