Golden Spoon Investment Portfolio - Chapter 220

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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220. Why didn’t I think of it sooner—that he owns the Plaza Hotel.

[That’s merely an optimistic outlook. The shutdown is still ongoing, and I believe reaching a consensus won’t be easy. The federal government might… That’s why we’ve positioned a portion of our fund portfolio in short positions.]

Sitting on the penthouse living room sofa, I stopped the VCR with the remote as I watched the edited interview footage Debra had brought.
Debra, dressed in black dress pants and a long wool coat, then settled onto the sofa to my left and asked me a question.

“What do you think?”
“There doesn’t seem to be anything particularly problematic.”

I nodded slightly as I answered.

“Thank goodness. I was worried you might ask me to edit this and that all over the place.”
“Do I seem that particular to you?”

At my sidelong glance, Debra quickly waved both hands in protest.

“No, that’s not it! It’s just that I’ve already gotten approval from the director to air the interview footage on tonight’s evening news. If we have to re-edit it, it’ll be difficult to meet the broadcast schedule.”
“Tonight’s news? You’re airing it that quickly?”

I asked, somewhat surprised, and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she spoke.

“You know that Speaker Sabitz left Washington yesterday and went to Georgia, where his district is, right?”
“Of course. That story comes up every time I turn on the news—how could I not know?”
“Because of that, concerns have grown that the next year’s budget agreement, which everyone was optimistically looking at, won’t be as easy as expected.”

Indeed, after news of Speaker Sabitz’s trip to Georgia broke, the New York stock market today continued to rise but only marginally, showing visibly weakened momentum.

“In this situation, when the most talked-about figure on Wall Street—the Eldorado Fund representative—gives an interview predicting a market crash, the director won’t miss the opportunity to make a big story out of it.”

Understanding the situation, I let out a slight smile.

“I see.”

If my interview footage had any influence in stopping the index’s rise and causing it to fall, it would be beneficial for the Eldorado Fund’s short position—so no matter what happened, it was a good thing.

“Then I’ll be going now.”

I picked up the shoulder bag Debra had left beside me and stood.

“Are you sure it’s alright to let me take it like this? The director specifically told me to get proper authorization.”
“Go ahead.”

Debra extracted the videotape from the VCR and placed it in her shoulder bag, speaking with animated enthusiasm.

“It’s scheduled to air during the 7 o’clock prime news slot, so please make sure to watch when the time comes.”
“I will.”

As Debra hurried out, I remained seated on the sofa and took a sip of the now-lukewarm coffee.
That’s when Bockus approached from the side and spoke.

“Boss. General Manager MacGregor says he has something to discuss with you. What should I do?”

MacGregor was the general manager overseeing the Plaza Hotel where I was staying.
Since I used the penthouse here whenever I came to New York, I was familiar with him.

“What’s it about?”
“He says he’ll explain when he meets with you directly.”

Though curious about the matter, I had no reason to refuse, so I leaned back and spoke.

“Tell him to come.”
“Understood.”

Not long after, a composed middle-aged man dressed impeccably in a gray three-piece suit arrived at the penthouse.
It was MacGregor, the hotel’s general manager.
With a gentle smile, MacGregor entered the living room and greeted me respectfully as he observed me seated in the center of the sofa.

“Thank you for making time despite your busy schedule.”

I raised one arm and gestured toward the empty left sofa.

“Have a seat.”
“Thank you.”

As he settled into his seat with the measured composure befitting a five-star hotel’s general manager, I crossed one leg and asked.

“What brings you by so suddenly?”
“Actually, our chairman was hoping to have a meal with you, and I came to ask if that would be possible.”

At this unexpected proposal, I raised my eyebrows slightly.

“He wants to meet me?”
“Yes. He’s always taken great interest in the Eldorado Fund, which has been drawing attention on Wall Street. When he heard that you were staying at our hotel, he expressed a strong desire to meet and dine with you.”

It wasn’t particularly unusual. After hitting the jackpot consecutively and George Hamilton, a major Wall Street investor, mentioning the Eldorado Fund in front of reporters, many people naturally wanted to establish connections with me.

‘Come to think of it, I received quite a few business cards at the charity gala a few days ago.’

I’d received over thirty cards that night alone, enough to fill a separate card holder.
Until then, traveling alone had been fine, but as my reputation grew and more people recognized me, I was beginning to feel the need for an executive secretary.
Someone who would always be by my side to manage my schedule, someone discreet and trustworthy.

‘And competent, of course.’

For a moment, I thought of Na Seong-mi, who had assisted me at Taesan Securities, but I quickly shook my head internally.
She was skilled at her work, had a pleasant personality, and understood my preferences well, but we’d need to travel abroad frequently, and having a young woman as my executive secretary would inevitably invite unwanted gossip.
I had no desire to become the subject of unnecessary and unfavorable rumors on people’s lips, so Na Seong-mi was out of the question.

“Um… sir.”
“Oh, I apologize. I was lost in thought for a moment.”

I offered a light apology, straightened my posture, and asked again.

“What is the chairman’s name?”
“David Dantic.”
“…!”

Upon hearing the name, my eyes widened in surprise.
It was the name of a man once called a political maverick, an outsider candidate who defied all expectations and was elected President of the United States, wielding influence over the entire world.
MacGregor looked at me with a puzzled expression at my apparent confusion.

“Is something wrong?”
“Nothing at all.”

I quickly suppressed my startled expression and asked casually.

“I understand you’re quite a renowned real estate entrepreneur, but I didn’t know the Plaza Hotel was owned by David Dantic.”
“It came under the Dantic Company umbrella seven years ago this year.”

Dantic Company was a private family enterprise chaired by David Dantic, specializing in real estate development and hotel operations.
He briefly recalled his planned schedule in his mind before speaking.

“I have some free time tomorrow at lunch. Would that work?”
“May I check with the Chairman and get back to you?”
“Of course.”

MacGregor rose to his feet with a gentle smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

“Then I’ll take my leave now.”

With words of farewell, MacGregor departed the Penthouse.
Seok-won reclined into the sofa cushions, gazing up at the ceiling as he murmured to himself.

“Why didn’t I think of David Dantic being the Plaza Hotel owner sooner?”

Come to think of it, he was still quite a famous figure even now.
Especially a few years ago, when the mega-hit film Home Alone 2 was released, David Dantic himself made a cameo appearance as a passerby who directed the young protagonist to the lobby, which became a major talking point.
There was an anecdote that he had lent the Plaza Hotel as the filming location on the condition that David Dantic himself would make a cameo appearance.

“Looking at it that way, it seems he had quite the attention-seeker’s disposition even back then—someone who needed to be in the spotlight to feel satisfied.”

Perhaps he understood how to package himself most effectively and elevate his value, which explained how a real estate tycoon famous for being famous could rise to become the President of the superpower that is the United States.

“Was it The Apprentice that made Dantic a star entrepreneur overnight?”

It was a sort of audition program where contestants competed against each other to win an internship at Dantic Company in New York with a salary of $250,000 per year.
And the catchphrase that Dantic created on this program was “You’re fired.”
Thanks to the image of a successful businessman created through this TV show, it was no exaggeration to say that David Dantic was able to become President.
Considering that he had filed for bankruptcy four times before starting The Apprentice show and twice more during the season’s run, David Dantic was a prime example of someone who achieved success through image-making.

“Now that I think about it, this is precisely when Dantic’s ambitious mega-scale real estate development projects were failing one after another, putting him in his most financially difficult period.”

I couldn’t quite remember where I’d heard it, but I recalled that after becoming President, David Dantic had mentioned this was one of the most difficult periods of his life.

“If someone with no prior connection suddenly wanted to meet me when money was tight….”

It wasn’t difficult to deduce the reason—financial troubles.
With anyone else, I would have politely declined and avoided the meeting altogether, but this was different when the person in question would become the President of the United States, a superpower, twenty-two years from now.

“It looks like garbage stock facing delisting right now, but if I hold it long enough, it’ll become a ten-bagger—a massive windfall. Not taking it would be stupid.”

My eyes gleaming, I turned my head and gestured to Bockus, who stood a short distance away.

“Yes, boss.”
“Contact Landon Shore and have him gather detailed information about David Dantic and Dantic Company’s current status. I need a report by today.”
“Understood.”

I interlaced my fingers and rested my hands on my knees, letting out a low chuckle.

“This might turn out to be an unexpected windfall I never anticipated when coming to New York.”

A thick smile played across my lips as I faced this unforeseen opportunity.

***

The next day.
Dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, I headed to the French Restaurant inside the hotel with Bockus, my bodyguard.
As I walked through the opulent corridor with its high ceiling and elaborate chandeliers hanging in succession and stepped through the entrance, a staff member immediately recognized me and bowed respectfully.

“Welcome. Chairman Dantic arrived earlier and is waiting for you.”

I rolled up my sleeve to check my watch—there were still about ten minutes before the appointed time.
Yet he was already here, which suggested he had high expectations for today’s meeting.

“Please follow me inside.”

I gave a small nod and followed the staff member with Bockus.
The staff member led us to a reserved table in the back of the restaurant.
Partitions shielded the area from other diners’ gazes, allowing for a comfortable meal, and the table’s decorations were exceptionally luxurious.
As I approached, the blonde, muscular middle-aged man who had been seated there rose to greet me.
He was David Dantic, the owner of the Plaza Hotel and the future President of the United States.
Dantic, whose height seemed to exceed two meters, smiled broadly at me and spoke in a hearty voice.

“Ha ha ha! Delighted to meet you. I’m David Dantic.”
“Park Seok-won.”

Seok-won grasped the man’s hand in return, offering a warm smile as they shook.

“I’ve heard you’re young, but seeing you in person, you look even younger than I expected. I was caught off guard by the sudden request to meet, so I appreciate you making the time.”
“Not at all. A meeting with a passionate entrepreneur like yourself is always welcome.”
“Then I’m relieved.”

David Dantic spread his arms wide as he spoke.

“Well then, let’s continue our conversation over a meal and take our time with the rest.”
“Sounds good.”

Seok-won nodded and took a seat across from David Dantic at the table.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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