America's Road to Wealth

After leaving the airport, Ikana got into the car of a convoy sent by Rock Security near the airport entrance.

She came here mainly for "YKM" business.

Half a month ago, Ika submitted the YKM business plan to Smith Capital.

After being killed three times in a row by relevant analysts and traders of Smith Capital.

At the fourth time, it was finally recognized by Smith Capital.

At its peak, YKM was valued at US$1.1 billion.

On the Smith Capital side, this time it only received a valuation of US$150 million.

The reason why the gap is so big.

It's because not long ago, Ikana's father, D. Ted Lerner, had completed his withdrawal from the stock.

The old guy took back most of his investment in YKM.

YKM has lost those fixed assets that are most powerful in maintaining its own valuation, leaving almost nothing but an empty shell.

After rigorous evaluation, Smith Capital finally gave a price of US$150 million.

The final result of the negotiations between the two parties was that Smith Capital invested US$50 million.

Acquired 33.3% shares of YKM Company.

The current share composition of YKM is 33.3% from Smith Capital and 20% is held by Ikana personally.

The other seven shareholders took the remaining shares.

These seven shareholders were all investors who came in from the initial Series A financing.

The second round of Series B was unable to raise funds normally, and in the end, only Smith Capital came.

This is how YKM’s current shareholding structure comes into being.

According to the share ratio, Smith Capital is currently the largest shareholder of YKM Company.

YKM, which received US$50 million in financing from Smith Capital, will have plenty of room to continue its expansion and development.

Compared to New York and the East Coast, Ikana feels.

The West Coast may be a better development direction for YKM.

She made this clear in the plan she submitted to shareholders and investors.

So after taking care of some things at YKM East Coast Headquarters.

Ikana set out for the west coast at the end of October.

For this reason, Abel, who is already the largest shareholder of YKM.

He was very considerate and arranged for her to pick up the convoy and arrange accommodation on the west coast.

Ikana got in the car, and a convoy of two cars left the airport and drove towards Beverly Hills.

Come over here this time,

Ikana brought along an assistant and a bodyguard.

The assistant took the same car as her, and the bodyguard took the car in front.

Ikana noticed,

The driver of this car was one of Abel's personal bodyguards, the black Lincoln.

After Ikana got to know Lincoln, the car started.

Ikana smiled and said in the back car:

"Lincoln, where are our destinations?"

Of Abel's two black bodyguards, Johnson is taciturn and introverted.

But this big black guy is a sharpshooter. He can hit a rabbit's eye at a distance of two to three hundred meters without using a sight or using an ordinary rifle.

The last time Abel returned to Texas, he participated in the farm roundup of Druid Peak wolves.

The person who shot the most coyotes was Johnson.

In contrast, Lincoln, the other black bodyguard, is much more lively and has a typical black character.

It's just that Lincoln also received professional security training, as required by the training.

He did not dare to show his black characteristics in front of his employer, or in front of Ikana, who had an affair with his boss.

Facing Ikana's inquiry, Lincoln thought for a while and responded as calmly as possible:

"Miss Lerner, we are going to Ciello DR10066 in Beverly Hills. That is the boss's new house. He usually lives there when he is in Los Angeles."

Ikana in the back seat nodded slightly after hearing this.

Ikana's father rarely comes to the West Coast.

Her family has their own houses in many places on the East Coast, including Florida and even Texas.

Even more so in New York.

But on the West Coast, the Ikana family has no real estate.

Father Ikana, who is rooted in New York, rarely comes here.

This makes Ikana less familiar with Los Angeles than New York.

She only knew about Beverly Hills and didn't know where Ciello DR was in Beverly Hills.

She calmed down and let Rock Security's convoy take her to Abel.

It took about an hour to drive from the airport to Beverly Hills.

When Ikana was a little bored in the car, the convoy finally arrived at its destination.

The two cars stopped in front of the gate of a mansion with a spacious bronze door, filled with birdsong and flowers, and full of green plants.

Then Ikana saw Lincoln in front of him, picking up the walkie-talkie and saying a few words.

After a few seconds, the door to the mansion was opened.

The two cars drove into the mansion and stopped in the spacious middle courtyard of the mansion.

The car door where Ikana was was pointed at the main hall door of the house.

The bodyguards in the own courtyard came forward to open the door for Ikana.

Ikana got out of the car, but she didn't see Abel.

She also knew the driver who opened the door for her. He was Abel's bodyguard captain Edward.

Ikana couldn't help but ask Edward:

"Edward, right? I want to know where Abel is. YKM Company has some official business and must report to him in person."

Edward never cared about Abel's business affairs.

Abel's fellow Texas man sticks to his heart and does his best, but he doesn't pay attention to anything other than the safety and security of his boss.

This is why Abel valued him particularly and made him the security captain.

Of course.

Being a fellow countryman is somewhat of a bonus.

Edward heard the girl who had an affair with the boss say this.

In addition, Abel did not give any instructions intentionally.

Edward then said:

"The boss is working in the studio on the second floor at the back. Miss Ikana, how about you wait in the living room for a while while I inform the boss?"

"Okay. Thank you, Edward." Ikana smiled.

Edward, who was not good at words, nodded, "You're welcome, Miss Ikana."

Edward went to inform Abel, while Ikana, led by the maid of the villa, entered the large living room in the middle of the villa.

As Ikana walked, she was admiring the decoration and layout of this large house.

First of all, the decoration is very luxurious.

Ikana, who is so luxurious that she is used to the lavish decoration at home, also feels that the decoration of this villa is of a higher level.

After entering the door of the living room, there is a sense of luxury.

The large open living room features a fireplace.

Obviously in Los Angeles, the weather that requires the use of a fireplace is rare only a few times a year.

But almost any mansion here likes to have a fireplace like this.

Some simply use technology to make it seem like there are always flames burning in the fireplace, but in fact these flames are virtual.

Or simply use gas to make a fire and pass it off as fireplace firewood.

But Ikana’s focus is not on the fireplace, which is optional and has almost only a decorative function.

On the other side of the open living room is a private outdoor sun-shaded terrace connected to the living room.

This terrace is so beautiful and huge.

The whole building is oval in shape, half of it is indoors, with a shaded roof and furniture.

The other half is outdoors, an outdoor terrace facing the entire Beverly Hills and overlooking most of the Los Angeles cityscape.

Almost at first sight,

Ikana fell in love with this terrace.

She imagined in her mind,

In the evening, a small or medium-sized cocktail party will be held on this terrace with an area of ​​at least three to four thousand square feet.

With a few friends, overlooking most of Beverly Hills and the night view of Los Angeles city in the distance below.

Looking up, you can see the stars in the sky without any obstruction, and you can see other mansions near Beverly Hills to the left and right.

At the back is a semi-indoor terrace that is comfortable and luxurious, making it easy to relax.

Just thinking about it,

It made Ikana feel that it would definitely be a very pleasant reception and party.

It's a pity that this house is not mine, but Abel's.

she thought to herself.

As she stood on the edge of the terrace, looking down at Beverly Hills and Los Angeles in the distance.

When you are reluctant to leave.

Edward came over and said softly to Ikana:

"Miss Ikana, the boss is over at the studio, please come over."

"OK."

Ikana withdrew her reluctant gaze, and the cool breeze of Los Angeles blew on her body.

Ikana was reluctant to leave this terrace.

But seeing Abel was more important. She followed Edward and walked to the back of the living room.

Abel's studio that I want to go to is located very far back in the villa.

This allowed Ikana to appreciate other parts of the villa along the way.

Ikana comes from a real estate family and worked as an intern in her father's company for a period of time.

Good understanding of real estate and construction.

This kind of knowledge allowed her to make quick decisions.

The house Abel bought in Beverly Hills has an indoor area of ​​at least 20,000 square feet.

As for the outdoor area, I can’t guess at the moment because I haven’t seen the garden at the back.

Ikana also noticed that the ground where she and Edward walked, even the aisles, were covered with soft and expensive carpets.

Medieval European-style chandeliers hang in many places on the ceilings of the corridors and living rooms.

Even during the day, they are lit up brightly and look extremely beautiful.

The outdoor areas are filled with beautiful flowers of all kinds, and there is a faint floral fragrance.

After walking around for a while, Ikana had basically made a decision.

This is a house decorated in the style of Texas, the rich South of the United States, from top to bottom.

That's probably why Abel bought it.

Who says Abel is a Texan?

With this thought in her mind, Ikana quickly led Edward to the studio that Edward mentioned.

This is at the very back of the villa, a very spacious, airy, modernly decorated hall.

There was a sofa in the middle of the hall, and a sunny and handsome boy was sitting on it.

around the big boys,

There are more than a dozen computers set up.

There are more than a dozen staff members sitting in front of computers operating.

In the middle of the hall, there are several large screen panels showing various financial information.

Ikana looked around the studio, and finally looked at the big boy.

She found that Abel was also looking at her.

Today, Ikana is wearing an elegant white shirt and sky blue tight jeans that outline her slender legs.

The white and tender feet are wearing a pair of 5-7 cm transparent high heels with crystals. There are faint blue blood vessels under the fair skin.

Paired with purple toenails, the elegance is a bit more enchanting.

Three-dimensional and exquisite facial features, long pale golden curly hair, and glasses with silver rims and hollow patterns that are not usually available add to the charm of a mature woman.

"Here you go, sit down wherever you want."

After admiring the beauty of Ikana, who has always been very good at dressing up and is good at dressing herself up, today.

Abel smiled and said hello, then looked at the screen in front of him.

At 9:30 in the morning, the U.S. futures market opened.

Seeing that he only said one sentence to himself, he ignored himself.

Ikana was a little stunned.

She took a long breath. Now that she had made up her mind, she simply let go of herself completely and no longer restrained herself.

She took the initiative to come forward, stood next to Abel, breathed into his ear, and whispered softly: "What are you looking at?"

"Futures. International crude oil futures."

Abel seemed to be fully focused, his entire energy focused on the screen.

But what surprised Ikana was that in this state, he actually hugged her soft waist.

Firm and elastic, it is a touch that can only be achieved by regular exercise for body management.

Ikana was surprised, and her heartbeat accelerated slightly.

She wanted to put it aside, but then she thought of Peggy Morgenthau.

There are also all kinds of psychological preparations that I made in my heart when I came here.

In the end, she did not avoid Abel's contact, but pointed to the surrounding staff sitting in front of computers:

"Who are they?"

"The company's trader. I didn't go back to New York and asked Smith Capital to send some elites over. The amount of funds is too large for me to take care of by myself."

Abel was a good teacher and willing to explain.

International crude oil futures opened 1.03% higher in pre-market trading, with the current price of New York crude oil at 29.43.

Immediately afterwards, large orders of thousands of lots began to be taken in, pulling out a big positive line.

Abel, who gently hugged Ikana, chuckled and ordered the trader:

"Fifty thousand was reduced to 29.00, which made them mistakenly think that there was financial support here."

In just five minutes, the trading volume increased rapidly, and the price of New York crude oil hovered between 29-29.4.

Abel and the others cleared 70,000 to 80,000 lots, and the oil price is still around 29.2. The attitude of the main bulls today seems very determined.

Ikana studied in business school and also played in the stock market and futures market a few times.

She couldn't understand the data in front of her at first, but she didn't really understand.

After watching it for a while, she could understand it.

She discovered that the data on the screen in front of her were all various data related to international crude oil in the market.

Is Abel doing international crude oil futures?

Almost half a year ago, Ikana in New York.

I often hear various exaggerated descriptions of Abel's investment abilities in newspapers and circles.

Everyone says that the Wolf of Wall Street doesn't like investing in the stock market.

What he prefers are various commodity futures with higher risks and higher profits, as well as the foreign exchange market, which is like a retail slaughterhouse.

More importantly, the Wolf of Wall Street rushes in and out of these places.

It’s been half a year and I haven’t heard of him losing money there.

In the past, Ikana thought that Abel's financial ability was very good.

But everyone's bragging is a bit exaggerated.

No one can always be invincible in the capital market.

Buffett can't do it either.

Buffett occasionally loses money, and there are times when the losses are serious.

It's just that the number of times Buffett has lost money is far less than the number of times he has made profits.

Ikana had previously been a bit unconvinced about Abel's legendary undefeated financial ability.

She felt that Abel should win a lot and lose very little.

But it should be impossible not to lose 100%.

This time I was lucky enough to be with Abel and witness in person how he commanded capital to ravage the market.

For a moment, Ikana was very excited and her breathing became rapid.

She heard Abel issue a series of orders above.

He started to say again: "Stop for a moment."

Looking at the data on the screen, Ikana's little heart skipped a beat.

She has also invested in international crude oil, although the investment was relatively small, only a few hundred thousand dollars.

But I can understand the data and market trends.

New York crude oil is currently US$29 per barrel, one lot of 1,000 barrels is US$29,000, and ten lots are US$290,000.

Ten thousand lots is 290 million, and seventy or eighty thousand lots is almost US$2 billion.

Even if it is margin trading, with such a large amount of funds, the leverage ratio is generally not too high.

At most five or six times, in other words, two billion US dollars requires a margin of about 400 to 500 million US dollars.

On the screen, it was shown that Abel still had 800,000 lots of international crude oil in his hand.

80x2.9 is 23.2 billion U.S. dollars. Excluding the margin leverage, Abel’s own funds must be at least about 3-4 billion U.S. dollars.

When I think of Abel, he is commanding such an astronomical amount of funds by his side, wreaking havoc in the capital market.

The way she looked at Abel became more and more tender, as if she was melting him.

Just when Abel paused, the bulls and retail investors thought that the bears were beaten.

The fiery sentiment in the international crude oil market has spread and is reflected in oil prices.

A vertical positive line appeared, breaking through $30 almost instantly.

Abel burst out laughing.

Seeing that he was in a trance, Ikana, who didn't even notice that she was being held in his arms, quickly asked what was wrong.

He smiled and said: "These leeks in the crude oil market are so stupid. They don't know to wait for a correction before buying. They don't know that sometimes the bulls are actually the bears pretending..."

Likewise, sometimes the bears are pretending to be bulls.

In the capital market, there are never fixed shorts and longs.

Both shorts and longs can make instant transitions as long as they are profitable.

Sometimes even the bulls and bears are the same person.

In the capital market, this is called hedging.

Faced with Abel’s complaints about leek in the crude oil futures market.

Ikana remained silent, as she, who had been one of the leeks, felt offended.

When the time came, Abel didn't wait any longer. He planned to clear out the warehouse violently and directly ordered:

"Twenty thousand lots will be cleared, all positions will be cleared, no bottom position will be left."

What makes him so confident is his financial talent.

The time has come.

After rising for most of this year, oil prices, which are as high as 30+ US dollars, are about to start a big dive.

At the beginning, Abel, a big short seller, appeared with tens of thousands of sell orders.

Many retail investors thought it was the last desperate struggle of bearish dogs, and little tricks were of no concern. I had the advantage in this wave.

After taking over nearly 200,000 lots.

Smart people have realized that something is wrong, and short sellers are full of firepower. Danger!

Many long-term institutions immediately realized the change of "you are in me and I am in you".

Adhering to the principle of joining if they can't beat them, they joined the short-selling army and began to harvest the long retail investors and stop their losses in time.

Some bulls wanted to hold on, but with Abel's order, a single sell order of 100,000 lots directly broke through the defense line, and the oil price plummeted, falling by -14.25%.

In an instant, longs turned shorts, and the general trend was down.

Countless long-term retail investors were cut off to the point of crying for their fathers and mothers, struggling to survive, with blurred consciousness.

The final result is that Smith Capital invested US$4.2 billion in international crude oil futures.

After deducting bits and pieces of expenses, the final settlement was US$7.62 billion, with a profit of US$3.42 billion, a profit of 82%.