[Chapter 518: The Exchange of Interests, George Walker Bush]
After learning that Linton had finished the movie promotional tour and returned to Los Angeles, his assistant, Li Xiaoran, was immediately flooded with countless requests for meetings.
By the time Linton and Winnie came out of the suite and returned to the office, it was nearly 5 PM. Li Xiaoran glanced at Winnie's flushed, rosy face and felt a surge of envy but kept a professional expression. She handed Linton a neatly organized list.
"Boss, today I've received over thirty requests to see you personally. The secretary's office got even more. I've compiled all their information; here's the detailed list."
Linton took the list and found it quite extensive -- over eighty names. They were prominent figures all across America, from politicians and capitalists to retired tycoons, plus some foreign billionaires, including princes from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
It went without saying -- they were all after his Vitality Pills.
But Linton wasn't the same man he used to be. In the past, he might have found it worthwhile to entertain these guests and cultivate relationships. Now, while he couldn't entirely ignore them, scheduling time just wasn't worth it.
If he had time, he'd see some of them; if not, they'd have to wait.
Still, a few names stood out on the list, demanding genuine attention: House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Secretary of Defense William Perry, California Governor Pete Wilson, and Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan.
What puzzled Linton was that these men, with their status and resources, shouldn't lack Vitality Pills -- and yet, they were actively seeking him out at this time.
Since they had reached out first, it would be rude to decline.
With that in mind, he picked up the phone and called each of them in order, soon realizing they were all acting on behalf of friends. Their meeting agendas, unsurprisingly, revolved around the Vitality Pills too.
But for their sake, Linton decided to accept the meetings. Besides, his schedule for the next two days was clear.
The other appointments could wait until later.
---
The next morning, at the Los Angeles Maple Leaf Golf Club, Linton met with House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Accompanying Newt Gingrich was an elderly man with a square, white-haired face.
"Linton, congratulations on your blockbuster hit, Mission: Impossible."
"Thank you, Mr. Gingrich. And congratulations on how youthful you look these days."
"All thanks to those Vitality Pills," Newt Gingrich said with a smile. "Let me introduce you to a friend -- Warren Buffett, a legendary investment guru known on Wall Street as the 'Oracle of Omaha.' He's currently the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. Warren, this is the miraculous Linton Anderson."
"Hello, Mr. Buffett. I've heard a lot about you and have studied your value investing approach." Linton extended his hand, respectful and warm.
"Hello, Mr. Anderson. You're America's top genius -- not just a Hollywood mogul, but the creator of those incredible Vitality and Beauty Pills. Your name's been ringing across the globe lately."
The two men exchanged generous business praises, each lifting the other's stature.
"Enough of the compliments," Newt Gingrich cut in with a grin. "How about we play a round together?"
"Sounds good."
With Linton's skill level, he could easily outperform Newt Gingrich and Warren Buffett in golf. But this was social, not a competition. He patiently played along, spending over two hours to finish nine holes with a comparable score.
Newt Gingrich and Warren Buffett, both in their sixties, did well just to make it through.
...
After taking a golf cart back to the clubhouse, showering, and freshening up, they settled into a VIP lounge.
Over a simple cup of coffee, Newt Gingrich excused himself with a polite reason and left, leaving Linton alone with Warren Buffett.
Newt Gingrich's role was simply to introduce Warren Buffett; the serious negotiations would now take place between the two men.
"Linton, the real reason I came today is to ask for your help in securing an early order of the Vitality Pills," Warren Buffett said bluntly.
"No problem. Since we're friends, I can authorize one bottle for you. On the 5th of next month, send your people to my farm in Montana for the early transaction," Linton responded readily.
"Can I get two bottles instead?"
"Two might be tough. The Vitality Pills are produced in limited quantities." Considering Warren Buffett's status as one of the top billionaires and Newt Gingrich's backing, Linton could easily guarantee one bottle's priority supply. But two would require more substantial incentives.
"How about this -- I know you have a lot of cash to invest. I can share my top 20 investment companies from my portfolio to help guide your decisions."
"Deal." That was an unexpected pleasure. Buffett was renowned for his value investing philosophy, tending toward long-term holdings, usually steering clear of high-tech sectors like computers and the internet.
Linton was expanding his investments beyond computers, telecom, and the internet. Having Buffett's recommended companies combined with the analysis of his new investment team would significantly improve his chances of success.
---
That afternoon, at the Los Angeles C County Country Club, Linton met with Secretary of Defense William Perry, who arrived with 81-year-old David Rockefeller.
Anyone familiar with American history knew the Rockefeller family's magnitude.
The Rockefellers were America's most distinguished dynasty -- bar none. The family patriarch, John D. Rockefeller, founded Standard Oil in the late 19th century and became the world's first billionaire.
Wall Street often said that if the old Rockefeller were alive today, his wealth would surpass the combined net worth of the world's top ten billionaires by 10%. That's how formidable the family was.
At Rockefeller's peak, Standard Oil monopolized 95% of the nation's refining capacity and 90% of oil transport. This era was later known as the monopoly era in American history.
Thanks to President Theodore Roosevelt wielding unprecedented power at that time, he recognized the societal harm monopolies posed. Using the Sherman Antitrust Act, he forced Standard Oil's breakup into 34 independent companies.
Though the Rockefellers kept Mobil Oil, the world's most powerful oil company remained beyond their full control -- a crucial curb on their expansion.
Having weathered 170 years of upheaval, the Rockefeller family's current head, David Rockefeller, was a third-generation leader. His influence didn't rival his predecessors, but he remained one of America's most powerful figures. So it wasn't surprising he came with William Perry as his advocate.
...
While the country club had a golf course, David Rockefeller's age made golfing inadvisable. Instead, the three casually strolled the beautifully manicured lawn before returning to the VIP lounge.
David invited Linton to explore opportunities to develop overseas oil fields together. It was an enticing offer, but whether it could happen depended on timing and U.S. military actions abroad.
Unlike Bill Gates or Warren Buffett, David cared mostly about his health and only requested priority access to one Vitality Pill bottle annually. Linton had no qualms granting that.
---
Next, California Governor Pete Wilson introduced Linton to John DuPont, patriarch of the prominent DuPont family. Though a storied American dynasty, John didn't offer anything that sparked Linton's interest besides a priority purchase right for a single bottle of Vitality Pills.
---
What caught Linton most off guard was when Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan introduced someone unexpected -- the redneck state governor George Walker Bush.
George's father had been the previous American president. With such heritage, would he really need to come knocking for Vitality Pills?
In their conversation, Linton learned that while the Bush family was aligned with the Republican Party, it was now the Democrats in power. Bush Sr.'s Vitality Pills supply could be guaranteed, but more than that? Impossible.
George was there on behalf of his mother, Barbara, and himself seeking Vitality Pills -- Barbara was over 70 and urgently needed them to improve her health.
Knowing that history suggested George was likely to be the president after next, Linton readily granted him an annual priority purchase of two bottles.
Perhaps the next Soul Slave Mark would be his.
*****
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