Chapter 153: A Bold Counterattack
[Chapter 153: A Bold Counterattack]
In a hotel room, Amanda held Ian in her embrace, whispering softly.
Everything felt so natural, even Amanda being the one to initiate. Ian Carr had changed; he was no longer the man he once was, and being in bed with him felt like an honor.
Feeling Ian's warmth, she sighed with pleasure, "This is wonderful, Ian."
Ian gently caressed her delicate face. "You're wonderful too."
She was a fantastic girl, passionate and proactive, exuding an air of desire that enveloped Ian and brought him complete enjoyment.
He carefully avoided touching her injuries, yet Amanda said, "Lick me."
Ian laughed, "I heard saliva is good for healing injuries."
Amanda shook her head lightly. "What are you thinking? Not there!"
Ian chuckled as he leaned closer, "Happy to oblige."
They shared a tender moment, exchanging warmth and affection until the spring rain left a feeling of intimacy.
Amanda eventually got up and walked to the bathroom.
She consciously took a pill.
...
Ian settled back against the bed, staring into space under the moonlight.
He quietly pondered his next moves.
After passion, there was no romance, only a calmness that followed the heat of desire.
He noticed that his mind seemed sharper in these moments.
Before long, Amanda emerged from the bath.
She wrapped a towel around herself, barefoot, sitting on the couch opposite Ian while eyeing her reflection in the mirror.
Gently touching her wound, her mood lightened significantly.
Lighting a cigarette, she said, "I'm not going to Lockbridge."
Ian slid off the bed and sauntered over behind Amanda.
He embraced her delicate figure. "Why? Not interested in Lockbridge? Don't worry; it won't be long before it becomes a big deal."
"It isn't about that," Amanda replied, shaking her head. "I have a fiance. He'll arrange things for me. I know you won't make me any promises, so why pursue something without a future? I can help you, but once it's done, you still have to pay me -- one million."
Ian chuckled, feeling it was straightforward enough.
He nodded, "So we only have tonight?"
Amanda stood up.
She unveiled the towel, leaning into Ian's arms.
In a gentle tone, she said, "You can enjoy me until filming starts, then it's done!"
He appreciated a girl who was direct and to the point.
Ian took a deep breath, "Then maybe I'll delay them for a few more days... I'll miss you, baby."
...
Time passed swiftly, and soon it was January 16.
On this day, Ian Carr officially completed his short position in the Italian lira.
He first repaid the two hundred million loan to Lino Bank, then he pooled all the funds from Carr Media Group, even tapping into some liquidity from Mayhill Construction, raising his total to four hundred million, which he then entirely invested in the stock market, shorting Sony Pictures.
On January 19, CBS, the Los Angeles Herald, and the Los Angeles Times all broke the news.
An accident occurred on the set of Something's Gotta Give.
Actress Amanda Peet was injured, while director Nancy Meyers insisted that the actors continue shooting despite the risk of disfigurement, during which a fire broke out, leading to chaos on the set.
Rumors swirled that Nancy Meyers was having an affair with Jack Nicholson!
There were suspicions that significant footage was missing!
It was a series of incidents that stirred up a sensation.
Moreover, a wealth of other evidence came to light.
Including the makeup artist's complaints about the director, Amanda's furious accusations against the director in a phone call, and due to many crew members pointing out the issue, Amanda's objections to the director were minimized.
As for the storage card, it had been given to Amanda to negotiate terms with the crew.
...
Once the news broke, public opinion went wild.
Sony and Columbia urgently released a statement claiming the lost storage card had been found, and the incident involving Amanda's injuries was overstated; the crew was given two days off, and Amanda's injuries had fully healed.
As for the actors' and director's private matters, they stated they would not interfere...
Nevertheless, it left many wondering if the storage card was really found.
What mattered was that many insiders had indicated tremendous losses for the production.
This event negatively impacted Sony's stock prices, as many investors lost confidence in the film, leading to subtle declines in the shares, as the news value outweighed the shorting value.
Ian's method had always been to strike opponents while profiting himself.
...
Speculation swirled.
"Ian Carr always produces good news."
"I don't think this news is that great. It's far worse than what he's done before."
"Come on, you can't expect too much; this is still pretty solid."
"Ian Carr should focus less on Hollywood and more on warzone reporting, go to Afghanistan, or the gang-infested areas. Bloodshed and violence are where he excels."
"He can fire bullets while asking loudly: 'Answer me, why aren't you answering my questions?'"
What a good idea!
Ian thought this was a great suggestion and might consider trying it next time.
...
A day later, new news surfaced.
A renowned producer from Sony Pictures, Ivor Faucette, was revealed to have an extramarital affair with a Black housekeeper, resulting in a twelve-year-old son.
The news caused a stir in the entertainment world, not because of the affair, but due to the status of the mistress.
Ridiculous, looking at the very fat woman in the photo, everyone was at a loss for words.
...
Yet, after just one day, another report emerged.
Famed actor Tommy Lee Jones was implicated in domestic violence.
Once news of this broke, the public was in an uproar.
Tommy Lee Jones was the lead in Men in Black II, starring alongside Will Smith, and now allegations of harassment could impact the film's box office.
Though he vehemently denied the allegations, the situation continued to attract substantial attention, with many coming forward to angrily accuse him.
...
The next day saw another piece of news.
This time, an executive from Sony Pictures Entertainment was found accepting bribes, undermining company interests.
...
Another day passed, and yet another story broke about Sony Pictures cooking the books.
...
Another day, and news of unprofitable investments in a major production emerged.
...
Another day brought yet another sex scandal within Sony Pictures.
...
Nearly every day, there was unfavorable news regarding Sony Pictures.
While none were earth-shattering, they remained significant, especially concerning the film industry, enhancing their value for dissemination.
Ian knew how to play the game, alternating between heavy and light blows, continuously creating a cumulative effect.
As the situation festered, Sony's stock could withstand the pressure no longer and began a steady decline.
Many began to realize that almost all news came from CBS and the Los Angeles Herald, the LA Times, and Spark TV.
The lower echelons, ignorant, thought they were just great at uncovering dirt, but those at the top recognized this was Ian Carr manipulating Sony!
For crying out loud!
Madoff and the media giants were the ones targeting you, and we were just keeping time!
However, that's business!
The coldness of the commercial world lies in the fact that attacks disregard personal feelings; they only focus on interests!
Retaliating against media groups was pointless because Carr Media Group's growth itself was the most significant attack against media groups.
Striking Madoff was unnecessary, as he served as a useful pawn; the directors at Lino Bank didn't want Madoff to help them make money?
I support you!
Only by targeting Sony could one bring in sufficient returns!
Thus, the attack was because it was easy to overpower and brought benefits, with no ties to personal grievances -- the brutality of business competition revolves around ignoring personal feelings.
If A bullied me, I'd go and hit B, then pressure B to take down C, ultimately using C against A.
This isn't just common business logic; it's political logic -- many dynamics in international situations function similarly.
Why does America support Israel? Why do various powers aid the Houthis in the desert to gather equipment?
These are the same.
At one point, someone asked the Russians: why did the USSR insist on directly installing missile systems in Cuba, causing the Cuban missile crisis?
You could have just sold the missiles cheaply to the Cubans, let them install them themselves, and the issue would have been resolved -- both owning missiles and having Soviets involved in installation posed risks to America, but the nature of the threats would be vastly different, and America couldn't handle such a large-scale operation, while you'd profit from it!
Everyone would be happy!
A group of high-ranking Russian officials exchanged glances: No idea about that concept!!!
But America knows!
In return, this led to various dynamics in the Middle East, like collecting equipment in the deserts and even hypersonic missiles sprouting from nowhere in the sands.
But this logic applies to commerce as well, even more sophisticated!
With two decades of insight, what you possess goes beyond mere foresight; it entails higher-level cognitions and cognitive patterns!
Even when Ian later went after media groups or Madoff, the timing he chose would bring him returns, rather than sacrificing everything for revenge.
Only capitalists who think this way are the true conscience-sold capitalists.
Most importantly: only the capable will emerge victorious!
Having a cheat code doesn't make you a top-tier mogul; having the mindset of a mogul is the key!
What's a cheat code? It's the external gear linked to oneself; that's an auxiliary, not the core!
Without the core self-capacity, having a cheat code won't help you!
Thus, Ian's motive in targeting Sony wasn't about settling scores; it was about profit; he might utilize that reasoning as an excuse, however.
You have defaulted on your debts, so this is just justice's retribution!
I struck Sony, shorted Sony, profited, and resolved the funding shortage.
With this mindset, Ian hit Sony hard!
...
Before long, Sony upper management went directly to James Perry to negotiate.
James Perry expressed disappointment, stating, "We're just doing media; when there's news, we report it. Besides, even if we don't report, does the public remain unaware? You should know Carr Media isn't CBS; they have their own channels. CBS refusing to report your matters won't benefit you; it will only cause CBS to miss some prime news... You need to speak with Ian Carr, not me."
Media groups will go to any lengths to acquire top stories.
While they may sometimes be cautious to avoid stepping on toes, they often wouldn't shy away; otherwise, where do all those celebrity scandals originate?
You should know that the 2004 "Abu Ghraib torture scandal" was initially broken by CBS; they dared to report on the military, so how much wouldn't they dare?
Of course, the discord between the Democrats and Republicans also plays a part, but ultimately, they only care about whether it adds value.
Would I be intimidated when targeting your company?
Giving you this excuse is already showing you respect!
From James Perry's perspective, it wasn't me who offended anyone; I'm the one profiting -- why not?
Even though Sony's stock price fell as a result, CBS's price was rising!
That felt fair!
Ian Carr was also satisfied: this was both sensational news and economic news, enhancing both ability and progress of his left eye!
*****
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