88. Let’s give him a good shove!
There was a moment of silence in the study.
This asshole knows that I used my Powerball win as seed money to build my astronomical wealth.
And, judging by the way he talks, he also knows that I’d hate for it to come to light.
That’s why you’re calling me Mr. Powerball, in a devious twist of fate.
“You knew that.”
“Didn’t I tell you, I’m the President of the United States. I know more secrets than anyone in the world, and I have the power to find out. All I have to do is say the word. I want to know.”
“…”
“It’s amazing how far you’ve come with the money you won in the Powerball. The Powerball is an incredible stroke of luck, but to take a billion dollars and multiply it by more than 100 times in five years?”
“…”
“No, what’s 100x? I know because I’ve been in the business, and it’s a miraculous return, and it’s all yours, and you don’t know how thrilled I was when I got your report?”
I know because I’ve done it.
Where have I heard this before?
Where have I heard that before?
“Hmm, so?”
“So, what do you mean, you’re like the epitome of the American Dream, only in America! Don’t you think you should show a little more sincerity?”
“I see.”
“Exactly, and now you have the opportunity to repay the favor you have received from America. If you do, I shall be very glad; if you don’t, I shall be very sorry.”
The damn inspirationalist is being threatening.
I would be very disappointed.
He’s the president of the United States.
Yeah, I could see him being very upset.
And I’m sure it would be marked by the media leaking my Powerball winnings to the press, or by tax authorities or immigration raiding my home or office.
No, he would, and I would be in a lot of trouble.
But no, he’s the President of the United States.
Honestly, I’m not thrilled with the idea of my Powerball win being leaked to the media, but it’s not like I’m going to get in any trouble.
A little embarrassment is all I need.
No, the idea of being embarrassed is a very Korean mentality, and it wouldn’t be so embarrassing in the US.
I just don’t like having my tendencies exposed in that way.
However, if Trump uses the power of the presidency to harass me in other ways, it will be really painful.
You have to think about it.
Because I could see a lot of people getting tired of me ranting here.
“Wouldn’t it bother you if I showed you how to do it, Donald?”
“Tell me what you want and I’ll do my best to accommodate.”
“First of all, since South Korea is still pretty much a coronavirus-free zone, I’d like you to send us some more supplies. I know it’s limited, but I’m sure there’s room if you squeeze.”
“Understood.”
My first reaction was to scream, but I had already expected this when Trump asked to see me.
I’d called South Korea and told them to squeeze me before I came.
“Our experts say your vaccine is at least eight months to a year ahead of what our pharmaceutical companies have, and I want to get it before anyone else. And the right to produce it right here in the United States.”
“…”
This is like a mugging without the knife, right?
Let’s do it.
We couldn’t produce enough vaccine for the global kepa anyway.
So I’ll give it to you as a gesture of goodwill, since I’m going to release it in at least half a year by establishing a stronghold in each region.
I’m not going to ask you to give it to me.
“From the first batch, we’ll make it available in the U.S. at the same time as in Korea. Is that enough?”
“hahahahaha, sure, that’s great!”
“And I’ll arrange with a US pharmaceutical company to produce the vaccine in the US as soon as possible. But this isn’t free, right? I should be paid fairly, right?”
“Is that what you mean? Is this guy treating me like some kind of bandit?”
“…”
Because you are a mugger.
“I’ll pay the right price if you don’t overcharge me.”
“That’s not going to happen, because I never intended to make money from the vaccine in the first place.”
“Really? If I were you, I’d make sure I got a good cut of the action. You’re not as ruthless as you think, are you?”
“Well, everybody’s got different ways of doing business, and I don’t need to make money out of this. I’m just going to get cussed out for trying to make a few extra bucks.”
“Pooh-hah, yeah, with a fortune like yours, you shouldn’t have to work yourself up into a frenzy, but you’re still making tens of billions of dollars worldwide, so what’s a few pennies?”
“Yeah, pennies to me.
The money you’re making in real estate is pennies, too.
“Yeah, it’s pennies. It’s pennies now, and it’s going to be pennies, and it’s going to be pennies, and it’s going to be pennies, and it’s going to be pennies.”
“Huh? You said the stocks you’ve been investing in have been going up lately, so that’s really great, huh?”
“It’s just part of the ‘incredible luck’ thing.”
“Kahahahahaha!”
I replied, quoting something Trump had said earlier, and he laughed his belly laugh at what was amusing him.
“That’s great, that’s great, that’s great, that’s great, hey buddy, do you think you could take care of my fortune too?”
This inspiration is getting personal now?
“I’m sorry, but you can’t say anything about that.”
“Why not? Can’t you just slip it in when you’re investing?”
“That’s what everyone says, but that’s not how it works. Other people’s money is a burden to me, and I don’t think I’m as level-headed as I would be if I were investing my own money. If you ask me to give it to you, I’ll give it to you, but I never take investments, not even from people like my parents and siblings.”
“Well, that’s unfortunate.”
“Ha, well, so that you don’t get ‘upset,’ I’ll give some campaign money to The Donald’s campaign.”
“hahahahaha, doesn’t that make me a bad person? But I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.”
“…”
Except it’s ten times worse.
I’m going to give the Democratic presidential campaign more than ten times as much money as I’m giving the Trump campaign.
Anyway, I’ve given all I have to give.
Or not.
“Hey, Alex, thanks. This is the President of the United States, Trump, thanking you, so you should be proud.”
“If you’re so grateful, shouldn’t you give me something too?”
“Hmm? hahahahaha! That’s right! You can say anything. You’re America’s friend now, and my friend.”
It’s expensive to be a friend.
Anyway, by inadvertently agreeing to provide additional quarantine supplies and prioritize vaccines, I’m helping Trump get re-elected.
I have to take what I can get.
“First of all, I don’t know where you did your background check on me, but could you please wipe it clean? It’s not a favor, it’s something you should do.”
“hahahaha! I see. There will be no report on you, official or unofficial.”
“Okay, then.”
“What about a favor?”
“Honestly, I don’t have any favors, because what do I have?”
Seriously, I personally didn’t have anything to begrudge Trump, not even a fingernail.
It couldn’t be, could it?
“Well?”
“Well, maybe there’s something my country needs, even if it’s not me, and I’ll see what I can do.”
“Hmm, I hope you’re not asking too much.”
“Donald.”
“Why?”
“You’re going to announce as soon as I’m out of here that thanks to Donald, South Korea will be getting additional quarantine supplies, and that Americans will be the first in the world to get a coronavirus vaccine?”
“Isn’t that true, and isn’t it also true that I did that?”
“…”
Well, it’s true that Americans are getting more supplies and will be the first to get the vaccine for at least three or four months, thanks to this twit’s rant.
That’s not bad for Americans.
Come to think of it, even in sales, if a customer takes something extra, he always takes more.
On the contrary, regular customers were often unintentionally mistreated because they thought they would understand because they were regulars.
How ironic.
“Anyway, I’m sure the Donald’s announcement will give you a big boost in the polls, right?”
“Of course it will, I’m going through all this trouble to hold you back, especially with the vaccine story.”
“You know so much, and you’re telling me not to make unreasonable demands? Isn’t this a bit much, and if you keep doing it, I might change my mind?”
“Uh-huh—.”
“And don’t worry. I’m not going to make demands that are contrary to U.S. interests, or say anything that The Donald can’t say.”
“Well, then.”
“I’ll be back in a couple days.”
“Okay. Call me.”
In the car back to the hotel.
She remained silent until they were completely out of the White House, and only spoke up after Harry double-checked her security.
“What did Trump say?”
“About what I expected, but more.”
“What did he say?”
“He said that the lunatic—.”
I explained to Jeffrey the details of my encounter with Trump at the White House.
“I mean, I knew he was a nutcase, but he’s a real nutcase, right? Threatening regular business people? Huh, that’s crazy!”
“I mean.”
From nob le mt l. co m
Jeffrey couldn’t believe his ears, and he started shouting Trump slurs.
“So what are you gonna do?”
“What do you do? You’re dealing with the President of the United States, you’re supposed to do what he asks.”
“f*ck! Phew, yeah, I guess I have no choice. So you’re going to give Trump campaign funds too?”
“He said he’d give it to me, so I’ll give it to him, but I’ll give it to the Democratic candidate ten times as much.”
“Let’s do that. Let’s give him a good, hard push, Mr. Trump, you’re going to be in big trouble if you let him get re-elected.”
“Ah! Wait a minute, Harry!”
“Yes, boss!”
“You’re sure about our security?”
“Henry’s taking care of it himself, so you don’t have to worry.”
“But just in case, I’d like you to run a security check on my house and the entire company, right away.”
“Okay.”
“As soon as I get back, I’ll have a video conference with Korea, and I’ll ask you to check that as well.”
“Yes, boss.”
There was no guarantee that Mr. Trump wouldn’t wiretap.
It’s not static wiretapping like Watergate, but it’s foreign-owned companies and foreigners.
It wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for him to wiretap in the name of security.
“You’re meeting with South Korea?”
“Yes. We need to talk about the vaccine, and most importantly, we need to discuss our demands to Trump.”
“But what are you really asking for? I don’t think you or Karma Investments in the US have anything to ask for.”
“That’s why I’m meeting with people in Korea. If not me, at least my country has something.”
“You might as well demand that Trump thinks he’s done for this term, because his poll numbers are getting worse and worse, and if you put money into his campaign, he’s going to be hard to beat.”
“I’m thinking about it.”
I flew back to LA and immediately started a video conference with Korea.