American Peanuts

Chapter 218 Virgin Group, "Partners"

There is no doubt that Prince Andrew has a deep relationship with Epstein, especially a few years later, as the victims made public accusations, Prince Andrew was deeply involved in the whirlpool of public opinion, until he was stripped of all titles related to the royal family and moved to Leave this manor and lose all royal perks.

But that's all. He can still live in a big house. By being affiliated with some corporate consultants, he can get a monthly salary without working. He doesn't have to care about the so-called accusations. He has reached a private settlement with the other party and has Let the other party sign a non-disclosure agreement.

"What's the problem?" Elmo noticed the change in Charlie's expression and couldn't help but ask.

"Do you know this man?" Charlie stared at Epstein.

"I don't know him. He looks like an American." Elmo tried to say.

"Venture capitalists on Wall Street, in addition to helping people manage their finances, also provide some additional services." Charlie shook his head, turned and walked in another direction.

Charlie, who had just arrived, was not excluded as expected. In fact, as a frequent guest who has been in the limelight recently and often appeared in major newspapers and news media, there were many people who wanted to chat with him.

"Hey, the man who walked out of the movie!" Richard Branson took the initiative to come over from afar and extended his hand.

Charlie originally thought he just wanted to shake his hand, but who knew it was more than that. After grabbing his hand, he raised his hand, patted it again, and then bumped into him. He looked very much like some kind of low-class black man. The way of greeting on the street.

"I just learned this. Isn't it good?" He said with a hearty smile.

"Very professional. It would be more alike if you were darker," Charlie joked.

"Did you just say I was?"

"Yes, the person who walked out of the movie completed a magnificent turn in life, escaped from the financial crisis, and made a fortune by the way. Now you have extended your tentacles to the other side of the ocean. I really think CMA should deny your acquisition proposal , who knows what giant you will become in a few years.”

With no conflict of interest, Richard Branson can speak his mind.

In addition to traditional industries such as culture, catering, tourism, and transportation, his Virgin Group also includes some very forward-looking projects, such as Virgin Orbit, which provides commercial launch services similar to SPACEX.

"What do you think of the local version of PB magazine? Are you ready to take back the operating rights? I need to introduce my Virgin Publishing organization. I have the leading editorial team in the UK and sales channels such as major bookstores across the country. There is cooperation, how about it, do you want to consider it?" Richard Branson said emphatically.

"No one will refuse to cooperate with Richard Branson, I will try to consider it." Charlie nodded sincerely.

"Don't worry, I won't take too much of your profits. I just want to make friends with you. You know, there are not many interesting young people like you." He put his arm around Charlie's shoulders, like a big brother who spoke with sincerity. said.

This is indeed very much in line with Richard Branson's style of doing things.

If you look around the world, you may not find another entrepreneur like him.

Unlike other entrepreneurs who are either secretive about their lives, or bury their heads in the sand.Richard Branson comes up with a new idea almost every once in a while, such as driving a hot air balloon across the Atlantic and breaking the all-time record, driving the same amphibious British sports car as James Bond across the English Channel, and driving a tank in the Times Square crushes Coca-Cola...

And his company has expanded along with these provocative activities, and now covers more than 200 branches, ranging from small bags to large airplanes and rockets. Every British person cannot do without the Virgin Group.

It can be said that if you want to expand your business in the UK, Virgin Group is an existence that cannot be bypassed.

"Have fun. The catering for this party is sponsored by the Virgin Group. I specially selected some food that suits your American taste." He patted Charlie's chest and warned before leaving.

When he turned around, the smile on Charlie's face disappeared suddenly.

But he couldn't help but feel a little surprised. He thought too highly of himself.

For him, he really doesn’t value his small amount of money, unless he has some intentions towards Land Rover and Jaguar, but that possibility is very low, because...it can be seen from the very beginning of the bidding that the Virgin Group has no interest in the automotive industry. Not much interest.

Is it just me?Charlie thought back to what he had said.

"Hey, sir, you look lonely. Do you want me to introduce you to the other guests present?" Charlie heard the voice of "Hermione".

She held the champagne glass respectfully and handed it to Charlie like a waiter, her words and expressions full of respect and flattery.

"Thank you, Miss Watson, if you're not busy, of course." Charlie responded with a relieved smile.

"Of course I'm not busy. It's my honor to serve you." Emma Watson, with exquisite makeup, nodded repeatedly, with a nervous expression on her face.

Under her introduction, Charlie heard the names of many royal members, as well as many old British actors, such as the famous Sir Ian McKellen. He is a national treasure-level British actor who has played many popular roles. For example, Gandalf in the Demon World, and Michael Caine, the queen actor of Batman's butler Alfred.

It’s just that the younger generation seems a bit withered. Apart from Emma Watson, Charlie’s only impression is Natalie Dormer, the actress who starred in Little Rose in "Game of Thrones". Now she has a large scale He came to prominence with the play "The Tudors".

What Charlie is more curious about is why these actors appear here together.

Emma Watson explained with a smile: "This is all thanks to Princess Eugenie. She is a die-hard movie fan. She will be out soon. I will take you there to see it."

"Ms. Emma Watson, can you give me some time? I need to have a good talk with Charlie Rossi." Another voice appeared between the two.

Emma Watson looked up, and then her expression became a little surprised.

"Of course, Prince Edward."

There is a prince?
Charlie looked back. Compared with Andrew, Prince Edward was thinner and had piercing eyes. In fact, he was Prince Andrew's younger brother and the Queen's youngest son.

Emma Watson didn't say much and just chose to quit.

"I've been waiting for you Charlie Rossi for a long time. In fact, it was me who suggested inviting you here." Edward explained unhurriedly.

"You invited me over?" Charlie was surprised by the news.

"Yes, I need to talk to you. This... is not a suitable place to talk. Let's go to a slightly secluded place."

He made a gesture of invitation to Charlie.

So Taylor, who was talking to the guests, saw Charlie and Prince Edward walking up the stairs together. As for Elmo, she was not ready to let this opportunity pass by. She was so busy walking back and forth among the guests that she didn't notice. The situation here.

"Sit down, I know you feel bored too, especially for the female celebrities who take the initiative to contact me. They travel across the ocean to the United States, accompany their smiling faces, and spend the night with producers, just to get a chance to perform. I'm so sorry. They feel sad, but America has this kind of magic that attracts them all." Edward walked to the window, opened the crystal glass bottle, and poured Charlie a glass of wine.

"The market will attract talent. If Hollywood were in the UK, maybe the situation would be the other way around." Charlie took the wine from his hand.

"It's a pity that World War II wiped out each other's wealth, so that Americans have a chance. Let's not talk about this, let's talk about business." Edward crossed his legs and pulled the collar of his suit a little.

“What do you think about a local version of PB?” he asked, similar to Richard Branson.

"To be honest, this is a failure, especially at this point in time."

"Yeah, when I bought the PB franchise, I didn't think about this issue carefully." Edward said helplessly.

No wonder Richard Branson brought up the topic of PB magazine, Charlie finally sorted out his thoughts.

"So you want to get rid of this hot potato?"

"Not exactly, I want to revamp PB and bring it back to life."

In other words, he doesn't want to let go of PB's franchise.

Then how to talk about it?
"You can hire consultants and change editors. Maybe these methods will work? If you want to ask me how to make the proper localization transformation, my answer is that I can't give constructive suggestions." Charlie Shake his head.

As if he had expected Charlie's answer, Edward laughed.

"You know, the royal family, as a symbol of this country, has gradually become greedy for pleasure. We don't need to do anything to get the life that ordinary people dream of. No matter where we go, the people will welcome us. We never went to school. , you can drive without a driver’s license, say some high-sounding and beautiful words, and then get married and have children.”

"I didn't want to live this kind of life, so I went to college. This was not an honorary degree, but a real one. I opened a TV show company and wanted to get away from it all and live in a different way."

People outside want to come in, while people inside want to go out. I am afraid that the royal family members also face many restrictions.

"So, what does this have to do with me?"

"Of course it's relevant. Although I don't have the right to interfere in many specific matters, at least I have the name of the royal family. I have many friends, such as Richard Branson. He can help you on many levels. You know Coca-Cola's Strategy?"

"As the most well-known brand in the United States, Coca-Cola is marketed around the world. They only sell puree, and then find a suitable partner locally and authorize it to the other party's bottling factory. This can save a lot of local troubles. If you want PB Better to do the same in other countries around the world."

"Let me be more specific. For example, your derivative products, perfumes, lipsticks, etc., can be sold unimpeded in the UK. Your artists can also have more performance opportunities, including those you will launch in the future. For various new businesses, although this market is not comparable to that of the United States, it is not too small, isn’t it?”

"And all I need to do is transfer part of the benefits?" Charlie continued.

"This is not called concession, this is called cooperation." Edward corrected.

Charlie heard it, read as cooperation and wrote as comprador.

Considering the status of the other party's royal family, this comprador candidate is particularly suitable, especially since the other party also includes the giant Virgin Group.

Of course, he can refuse. After all, many American companies have set up European headquarters in Ireland. Others can do what he can do, but the problem is that it will take a lot of effort, and the final reward may be more. It may also be less. In exchange, you get valuable time.

"Can try."

"Then we will use PB as an opportunity to set up a joint venture to jointly manage this magazine. I will provide the money and you will provide the resources and people to replicate the miracle that PB has created in the United States."

Coming out of the room and back to the hall, Princess Eugenie was already cutting the cake, and her favorite actors stood at the front, applauding enthusiastically.

During the whole process, many people came forward to chat with Charlie, including Epstein.

He said that there would be a more private party later, and invited Charlie to stay and attend. He also said that many male guests present this time would participate.

"Sorry, I have to send my two female companions home later." Of course Charlie rejected the proposal.

On the way back, Taylor complained to Charlie that they always felt that these British guys were proud of themselves, and they felt that Americans were inherently rude and they were all farmers from the countryside.

Aimo, who is also British, told the truth: "Because they can't find something better than you from other places, so they stick to the so-called noble origin."

She felt the same as Taylor about this, or even more.

Charlie was thinking about the girls he saw when he came out just now. They were obviously the guests at the next party, and some other little-known actors did not leave either.

Calculating the time, it was after this party that Andrew left the group photo, which was regarded as direct evidence of the relevant accusations.

"It's Paris' call." Kayla saw the notification on her phone and raised her head and said to Charlie.

"Why are you leaving so fast? I told you, there are two friends who want to see you." Paris complained on the phone.

"I am very busy."

"Then it's impossible that we won't have time to meet them. It'll be quick. Besides, I've already agreed to the two of them. This will also be good for you. They are the center of the British upper-class social circle. You also want them to help you online." Your magazine promotion, right?”

"Okay, see you tonight." Charlie hung up the phone.

Paris mentioned the magazine.

This actually gave Charlie a new idea. He was worried about how to change the local version of PB. This might be the opportunity that came to his door.

Of course, the premise is that the other party is willing, and the other party's father is still the president of F1, so it is better to be careful about this matter.

(End of this chapter)