Simon spent half an hour carefully reviewing the documents Joseph Schrap had brought.
To thwart David Dinkins, the Westeros system planned to spend around $6 million in the final month of the campaign. The documents in Simon's hands were essentially a complete political operation plan, detailing already incurred and upcoming expenses.
Putting down the last folder, Simon looked up and asked Joseph, "Have these expenses been reviewed by the legal team?"
Joseph Schrap nodded. "Of course, all our expenditures are compliant and free from any legal scrutiny."
There was an undertone in Joseph's words. While they didn't violate election laws, revealing these expenses could spark media and public outcry.
Simon understood this perfectly. All he needed was to stay within the law.
As for criticism, every politician supported by the National Rifle Association faced long-standing opposition from gun control advocates, yet the NRA remained one of the most powerful lobbying groups in the U.S.
If you worry about public opinion, you won't get anything done.
Even if federal laws were tightened due to public pressure, everyone would just continue playing the game within a new framework.
Despite being a relatively new entrant in the world of capital, Simon understood that to become a player within the federal political-economic system, he had to adhere to many established rules, even if those rules were unfair to newcomers. Only after gaining enough accumulation within the system could one become a rule-maker.
Of course, there were overt rules and covert ones as well.
Hearing Joseph's assurance, Simon didn't ask further but instead said, "There's one more thing. Compile a dossier on the core members of the current city government cabinet for me as soon as possible."
Joseph Schrap's eyelid twitched.
Simon suddenly asking for such a list clearly indicated his intention for retribution.
David Dinkins, at 66 years old, would see his political career essentially end if he failed to get re-elected as mayor. This desperation was likely why he chose to gamble everything and break ties with the Westeros system. However, many members of Dinkins' cabinet still had promising political futures. Even if they didn't stay in politics, they could transition to lucrative fields like finance, law, or public relations.
If Dinkins lost, he would undoubtedly continue to face pressure from the Westeros system.
Joseph hadn't expected Simon to extend his retaliation to the entire Dinkins cabinet. This would certainly serve as a strong deterrent but also make more enemies.
After a brief hesitation, Joseph said, "Simon, we have good relations with some people in the city government."
Simon did intend to target the Dinkins cabinet.
At 66, Dinkins losing the mayoral seat meant he would be left with nothing. The most the Westeros system could do was block his access to lucrative retirement options in the private sector.
The U.S. political scene didn't typically engage in personal vendettas, and Simon didn't intend to break this norm.
However, just targeting Dinkins wouldn't teach everyone a lesson.
Simon wanted to send a clear message: if you take benefits from the Westeros system and then betray it, not only will you suffer, but everyone around you will also be affected.
Yes, this was collective punishment.
Of course, Simon knew he couldn't truly blacklist all cabinet members. Some might have stronger political connections, others could be Dinkins' political enemies or compromises from opposition parties, and some could even be plants from the Westeros system itself.
Seeing the troubled look on Joseph's face, Simon quickly waved it off. "Forget it, you don't need to handle this. If there are any close to the Schrap family, you can tell me."
The Schrap family had been involved in political lobbying for generations, establishing extensive connections in federal and local politics, especially in New York, often intertwined with mutual interests.
Joseph Schrap felt regret at Simon's words. The Schrap family now served Simon entirely, and Joseph knew his young boss valued loyalty greatly. Dinkins' betrayal had angered Simon, and Joseph worried his hesitation might cause Simon to rethink his trust in him.
Thus, Joseph quickly added, "Simon, our family isn't particularly close to anyone in Dinkins' cabinet. However, some of them have been quietly passing us information. And there are others whose opposition could create stronger enemies than Dinkins."
Simon nodded at Joseph's explanation. "I'll keep that in mind. Also, we need to start preparing for next year's midterm elections. Draft a proposal for me."
Joseph Schrap felt disappointed that Simon hadn't assigned him the task of compiling the cabinet dossier, but he quickly shifted focus to the new topic of the midterm elections.
The Westeros system had quietly helped Clinton deal with many issues from his Arkansas days. Since Bill Clinton took office, there hadn't been any new scandals like the Whitewater controversy or Hillary's cattle futures profit. Clinton's former lovers also hadn't resurfaced to reveal any secret affairs.
However, the Clintons were still far from trouble-free.
Within a year of taking office, from causing investigations by granting White House travel contracts to friends to a recent incident of getting a haircut on a runway, their blunders continued. Coupled with Clinton's healthcare reform and gun control efforts, which angered many vested interests, the Democrats were likely to struggle in the upcoming midterm elections.
In Simon's memory, the 1994 midterm elections were a severe defeat for the Democrats, far worse than expected, with Republicans taking control of both the House and Senate, significantly hindering Clinton's later presidency.
Moreover, next year's midterms would include redistricting and the exit of many veteran politicians, making it a significant reshuffling.
For the Westeros system, this would be a crucial reshuffling.
After discussing this, Simon saw Joseph off and returned to the villa, where Girl B, Becky Hope, greeted him.
"Boss, here are some recent resumes of girls we've been considering. Do you want to take a look?"
Simon had assigned Girl B the task of selecting girls from Eastern Europe and Latin America for his plan to train a new batch of maids.
This task was relatively straightforward.
Eastern Europe and Latin America were major sources of models, with well-developed screening systems.
Many girls started attending modeling classes from a young age as a way to rise, often from the age of seven or eight. There were numerous junior talent agencies that trained suitable girls for modeling competitions or professional modeling agencies.
Many of these girls ended up on the wrong path, though.
Or, to be precise, those who strayed far outnumbered those who became professional models, with only a few making it big in the fashion world.
Girl B's job was to call up files from junior talent agencies and conduct background checks.
Simon was particular about the backgrounds of the girls around him. If their parents had criminal records or bad habits, they were immediately disqualified, as such backgrounds often resulted in personality flaws, and Simon didn't want their families causing trouble later.
Seeing the thick stack of files in Girl B's hands, Simon shook his head. "Make these into electronic files, and I'll review them when I have time." Then he glanced at Girl B's black suit and smiled. "Is your evening gown ready? This outfit isn't suitable."
Girl B blushed slightly and nodded, then asked casually, "Do you want to see it, boss?"
Blackrock Asset Management, under Cersei Capital, had recently raised another $5 billion investment fund. Tonight, they were hosting a business reception for investors. Since Simon was in New York, he planned to make an appearance.
Girl B was setting up Alphabeta, a financial information company targeting Wall Street funds and high-net-worth investors. Simon planned to take her along to network.
"We'll have plenty of time to see it tonight," Simon smiled, shaking his head. "Where are Nadja and Yasmeen?"
Girl B looked disappointed but replied, "They're in the recreation room."
Simon headed towards the recreation room, while Becky sighed softly. The Alphabeta team would be completed by the end of the month, and from next month, she would leave Simon and Janet to be based in New York, focusing on her company.
She recalled her initial fears of becoming a plaything for a young boss when she first joined.
Now.
What remained was disappointment.
None of the four of them managed to secure the boss.
Simon entered the recreation room, finding Nadja Auermann and Yasmeen Ghauri playing billiards.
Though it was already deep autumn on the East Coast, the fall outfits on the two six-foot-tall women couldn't conceal their slender figures. Their graceful stances while bending over to hit the balls were enough to make any man feel a rush of heat.
Seeing Simon, the two women greeted him, and Yasmeen Ghauri urged the hesitant Nadja Auermann to take her shot.
Simon approached Yasmeen Ghauri and wrapped his arm around her slender waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. "Who's winning?" he asked, smiling at the pool table.
Yasmeen leaned slightly closer to Simon and said, "We're not keeping score, but of course, I'm ahead."
Nadja finally took her shot, missing the black ball.
Yasmeen mocked, "That's what you get for being greedy. Minus seven points."
Nadja stood up indignantly. "If you weren't always distracting me, I would've made it."
Simon saw Nadja could've easily scored three or five points but had opted for a tricky seven-point shot, resulting in failure due to greed.
It was Yasmeen's turn. She turned to Simon, who was still holding her waist, and said, "Simon, want to try?"
Simon shook his head. "No, you go ahead. I enjoy watching you play."
Yasmeen, noticing Simon's gaze on Nadja earlier, smiled and kissed his cheek before taking her shot.
After chalking her cue, Yasmeen examined the table and chose a position facing away from Simon, bending over. Her more voluptuous figure compared
to Nadja formed an alluring curve that tested Simon's restraint.
Nadja, noticing Simon's intense gaze, jealously linked her arm with his. "Simon, will you be in New York for the next few days?"
Simon shook his head. "I'm leaving after watching your rehearsal tomorrow morning."
"Oh, that's a pity," Nadja said, disappointed. "You'll be here on November 6th, right?"
Simon shook his head again, this time without explanation.
With both babies due in early November, he wouldn't be able to attend the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
Nadja knew about Janet's pregnancy but not the details.
Seeing Simon's refusal, Nadja wisely didn't press further.
At the pool table, Yasmeen expertly pocketed a red ball. Eyeing the table, she considered clearing it but, noticing Nadja and Simon chatting, deliberately missed a shot. "Nadja, your turn," she said.
Nadja, also aware of the situation, held onto Simon's arm and said, "You go ahead. I don't want to play anymore."
Seeing Yasmeen approach, Simon suggested, "Set up a new game. Whoever wins gets a reward."
Both women's eyes lit up.
Simon rarely gave gifts, but each one was memorable.
But Nadja quickly shook Simon's arm. "But I can't beat her."
Simon responded straightforwardly, "There's a reward even if you lose."
Yasmeen protested, "That's not fair!"
"Okay, the winner gets double," Simon said, pushing Nadja towards the table. "What do you want?"
The women, smart enough not to make specific requests, said, "Whatever you give us."
Simon helped set up the balls. "Nadja doesn't have a place in New York yet. I'll get you each an apartment."
Nadja, with her career based in Europe, had only managed to buy an apartment in Paris after a few years. Excited by Simon's offer, she said, "Simon, I'm not as good as Yasmeen. Can you help me?"
Simon nodded. "Sure."
Yasmeen, who already had an apartment in New York, didn't object. Real estate in New York was valuable, and owning several properties would provide security for the future.
Planning silently, Yasmeen confirmed, "Simon, the winner gets two apartments, right?"
"Of course."
With that assurance, Yasmeen refrained from asking about the price. She knew Simon's gifts were at least in the million-dollar range and reminded herself not to be greedy, as no man liked a woman who asked for too much.
The new game began.
Knowing Nadja's inferior skills, Yasmeen let her break.
After the break, Nadja pulled Simon to the table, picked a spot, and leaned down, signaling Simon for help.
Men and women often share a mutual understanding.
Simon, catching Nadja's hint, joined her, their bodies pressing together intimately.
In this suggestive pose, Nadja, feeling Simon's weight and breath, went weak, collapsing onto the table, leaving Simon to take the shot.
Predictably, it was a miss.
Yasmeen, not shy, extended the same invitation to Simon.
Thus, the game descended into chaos.
What started as a skill disparity between the women turned into a messy game under Simon's involvement. They lost track of the score and played for over half an hour.
With no clear winner, Simon generously decided both women would get double rewards.
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