Chapter 169: Meeting with Donald
[Chapter 169: Meeting with Donald]
In the days that followed, life for Ian was relatively uneventful. He went about his usual routine. During the day, he handled business at the company, and in the evenings, he either hung out with women or sought out various private encounters.
As for Katherine,
Their relationship existed in a strange state.
They had been intimate,
But it hadn't resolved anything.
Katherine was unlike any of the other women; while she might have been infatuated with Ian on the inside, she always presented a strong front, often expressing anger and resentment towards him. She was both frustrated by his coldness and infuriated by his indifference, yet she couldn't resist her desire for his body.
She still refused to submit to Ian in any way, but she found ways to actively seek him out. She would appear as he left the office, dragging him into her car for an escapade. She mysteriously showed up at his filming events, as if stalking him, engaging with him in grassy fields and wooded areas. Occasionally, she would call him to the police station under the guise of collaboration, only to rendezvous in her office for another intimate encounter.
She always dominated the dynamic -- except for their first time.
In the heat of the moment, she'd grip Ian by the throat, screaming like a feral cat, completely unrestrained, shocking him with her wildness. Afterwards, she would dismiss him with the grace of royalty, as if only then could she satisfy her own pride.
She wouldn't do anything for Ian, often seeking trouble with him, only to be defeated by his relentless persistence. She was a powerhouse in bed, yet a softie outside of it. This contradicted the typical dynamics most relationships shared.
She constantly sought a kind of masculine glory and openly conveyed her thoughts: "Ian Carr is just a man I want to play with -- a tool to satisfy my desires."
Regarding her strange sense of self-worth, Ian simply responded, "Be my guest."
In truth, what he saw was the hidden vulnerability behind Katherine's tough exterior. She had long succumbed to her own self-deception for comfort.
...
Today, in his office, Ian was at work when his assistant, Ida, walked in.
She said softly, "Mr. Trump is here, and he wants to see you."
Ian raised an eyebrow.
Carr Media Group had moved into Trump Tower six months ago, and now the big boss himself wanted to check things out.
Ian smiled, "No problem, do I have any appointments today?"
"You have a meeting with Deryl Chandler and the others at noon about the Gannett Group collaboration."
Gannett was the largest newspaper company in the U.S., owning hundreds of newspapers, including USA Today, which at one point had been the largest circulated paper, but had since been overshadowed by the Los Angeles Times and the Herald.
Gannett had been eager to acquire the Los Angeles Times and the Herald. Ian had no opposition to selling the newspaper business; the issue was Gannett wanting to tie themselves to him.
That didn't sit right with Ian. So far, the media interested in his work valued his scoops more than his operational acumen.
'I may have mediocre operational capabilities, but I'm not to be underestimated. You want to buy my company and expect me to work for you? Are you out of your mind?'
Ian promptly said, "Let Deryl handle it. Set up a meeting with Mr. Trump right away."
"Sure thing."
...
At noon, Ian met with Trump at the Trump Tower restaurant.
Donald Trump, at 56, was in his prime. This man had always shown a keen interest in politics, expressing presidential ambitions as early as '88.
Before that, he was a Democrat, then he switched to the Republican Party. He joined the Reform Party in '99, but after a failed campaign, he returned to the Democrats in '01. By '09, he jumped back to Republicans, eventually becoming an independent in '11, before rejoining the Republicans in '12. His back-and-forth record made him known as the prince of party-switching.
His experiences revealed that his political ideology essentially served his "interests."
In other words, although he catered to domestic economic interests after becoming president, everything he promoted had strong ties to the financial giants behind him.
The Koch brothers supported him, and since the Koch brothers primarily served domestic interests, he worked tirelessly to extract advantages, advocating for manufacturing to return to America. However, had he been supported by the military-industrial complex, like Joe Biden, he might have taken a completely opposite political stance.
At that time, he would likely have lambasted another timeline's MAGA movement.
Ultimately, the political positions of presidential candidates closely align with their financial backers.
Trump's interests in Russia and Israel stemmed from these connections. He had significant business in Russia, and notably, his son-in-law was Jewish, which linked him to substantial Jewish financial networks.
Though, none of that had occurred yet!
Ian didn't mind taking the initiative, wanting Trump to be a real ally to the Anglo-Saxons, even going against the interests of the Jewish community.
...
At this moment, Ian sat with Trump, beside him was his strikingly elegant daughter, Ivanka Trump.
Melania wasn't present; at this point, Trump was dating her and had entered a serious relationship, but they weren't married yet. It would be 2005 before they tied the knot, with a few breakups and reconciliations in between.
Trump was still a Democrat at this time, chatting animatedly with Ian, "I love CBS; your news always hits the mark. If America is to lead the world, we should be more inclusive! We must further open immigration..."
He spoke passionately, making Ian smirk inwardly.
If he were in another timeline, people listening to Trump's political views would undoubtedly be shocked.
...
The Democrats supported immigration, of course, partly for their own interests.
In the American system, Republicans typically leaned conservative, while Democrats leaned progressive, but that was only a general trend.
For instance, George W. Bush, a Republican, initiated the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. So, conservative figures could also advocate for warfare.
As the wars drained the U.S. treasury, later Republicans leaned increasingly conservative, giving rise to Trump's platforms on building walls against immigration, avoiding wars, withdrawing from international agreements, and focusing on profit.
In essence, political platforms depend on party ideologies, personal beliefs, and the circumstances at hand.
Now, America was at its peak, so both parties tended towards military expansion, albeit with different specifics.
...
Since CBS was a Democrat supporter and Ian Carr was its largest shareholder, Trump's sayings sounded quite the flip from his later political direction... almost like he was trying to butter Ian up.
Ian grinned as he ate his lunch, "I appreciate your insights, Mr. Trump. But honestly, I don't think the Democrats will back you wholeheartedly."
Ian had no intention of supporting Trump's rise.
...
Trump had a forceful nature; even though he served capital, he was still a person with a strong sense of self that made him difficult to control.
Capital favors a target based on two main principles:
1. That person has the ability to win.
2. That person must be obedient.
However, these two principles often conflicted.
Capable individuals tend not to be very compliant.
But for Ian, with a wealth of gossip to bring to light, he needed someone pliable like sleepy Joe Biden rather than a strong-willed opportunist like Trump.
As long as you were obedient, I could elevate anyone to prominence -- even someone completely inept. The only condition was -- you must realize you're incompetent!
Thus, whether someone had capability mattered little; if you were obedient, I could prop you up.
But if you were disobedient, even if you could build a gilded bridge across an ocean, I would have no interest.
The point of capital lies in establishing a space to exercise its value; if capital cannot operate, it signifies a loss of benefits!
Capital always leaned toward the principle of "I must support you to succeed," rather than letting anyone bloom independently from the start!
Of course, if one were a small capital entity lacking sufficient ability, they might paradoxically lean towards the more talented individuals -- taking shelter under a big umbrella.
Therefore, the strong-weak combination is the right approach; two strong partners often end up splitting!
Ian was an assertive player, and so was Trump. This origin essentially predetermined they wouldn't be able to collaborate.
...
However, Ian wouldn't voice these thoughts. Instead, he simply remarked, "It's not that I don't believe in you; it's the Democrats that don't believe in you. You can't even secure the party's candidate spot, so what are you considering a presidential run for?"
Trump looked at Ian and laughed heartily, "The midterm elections are approaching, and I believe in your influence."
Hearing this, Ian raised an eyebrow.
*****
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