Chapter 697: Occupy Wall Street Movement

As September arrived, protests in Manhattan, New York continuously escalated.

"Is anyone staging a sit-in near Wall Street?" Charles, who had been in Hong Kong recently, hadn't been paying much attention. Lin Chi-ling had gone to Taipei, Son Ye-jin had returned to South Korea, but Ayase Haruka had no plans.

That morning, Charles was still lying in bed with Ayase Haruka when he received a phone call from Phyllis Jones.

Immediately getting up and heading to the balcony, he said, "Protests and demonstrations are normal!"

"Boss, the protests started last month in the wealthy areas of Manhattan and around Wall Street to protest wealth inequality. Now, there's a trend of expansion. It's not just the wealthy areas and Wall Street; Central Park and Washington Square Park also have demonstrators. And it looks like San Francisco has also seen protests in their financial district!"

Charles's eyes shifted; this sounded like the Occupy Wall Street movement. "Are you saying this is spreading to other cities now?"

"Yes, San Francisco's financial district is the second city, and Washington D.C. is the third!"

Phyllis Jones was quite excited over the phone, "I heard it's going to spread to more cities, like Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Seattle next."

Charles scratched his chin. "Is this going to spread to Europe next? Are there a lot of people?"

"We can control it for now, but every day new people join. Boss, even in front of Capet Center Tower, there are protests!"

"No way! I was once one of them. I didn't make my money from finance; the subprime mortgage crisis was caused by those Wall Street investors," Charles retorted.

"I saw the news about lots of people in front of Rupert Murdoch's New York mansion. I thought it was because of the phone hacking scandal!"

"Alright, is there any good news?" Charles understood the animosity towards the rich, having once felt the same.

Now, although wealthy, he understood the mindset. After all, the rich enjoyed various benefits and policies, yet couldn't even pay normal taxes.

Buffett and Bill Gates paid fewer taxes each year than a Capet Company consumer products manager!

"Good news? Yes, the NFL and the players' union successfully negotiated, and the NFL officially ended the lockout today!"

"Oh, that's indeed good news," Charles said. It was morning for him, but night in America.

"Boss, also, Mrs. Capet went on vacation to Colorado. It seems many wealthy people are going on vacations," Phyllis Jones reminded Charles.

Charles laughed, "I guess they don't want to face this hassle. They probably want to wait it out and come back later! Don't worry, I understand..."

Charles hung up the phone. The Occupy Wall Street movement wouldn't end quickly; it was still only in a few cities.

It would slowly sweep across America and spread to European cities!

"I was planning to return to America this month," Charles shook his head quickly, deciding not to return.

He immediately called his mother, Evelyn Capet. "Mom, are you at the Capet Ranch Estate in Colorado?"

"Yes, I brought Dashiell over here as well. It's not very peaceful in America right now; you know that, right?" Evelyn's voice on the phone seemed a bit unsteady.

"Oh, it's good to be there. This won't end soon; it needs government intervention," Charles didn't really care. After all, the rich were never in real trouble.

"It's all a mess. I heard from Gavin Newsom that the government won't interfere with public gatherings."

"Don't worry. When things get worse, they won't say that anymore," Charles dismissed. "The rich don't care about your party or ideology. If it affects their lives, you're a criminal to them!"

"Well, you're not in America," Evelyn said over the phone. "Anyway, it wouldn't change anything even if you were."

After finishing the call with his mother, Charles stared at the sea view. Protests targeting government's wealthy policies and wealth distribution?

"Ah, what a pity," Charles wasn't worried. Everything in America was controlled by the rich.

"Hey," Charles returned to the bedroom and saw Ayase Haruka sitting up, her 34F figure barely covered by a sexy camisole.

"Mm, you're awake," Charles sat down, pulled Ayase Haruka into his arms, and kissed her, his hand reaching for her seductive 34F.

"So, where do you want to go on vacation? We've been in Hong Kong for several days now," Charles asked while fondling her.

"Vacation? Well, Ye-jin said Dubai is nice. Should we go there?" Ayase Haruka responded.

"Dubai, huh?" Charles chuckled. He hadn't been there.

Nodding, he said, "Sure, why not. When is Kyoko coming?"

"Kyoko will be here tomorrow. She's been handling some stuff for East Asia, Japan. She arranged her work already!" Ayase Haruka kissed Charles's chest and then moved downward...

"Okay..." Charles sat back, stroking Ayase Haruka's hair and said, "Call Son Ye-jin too. I'll take all three of you to Dubai!"

A soft murmur was Ayase Haruka's response as she moved her hand over Charles's abs.

...

At the Capet Ranch Estate in Colorado, Evelyn lay in bed beside Cate Blanchett.

"That boy still knows to call and check," Evelyn chuckled.

"That's Charles, right? He hasn't seen Dashiell in a while, has he?" Cate Blanchett asked.

"Nearly two months," Evelyn didn't mind. Britney had also gone to New York.

"By the way, put off the Sydney Theater's activities for now. We need more visibility in Hollywood. Last year's Robin Hood was a flop," Evelyn reminded Cate Blanchett. "I'll help you go for the Oscar for best actress!"

"I know; I'm here this time to focus on movies," Cate Blanchett said as she pulled Evelyn in for a kiss...

*****

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