Chapter 5-6

Chapter 5: Fundraising Dinner

Unfortunately, neither Butler nor Calder had any leads on who was pulling the strings behind the scenes.

The business was referred to Butler by a middleman, a professional broker of sorts, who are also notoriously cautious. Tracking them down would be a hassle and may not even reveal the employer's true identity.

It's not impossible to uncover, but the time and effort required would significantly increase. Bruce wasn't keen on going through such trouble. There would likely be many looking for shortcuts after the results were published.

But at this stage? How many people would actually pay attention to Solar Corona Company, a firm that has never disclosed its research, and be willing to pay a hefty price to acquire it?

Bruce had a hunch. As long as they continued to take care of security, he trusted people like Marcus and Congreve to thwart any attempts from the opposition.

He had more pressing matters at hand—the fundraising dinner for Sheila, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate he was backing. Bruce had always kept a close eye on this candidate, as it tied into many of his future plans.

Despite the ongoing debate in the media about whether American elections are swayed by money, it never really impacted the elections.

The act of fundraising and garnering votes, political parties with a political twist have been a staple in the U.S. From state to city to district, every official, congressman, and senatorial election can't escape these political gatherings.

And with presidential elections and fundraising, the inauguration of the president, and presidential thank-you events are certainly the most grandiose of political banquets.

As the campaign heats up, the demand for campaign funds grows stronger. To mobilize a broader section of society, both Sheila and Jeb Bush have launched massive advertising campaigns, especially focusing on swing states to woo undecided voters.

Over sixty percent of the funds raised would be spent on media (mostly to smear the opposition), with the remainder allocated to administrative and logistical support, including hiring campaign consultants, organizing rallies, and covering travel expenses for "making appearances."

Not all fundraising events would see Sheila in attendance; she couldn't possibly manage them all. Many are hosted by her political advisors or even her supporters, often involving influential celebrities.

Sheila would personally attend today's fundraising dinner. Each of the 200 guests would pay $40,000 for admission, with a photo op with Sheila costing $10,000—a bit odd to Bruce, reminiscent of posing with theme park mascots. This highlights the awkward status of American politicians. Nonetheless, the dinner was expected to raise over ten million dollars for Sheila's campaign.

The venue was set at the historical museum on Ellis Island, reserved only for state-level or higher formal dinners. No amount of money could bypass this restriction, underscoring the magnitude of Sheila's campaign.

As the dinner required a makeshift dining setup, everything from cutlery to table arrangements needed to be shipped from Manhattan, custom-tailored for the event, pushing the catering cost per seat to over $1,000. But, as the saying goes, the cost is covered by the 'sheep's wool.'

The ceiling of the hall was decorated to resemble a bright, starry sky, adding an elegant and unique touch. The tables were meticulously arranged with flowers, wine, and neatly placed utensils, complemented by candlelight and mirroring the stars above, creating a romantic and sophisticated atmosphere.

However, the elaborate meal seemed somewhat wasteful. Those attending such an elite event typically have moved beyond simple gastronomic desires. In this setting, the food was less important than networking and socializing.

Guests, dressed to the nines, mingled with wine glasses in hand, introducing themselves, exchanging pleasantries, or being introduced by friends, with business deals and opportunities materializing effortlessly.

Bruce was seated at a prime location, right beside the main table, alongside executives like Twitter's CEO and Google's CEO Lawrence Edward Page. The rest were not immediately recognizable but were undoubtedly not minor figures. Neighboring tables included tech giants like Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Coincidence? Hardly. All were prominent figures in the internet and technology sectors. Bruce wasn't surprised; since announcing her candidacy, Sheila had been keen on presenting a tech-friendly image. She had recently interviewed at Facebook's headquarters with Zuckerberg, held a town hall on Twitter, and even hired a former Google executive, Stephanie, as her chief technology officer to handle the campaign's tech and IT affairs.

Her Twitter account boasted over five million followers, branding herself as a "wife, mother, advocate for women and children, U.S. Senator, Secretary of State, dog owner, hair icon, pantsuit aficionado, glass ceiling breaker, TBD…" Clearly, this was a meticulously crafted image, hinting at her campaign strategy.

Although Bruce was wealthy, his influence and wealth were still much inferior to those present. He knew very well that the reason why he was in this position was entirely because of the huge amount of political contributions that had played a role.

For these leaders, their funding behavior was long-term and fixed, and they had already laid a lot of foundation, so they were not in a hurry.

Bruce, as a latecomer, is bound to spend more money and energy to win Sheila's attention and attention. For Sheila today, the influence of technology companies is important, but it is still not as direct and thirst-quenching as political contributions.

Bruce is willing to provide a large amount of cash is what she needs most urgently. Therefore, the arrangement of the position is actually that the other party expresses his attitude in this way as a response to Bruce opening the purse generously.

Chapter 6: Networking

Becoming a major player in any field is no small feat, and it certainly doesn't happen to fools. Thus, the guests greeted Bruce with a mix of friendliness and curiosity. For most, the circle was a familiar one, filled with faces they had seen time and again. But Bruce, a newcomer who had rocketed to prominence, was a fresh and intriguing presence, quickly drawing their interest.

"Though I may not be as famous as some of you, my name has probably been thrown around quite a bit lately, with reporters going out of their way to label me gay," Bruce said, spreading his hands in a self-deprecating gesture. This unique icebreaker was effective, eliciting laughter even from the oldest member of the group, John Doerr.

John Doerr, a prominent Silicon Valley venture capitalist, showed the most interest in Bruce—not in a misunderstanding way, but in his company, Solar Corona.

"Hello, Bruce. I've heard about your new company. Are you in need of some friendly investment?" John Doerr didn't hide his interest, cutting straight to the chase.

"Wow, to think Mr. Doerr himself sees potential in me and offers investment upfront, I'm flattered. But Solar Corona has just finished integrating and hasn't released any products yet. Why would you consider investing?" Bruce raised an eyebrow, half-jokingly probing.

"Just call me John. And that's what I do," John Doerr responded meaningfully. While he had kept an eye on Solar Corona, he wasn't deeply familiar with it, given the company's low profile.

But Bruce's appearance piqued his interest. There are only three types of people who make large political donations in the early stages of a company: the flamboyant nouveau riche, the blindly optimistic fools, and the shrewd planners. John Doerr preferred to believe Bruce belonged to the latter.

"John rarely makes a mistake, Bruce," chimed in Larry Page, the CEO of Google, joining the conversation with a smile.

"Oh, Larry, you're interested too?" John Doerr hadn't intended to discuss this in a crowded setting, but with Bruce right there and everyone keen on seizing opportunities, he took the initiative to break the ice.

"Why not? Look around us. Young folks like Mark and Bruce are rare. They are the future," Larry Page said, taking a sip of water, openly acknowledging his interest.

"Are you reminding me not to make the same mistake I did with Mark?"

John Doerr chuckled, glancing at Mark Zuckerberg at the next table, regretting not investing in Facebook's early rounds—a rare miss in his career.

In the 1990s, under John Doerr's leadership, Kleiner Perkins invested in nearly every successful internet company, including Amazon and Google, reaching its zenith by the end of 1999. However, entering the new millennium, KPCB began to lose its edge, largely due to a conservative strategy that missed early investment opportunities in companies that would drive the next wave of internet development, such as Facebook, Twitter, Zynga, LinkedIn, and Groupon.

"That's why I always say you seldom make mistakes—if you never did, that would be truly frightening," Larry Page laughed. The two shared a close relationship, having invested in many companies together in recent years, enjoying a fruitful partnership.

"All I can say is I appreciate your confidence, but the company is just starting and isn't considering investments at the moment. If that changes, you'll be the first to know," Bruce said, well aware that these sharks were always on the lookout for opportunities. As his lab projects began to attract attention, he knew the investment offers would come pouring in. Though he was not keen on outside interference in Solar Corona, financial issues were not a concern. However, allies were essential. In any arena, no one thrives alone, especially not a new player.

As the dinner officially began, it was time for Sheila to deliver her political speech, with former U.S. President Bill Clinton supporting her. The event was straightforward, as the audience was not the general electorate but a gathering of wealthy individuals for whom interests mattered more than slogans or campaigns.

Throughout Sheila's speech, Bruce observed her closely. A woman who had been in the media spotlight for years, Sheila was a mix of liberalism, feminism, outspokenness, and Lady Macbeth.

"This woman should have been beautiful when she was young," Bruce thought.

He opened his phone and searched for photos of Sheila when she was young. She was indeed a beauty.

A smile appeared on the corner of Bruce's mouth.

If his power could be restored to a state of subversion, he would be able to travel through time and return to the past. And his sperm would have powerful magic power, and any human get cum inside by him would become his slave.

If I could travel back in time and fuck Sheila so hard that she became a sex slave, I wouldn't have to go to so much trouble in politics. Bruce sighed softly.