David Rubenstein returned to North America on the afternoon of November 3, just two days before the 1996 U.S. presidential election. Instead of heading directly to New York, he first contacted Dume Point Estate to ask if he could stop by. The response was welcoming, with an added reminder that today happened to be Simon Westeros's daughter Seattle's birthday. This prompted Rubenstein to urgently call upon friends to help select a suitable gift.
Arriving at the estate, Rubenstein found it decorated like a festive wonderland, complete with strings of lights, balloons, and inflatable figures, giving the place a cozy, celebratory vibe.
But when he met the birthday girl, the experience became slightly unsettling.
Was it possible that Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time had become accessible even to 3-year-olds? The girl held in her small hands the original edition of the book—not a simplified, illustrated version for children. After offering his birthday wishes and receiving a rather formal reply from the child, Rubenstein couldn't help but engage the little girl in a brief discussion.
He quickly found himself at a loss for words.
As a law graduate and a self-proclaimed well-read intellectual, Rubenstein had once casually flipped through Hawking's famous book during its heyday but had understood only fragments.
Seeing the little girl glance at him with a look that seemed to suggest she had seen through his superficial grasp of the material, Rubenstein suddenly felt… old.
More than that, he couldn't help but think: The Westeros family might really be aliens.
By the glass-paneled walls of the Shell Villa, Rubenstein watched as Janet Westeros led her daughter by the hand and walked away. He glanced at James Rebold, who was unsurprisingly present, before turning to Simon and saying with a smile, "Simon, Seattle's intelligence is astonishing, but don't you think pushing her too early might be... counterproductive?"
Simon shook his head. "I've always thought ignorance is a waste of life. If a child's intelligence is average, I wouldn't push them, but since Seattle is clearly extraordinary, letting her explore the world early is only natural. I've also done my research. Geniuses often face bottlenecks in their lives due to various constraints, sometimes leading to extreme frustration. But those limitations won't apply to Seattle."
Rubenstein couldn't help but think of Isaac Newton, who, in his later years, turned to alchemy and theology after being stymied by the technological and resource limitations of his time. Such barriers, however, would never exist for Seattle Westeros.
Even if the little girl decided one day that she wanted to visit Mars, the Westeros family had the resources to make it happen.
After chatting briefly about lighter topics, the conversation shifted to business. Rubenstein provided Simon with a detailed briefing on the revised plan he had drafted on the flight back, incorporating insights from his recent meeting with Chen Qing.
Simon listened attentively, then nodded in approval. "It's a solid plan. First, we can foster competition to drive industry growth. Later, we can consolidate our layout through mergers. And as the industry develops, we can decide whether to cash out or hold long-term through an IPO, depending on market conditions."
Simon glanced at James Rebold, who was seated on a nearby armchair.
James added, "There's one critical issue: technology. David, have you considered this? The engineering machinery sector in China is extremely underdeveloped. Capital alone won't yield rapid progress without the necessary technology."
"Of course," Rubenstein replied. "Our team has already started working on this. While partnering with giants like Caterpillar might be challenging—and could compromise our autonomy—there are numerous second- and third-tier engineering machinery firms in Europe and the U.S. Their technology is still far ahead of China's, and many are struggling financially. We can acquire or collaborate with them to bring advanced technology to China."
"Technology transfers are bound to face obstacles from Washington and other governments," James interjected but then paused and smiled. "But I assume that won't be a problem for you."
Rubenstein chuckled knowingly and nodded. "Not at all."
Simon shifted the conversation slightly. "Speaking of Washington, David, you've been following the election process, haven't you?"
"Of course. I've heard that Dole has essentially conceded and is now focusing on a 96-hour nationwide tour to campaign for Republican congressional candidates."
The much-anticipated "October Surprise" had failed to materialize, and Bill Clinton's lead over Republican candidate Bob Dole remained insurmountable.
Accepting his inevitable loss, Dole had shifted his focus to supporting Republican congressional candidates. Beginning on November 1, he embarked on a 96-hour national tour to rally votes, hoping to secure Republican control of both the House and Senate.
It was a final act of service from the 73-year-old veteran politician before his planned retirement after the election.
Simon, seeing that Rubenstein was well-informed, continued, "David, since Dole's loss is practically certain, I'd like you to invite him to join Carlyle's board after the election."
"Simon, you know I'm a Democrat."
Rubenstein responded instinctively, though he hesitated upon seeing the unyielding look in Simon's eyes. After a brief pause, he nodded. "I don't have an issue with it, but I'll need to discuss it with George and the others."
"I've already spoken to George," Simon said, clearly pleased with Rubenstein's agreement. "We've also made initial contact with Dole privately. Frankly, Cersei Capital has plenty of room for such appointments, but it would be too conspicuous. That's where you come in. Dole's addition to Carlyle will only benefit you. For instance, with the technology transfers we're planning, having someone like Dole on your board could make things as simple as a phone call."
Rubenstein's initial reluctance had merely been a reflex. As someone who had long transitioned from politics to business, his primary focus was profitability. Dole's appointment, with its evident advantages, was an opportunity he couldn't pass up.
After discussing plans for another 10 minutes, Rubenstein excused himself.
Though it was young Seattle's birthday, there was no large party planned at Dume Point Estate. Staying longer would have been inappropriate.
Simon didn't insist, and after seeing Rubenstein off, he returned to preparations for the evening's family gathering.
The event was relatively small, with only close family members present. Alongside Simon's immediate family were Veronica, who had recently arrived from Australia for an extended stay, and Jennifer's extended family, including the Rebolds and Normans.
The celebration wasn't just for Seattle; it also marked the birthday of Nicholas, Janet's younger child. Born three days after his sister, the parents had decided to combine the two occasions into one event.
The following day, November 4, was the eve of the U.S. presidential election.
Meanwhile, the second weekend of the Halloween box office run had concluded.
The standout film was Annabelle, the latest entry in the Conjuring Universe. Debuting in 2,739 theaters with a strong 7.8/10 audience score, Annabelle grossed $47.36 million in its first week. This was the second-highest opening in the Conjuring Universe, trailing only The Haunting in Connecticut 2 ($51.69 million).
Notably, Annabelle marked the launch of a new franchise within the Conjuring Universe, alongside the Conjuring and Haunting in Connecticut series. The addition of a successful third series solidified the Conjuring Universe as a fully-fledged cinematic brand.
The second weekend saw only a 27% drop in box office earnings, adding another $25.19 million. With a 10-day total of $72.55 million, the film had already recouped its costs and begun generating profits. Analysts projected it could become the first Conjuring Universe film to surpass $150 million domestically.
In parallel, another noteworthy performance came from Boogie Nights, a Paul Thomas Anderson film distributed by Highgate Pictures. Following a modest $9.39 million opening, the film expanded to 1,553 theaters in its second weekend, earning $10.61 million—a 13% increase. Cumulative earnings reached $20 million, prompting Highgate to revise its domestic box office expectations from $30 million to $40 million or more.
For Anderson, Boogie Nights stood as one of his finest works—a significant step up from the unevenly executed Magnolia.
On Monday, Simon spent the entire day at Dume Point Estate, working with James Rebold to refine the Westeros system's global strategy.
While the U.S. stock market continued its meteoric rise, Simon had largely ceased domestic investments, opting to hold cash rather than risk overpaying in an overheated market.
International opportunities, however, were a different story.
China, in particular, remained a focal point. Beyond the upcoming IPO roadshow for China Telecom, Simon had approved a wide array of ventures proposed by Chen Qing, including real estate, food, technology, and heavy industry projects.
China was a vast blue ocean for investment, and Simon's unparalleled foresight gave him an edge. Brands like Evergrande, Country Garden, Haidilao, and Nongfu Spring—some already in negotiation or acquisition phases—had the potential to yield astronomical returns.
Even if a few ventures faltered due to Simon's "butterfly effect," the success of others would
more than compensate.
In Beijing, Simon had also approved a trade-off involving the Rose Garden villa project in Changping District. Though initially perceived as a "mess," accepting the project would pave the way for the approval of the luxury golf course and villa development near Xiangshan.
Ultimately, in Beijing real estate, patience was a virtue. With enough capital, even seemingly stagnant assets could become gold mines over time.
And, Simon mused, if he ever needed to put the empty villas to use, he could always fill them with... "guests."
______
(≧◡≦) ♡ Support me and read 20 chapters ahead – patreon.com/INNIT
For every 50 Power Stones, one extra chapter will be released on Saturday.