Before going through the next sequel of "MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION", read the first sequel right here http://bhashker.blogspot.com/2008/02/million-dollar-question.html
September 6 2008,
After seven months from the meeting that took place at some unknown place, another meeting is scheduled at some other unspecified location.
Every one stands up as the chairman enters; he seats himself in the chair thereafter everyone seats themselves in. He picks up the remote and turns on the TV. A recorded message is displayed and a newsreader starts to announce the news.
Newsreader: “The government has formulated a plan to put troubled mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under federal control, dismiss their top executives and prop them up financially, federal officials told the two companies yesterday, according to three sources familiar with the conversations.
Under the plan, which could prompt one of the most sweeping government interventions in financial markets in U.S. history, federal officials would place the firms under a conservatorship, a legal status giving the government the option and time to restructure and revive the companies, the sources said. The value of the companies' common stock would be diluted but not wiped out, while the holdings of other securities, including company debt and preferred shares might be protected by the government.”
Chairman turns off the TV, faces towards the crowd.
Chairman: “Did you hear that? Now we have access to two of the biggest mortgage lenders of this country. Like I said to you gentlemen seven months ago, everything is going as planned.”
He turns to William Frank, who is seated in the left, and asks,
Chairman: “You’ve been just back from Paris, what are the sentiments there? Most importantly, after these interventions of government in these bloody banks.
Mr. Frank: “They are already into a big financial mess! I guess after a few weeks Europe slips into recession as a few more banks are intervened. You bet, they are going to lose a hell lot of more faith!”
Chairman turns to General Hoggard and General Sheffered;
Chairman: “Good to see both of you healthy and kicking, now that your asses are saved you guys might wanna have a chat with Almasri. Afterall for what he’s done.”
General Hoggard: “Sure Chairman, I appreciate the number of casualties has gone down in Iraq, thanks to Almasri who has abandoned his operations for a while. This will significantly bring down the expenses in new defense bill and we can concentrate on the future Wall Street meltdown.”
General Sheffered butts in,
General Sheffered: “And we’ll let you know when to increase your offensive.”
Almasri who is seated next to William Frank and facing both of the Generals speaks;
Almasri: “That would be done, but make sure the incentives reach by the deadline. Do I make myself clear?”
Chairman: “Whoa! We’ll clean up our conscience later. But first get to the point, Jose, what happened to the consultancy woman you were tracking? Have you got all the members on the card?”
Jose Abraham: “I got her trapped in my cell warehouse but she’s saying a nigger stole her handbag, she had all the stuff in that sick thing.”
Chairman: “You know the consequences if we don’t get that card back in our pocket. You better start a manhunt for that nigger. I need that card badly! You understand?”
Chairman continues,
Chairman: “Alright, enough of crap, let’s get back to business, I’ve been experimenting through all this and what I found I need AIG the American International Group pretty badly! For that I have to drop very big institutions. Only the problem is it’s a 158 year old mammoth. There will be panic in the financial market as this giant goes down, there will be questions arising for the protection of other institutions and we’ll further have access to more banks which results into more money and more power. For this I don’t need any voting, I guess you gentlemen understand?”
September 15 2008,
On the newsstand Munez who has just got back from Argentina picks up the newspaper and reads the news under the headline,
Munez: “Lehman Brothers, which filed for bankruptcy Sunday to become the largest casualty of the global credit crisis, is in advanced talks to sell its investment management business, including the crown jewel, Neuberger Berman.”……. “Motherfucker, they got him”……. (Reads further) ……. “is the biggest investment bank to collapse since 1990, when Drexel Burnham Lambert filed for bankruptcy amid a collapse in the junk bond market. Based on assets, Lehman also far surpasses WorldCom as the largest U.S. bankruptcy ever.”
All of a sudden his cell phone rings and he picks up,
Munez: “Hey Jose, you’re calling from your previous number! You got back to Spain?”
Jose Abraham: (on the phone) “Yeah I got back! Good for you, you’re still in N.Y. anyways, are you still keeping that consultancy woman?”
Munez: “Yeah. No word from her!”
Jose Abraham: (on the phone) “You know it’s pretty bad for a black Muslim like me to think like this, his X client was giving him threats to dump her body if she doesn’t return him his forty grands.”
Munez: “Got it!”
He disconnects the phone and gets in his black SUV then opens the newspaper again and turns to next headline and reads,
Munez: “Merrill Lynch's shotgun sale to Bank of America will create the nation's largest financial services company _ one that some believe is too big to fail. Still, no one is breathing easy just yet.” ………….. “I knew this is gonna fucking happen”…………..(reads further) “The deal keeps Merrill from a Bear Stearns-style fire sale or a complete meltdown like Lehman Brothers while removing a major player that some expected to be the next shoe to drop in the credit crisis. At the same time, it will enable BofA to expand the financial services it offers to its already huge customer base. Still, the challenges are enormous: The two companies have starkly contrasting cultures. Billions of dollars of bad debt remain on Merrill's books, while BofA still faces huge consumer credit losses. And the deal was slapped together in less than two days _ meaning that the two financial powerhouses involved might not know exactly what they are getting themselves into.”
Throws the newspaper from the window and drives, then he applies the brakes near a warehouse and gets out, takes the key out of his pocket, unlocks the two big doors of warehouse and enters then locks the doors again. He walks in and turns on the lights, a woman is seated on the chair with both of her hands tied at the back. He takes out a white paper on which a man’s face is sketched and shows it to the woman.
Munez: “This is what we’ve got out of the looks you have described of the man who stole your handbag. So tell me, is this the man? Oops, you can’t speak, I almost forgot about the duck tape you have it on your lips.”
He removes the tape.
Woman: “Yeah he’s the one. What do you people want? Why have you kept me here? It’s been almost one week”
Munez: “Listen to me Jane, when you went to collect your possessions from your boss’s table you accidently picked a plastic card that belongs to the company. Your boss is our company man and that card holds his identity. That’s why we need it at any cost and since you know a lot about this company business from last seven days, you are a liability for us.”
He finishes off his job.
September 16 2008,
On the TV,
Newsreader: “The U.S. government seized control of American International Group Inc. -- one of the world's biggest insurers -- in an $85 billion deal that signaled the intensity of its concerns about the danger a collapse could pose to the financial system. The step marks a dramatic turnabout for the federal government, which had been strongly resisting overtures from AIG for an emergency loan or some intervention that would prevent the insurer from falling into bankruptcy. Just last weekend, the government essentially pulled the plug on Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., allowing the big investment bank to go under instead of giving it financial support. This time, the government decided AIG truly was too big to fail.”
Munez: (talking to himself)…….. “Just as planned. Congratulations Chairman! Now you have AIG in your kitty”
Finishes off his morning breakfast, throws on a jacket and gets into his SUV. Munez was seventeen when he joined the company, now he’s nineteen. Once Chairman himself told him, “You are going to see beautiful places and drive fancy dining cars because I see your future in you”. Again he applies the breaks in Negro’s town at lower Manhattan and gets out. A few black guys are playing basketball.
Munez: (screams)… “Holla at my homies”
He gets the Negroes’ attention and they approach.
Mike: “ Wo-Wo-Wo, looky here, a white chick’s on a suicide mission.”
Munez: “I know I am in homies town. You see the Testarossa, the toasters right on my lap. I know you guys got an arsenal of infiltry so no funny business awrite!! I swear nigga I am a white man and I am up for Obama, because I waana see a black President in the Whitehouse. So forget about your enemies and think what your friends will do!”
Gabbe: “What do you want junky?”
Munez: “This!” (Shows the sketched figure) “Hey-hey, don’t worry about this sketched figure, do a guy like me of nineteen look like one of the Feds? It’s just personal business!”
Gabbe: “He’s Jeff, you’ll get him at avenue 2, second house from left!”
Munez knocks the door of second house of avenue 2,
Jeff: “Yep?”
Munez: “You mind if I butt in?” (Enters) “Seven months from now you stole a handbag of a woman at Times square; in that handbag with cash you must have found a plastic card. I am here to obtain it!”
Jeff: “Bro, I have no idea what are you talking about.”
Munez throws ten thousand dollars on his table.
Munez: “There’s not much difference in making money between you and me except for your black skin. Give me the goddamn card.”
Jeff gets up a little nervous opens a box and hands him over the card. Munez takes out a device plugs the card into the slot and green LED glows indicating “ORIGINAL”.
Munez: “Perfect!”
Jeff: “What’s that?”
Munez: “You mean this? It’s a plastic card; we call it “PING”. Just like you connect several computers from a single source to internet in star topology. Every company member has this PING so we can identify them. While entering a building for a meeting or event they just have to swipe the card through the slots and they are authenticated. So, are you happy with this ten thousand dollars or you wanna make some more?”
Jeff is in the car with Munez.
Jeff: “Where are you taking me too? What do I have to do?”
At the closed factory site Munez applies the breaks,
Munez: “Get out of the car!”
Jeff comes out and so does Munez, Munez takes out a Webley Scott revolver out of his pocket.
Jeff: “Hey-Hey what’s the gun for?”
Munez: “You know the business I am in is pretty dirty. I really seemed to like you pal and so I have nothing against you. Sorry!”
And pulls the trigger! Then takes out his cell phone.
Munez: “I have the PING in my pocket!”
Jose Abrahim: (on the phone) “Good job! You have already shaken NY quite a bit so I suggest you to head back to Argentina before the F.B.I grabs your ass! There’s a plane flying to Argentina after two hours at the JFK! And our guys will take care of Jane’s body.”
September 28 2008,
Credit crisis spreads to Europe as the Dutch-Belgian banking and insurance giant Fortis NV is partially nationalized. One of the harshest times for Europe but for few people one of the sweetest times!
Adriaan Barculo: “Like the fucking whore that pisses me off! When there’s party time this fucking bitch has to show up! You know Chairman has been true to me and so has been with you fucking Dutch gigolos. So drink bastards!
From at a distance two people talking to each other looking at Adriaan,
Sophia: “I’ve slept many times with him! Don’t get startled! He’s not my father! He’s thrown up quite a party in this fucking town of Amsterdam.”
William Frank: “At least I should know that! And there is a reason to be happy; he’s got a direct access to Fortis, Chairman’s gift to his first European counterpart. This time I am pursuing BNP Paribas to hold the remaining part. I hope this French connection will work.”
September 29 2008,
John Anderson takes the morning breakfast with the newspaper. And he finds something he could not believe.
John: (reads)…. “The Treasury confirmed this morning that the bank's savings accounts and 200 branches were being sold to Spanish bank Santander for £612million but that its £41billion 'toxic' mortgage book was being taken over by the state.”
A London morning could have never been proved to be this bitter when he read about the nationalization of Bradford & Bingley. The bitterness was not because of being emotionally attached to the bank.
John takes out his cell phone and dials a number,
John: (on the phone)…… “well we got divorced and after her death no one was there to take her possessions, she never resigned so officially she should still be on the records. I just want to know the downsizing process which is underway after this nationalization holds her name or not?” …waits while the receptionist replies…… “alright, put me on hold” ….. after a minute receptionist comes back and tells him…… “what? Her name is on top? Anyways, thank you!”
John disconnects and walks slowly then opens a box and takes out the suicide note which Samantha had left for him. The suicide note was-
“JOHN, I HOPE YOU’VE BEEN LIVING A HAPPY LIFE BUT I AM NOT HAPPY ANYMORE. I LOST MY JOB, B&B IS WITNESSING A POWER SWAP AND I HAVE NOONE TO BLAME, NOTHING TO LOSE. SO HERE’S A LAST GOODBYE. I’VE ALWAYS LOVED YOU……..”
John puts the note on the table, takes his keys and drives to Bradford & Bingley head office,
John: “ I don’t know, you have got to explain this, she knew that she would be axed seven months before and you’re telling me that you folks have come out with this downsizing plan just a few days back?”
Receptionist: “Sir I am sorry for your loss, but sometimes employees guess that they would be next.”
John: “No employee commits suicide on guessing!”
John leaves.
September 30 2008,
Like elsewhere the sentiments were no different in the Moscow sandwich shop. The bankruptcy of Seattle based Washington Mutual was announced on the state run Moscow news channel. Vlad takes time off and steps out of the sandwich shop and sends a text message.
TEXT MESSAGE: “Sir, I guess it’s about time! Pitch for the call, it’s WA-MU!”
Soon as the message is received a very famous Russian (identity has been hidden) picks up the phone and dials a number.
Chairman: (on the phone)……. “I know it’s pretty usual if you make me calls at this point of time.”
Russian Billionaire: “Yes Chairman and I want to remind you of the people who promised me something and couldn’t fulfill. I think you still remember Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the oil tycoon and X-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko. One is in for nine years and other died of polonium poisoning. That son of a bitch died blaming Kremlin for his death, but you see I am still ruling. Do you want one of the fates like these guys had or else you would be expecting a whole new example of yourself?”
Chairman: “I know _______( calls him by name) you had plans for that bank and you missed out on the future investments. But I can assure you for your future wealth. We are helping Wells Fargo with its possible acquisition of Wachovia. And I think you have invested in majority in Wells Fargo, that can double the amount of your investment in not more than three years. It will also help you in becoming the member of board Of Directors of one of the largest bank with branches in the U.S”
Russian Billionaire: “Are you kidding me Chairman? Citi is Pursuing Wachovia, how come a bank like Wells Fargo can go against a government brokered deal?”
Chairman: “You don’t worry about that. Not only American, we are also taking care of your European investments. Yes I am talking about BNP Paribas, our American delegate to one of a French bank is Pursuing the bank to take control of Fortis’ operations. That will again help BNP Paribas become the largest lender by that measure in the 15 countries sharing the euro. So tell me you want that Seattle junk standing tall against all odds or you want to be a part of the giants one with largest bank in terms of branches in the States and the other being the largest lender?”
Russian Billionaire: “I understand chairman. And thanks for the gift to my German friend”
Chairman: “I knew a 50 billion-euro rescue package for Hypo Real Estate Holding AG would be enough for your friend.”
Russian Billionaire: “Thanks Chairman!”
Chairman: “You compared me with that anti Kremlin, I was hurt by that!”
October 2 2008,
In his departmental store Peter was watching the news on his television which was somewhere on shelf.
Newsreader: “The 700 billion dollar financial industry bailout found a second life on Thursday, winning lopsided passage in the US Senate and gaining ground in the House of Representatives, where Republicans opposition softened.”
All of a sudden a man in black suit comes. He was one of the feds!
FBI Agent: “Whoa! That’s a mind boggling amount!”
Peter: “How can I help you gentleman?”
FBI Agent: “You know Jane Winthrop? I guess you have been her X client, and according to your last conversation on phone you said to her that if she doesn’t give you your forty grands you are going to dump her body for scavengers with her throat slit.”
Peter: “So?”
FBI Agent: “Looks like you have been true to your words. We found her body on September 18 right here in Baltimore at a dump station four miles from here with her throat slit.”
Peter: “Hey! What the crap are you talking about? Someone has set me up! Two robbers took every single penny that day; I was so fucking pissed so I made her that call and threatened her to give my money back. I was already broke!”
FBI Agent: “And that’s make another good reason why you killed her just out of your desperateness for that damn forty grands. About this news, the government will bail out those troubled banks but can you be free on even seven hundred billion dollars bail? I doubt it!”
October 3 2008,
On NPR (National Public Radio) the news is announced,
Announcement: “Wells Fargo has stunned financial markets by announcing a merger with Wachovia. Wachovia was involved in a government-brokered deal with Citigroup earlier in the week. The Wells Fargo deal puts the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in an awkward position.”
October 6 2008,
On Bloomberg’s official website the news is posted,
Oct. 6 (Bloomberg): “-- BNP Paribas SA agreed to take control of Fortis in Belgium and Luxembourg for 14.5 billion euros ($19.8 billion), completing a breakup of the largest Belgian financial- services company after a government rescue failed.”
November 5 2008,
The results are announced, Obama creates history by becoming the first black President.
Adriaan Barculo: “Thanks for inviting me for this little tea party Chairman but you know I am not flying all the way from Amsterdam to Newyork just to sip at this tea. I think Russians are pissed, they don’t know the pain involved in this process.”
Chairman: “(talking while sipping at tea)…. You know it Adriaan that we’re doing it without the help of Republicans and to come to our full swing we have to convince our new old friends who are back in power once again. But you know the process would be slow.”
November 24 2008,
Indeed, the process is slow but it’s not over.
Rushing to rescue Citigroup, the government agreed to shoulder hundreds of billions of dollars in possible losses at the stricken bank and to plow a fresh $20 billion into the company.
Regulators hope the dramatic action will bolster badly shaken confidence in the once-mighty banking giant as well as the nation's financial system, a goal that so far has been elusive despite a flurry of government interventions to battle the worst global crisis since the 1930s.
Wall Street investors reacted enthusiastically. The Dow Jones industrials shot up about 300 points in morning trading. Stock markets in Britain and Germany also gained ground. Citigroup shares themselves climbed 61.3 percent to $6.08 in morning trading.
This is just in on November 24 on “Associated Press”.
Jacob Braura: “Is there any end to it?”
________End Of Part 2___________
