Chapter 270

"Hey, Ivanka, when did you get back to New York?" Charles asked as he ran into Ivanka, who was attending the ball, after chatting with Mrs. Huffington.

"Almost a week ago," Ivanka said, giving Charles a hug. "Charles, you're quite the celebrity now!"

Charles shrugged. "You know how it is, Hollywood is always in the spotlight."

"Actually, I wanted to ask, how did you become friends with Mrs. Murdoch?" said Charles, glancing over at Wendi Deng, who was chatting with a man.

"Because she's Mrs. Murdoch!" Ivanka replied.

Charles chuckled. 

"Rupert Murdoch, the chairman of News Corp, is an international media tycoon. Knowing someone like that is always beneficial," said Ivanka, who was not just another rich second-generation wasting away but someone with ambition.

"Come on, let's go take a break over there," Charles said as he put his arm around Ivanka and led her towards the resting area.

...

Meanwhile, Wendi Deng found Rupert Murdoch, who had just finished chatting with Jared Kushner from the Kushner Group.

"What's up, did Charlie Kushner send new instructions from prison?" Wendi Deng knew Jared Kushner, who was now the chairman of the Kushner Group but was essentially just a mouthpiece.

Rupert Murdoch laughed, "The Kushner Group wants a voice in New York and is seeking my support, that's all."

"Why don't they just spend more money to buy back The New York Observer from Capet Pictures if they want it so bad?" Wendi Deng shook her head.

"Charles Capet wouldn't care about such a trivial matter, would he?" Murdoch replied.

Rupert looked at the increasingly assertive Wendi Deng. "I'm heading back."

Seeing Rupert Murdoch leave the ball, Wendi Deng became even more frustrated. They had already had several arguments and unpleasant exchanges over the inheritance rights of their children and Murdoch's lack of support for her career.

Now, Wendi Deng was increasingly determined to have a career of her own.

...

Charles and Ivanka were holding hands and chatting on the couch when Jared Kushner approached them.

"Ivanka, you made it?" Jared greeted them.

"Good evening, Charles!" said Jared, though he was still upset about Capet Pictures snapping up The New York Observer, but couldn't do anything about it.

"Good evening, Jared!" Charles responded with a smile, turning to kiss Ivanka on the cheek.

"Was he looking for you?"

Ivanka laughed and patted Charles, inviting Jared to sit down. "Is the Kushner Group planning to acquire a large property in Manhattan?"

Being in the real estate business, they knew about the transactions of large properties.

Jared Kushner nodded. "Yes, a building on Fifth Avenue. The Kushner Group is planning to establish a foundation in New York."

"A building on Fifth Avenue? That won't come cheap!" Charles interjected suddenly.

"Of course, the Kushner Group needs a significant acquisition to boost morale," Jared said, somewhat proudly.

"But I heard that Blackstone is increasing its real estate investments. Properties on Fifth Avenue must be in high demand!" Charles mused, laughing inwardly but maintaining a contemplative look on his face.

The Kushner Group's acquisition of the 666 Fifth Avenue building and encountering the real estate bubble later became another misstep in Jared Kushner's career.

Charles took another glance at Ivanka and then at Jared Kushner, who seemed to have never done anything right in his life.

How did Ivanka end up marrying him in the future? Was it because of his tall and handsome looks?

"Charles, you don't understand real estate. You have no idea what the future real estate market holds," Jared now felt he had found an area where he was superior to Charles Capet.

Charles nodded. "Indeed, I don't. I was just thinking about investing in the Madoff Fund."

"The Madoff Investment Fund?" Jared Kushner and Ivanka both knew about the fund.

"Charles, you didn't use Capet Pictures as collateral for a loan and invest it in the Madoff Fund, did you?" Ivanka asked first.

Charles just smiled, then turned his gaze back to Jared. "It was introduced by HSBC chairman Patrick Brink. After all, it's a guaranteed win!"

Charles now found himself hoping the Madoff Fund wouldn't be exposed any time soon.

Now, he wanted the Kushner Group to invest in the Madoff Fund. He genuinely hoped the fund would drag down another one.

After a while, Charles and Ivanka left the ball. 

*****

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