Chapter 8

• "Miss Gianna refuses to answer your calls."
• Vincent's assistant reported nervously.
• This was the fifteenth time in a row he had been rejected.
• Vincent slammed the table hard and roared, "Keep calling!"
• "In the name of the group, in the name of Damian Vance! Tell her I am willing to offer any cooperation terms!"
• But all efforts were in vain.
• Gianna seemed to have completely disappeared from his world, and all contact methods were ruthlessly blocked.
• Vincent tried sending people to Chicago.
• But those people couldn't even get past the gates of the Moretti family.
• The assistant cautiously suggested:
• "Sir, maybe you should consider going to Chicago directly—"
• "Do you think I haven't thought about it?" Vincent glared at him fiercely, "Will the people of the Moretti family let me leave Chicago alive?"
• Just as Vincent was at his wits' end, a movie quietly premiered.
• On the movie poster, a man in a suit stood at the top of a skyscraper, with money and bones beneath his feet.
• The slogan on the poster read: The game of power is never a game.
• Vincent stared at the trailer on TV, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.
• "Who invested in this movie?"
• The assistant checked the information and gave an answer, "It's a company called 'Shadow Productions', the boss is very mysterious, no public identity."
• "The investment exceeds fifty million dollars, and they hired A-list actors."
• This was a big production with no prior announcements.
• It was said to have gathered all the top talents in the industry, and took a very short time from shooting to release.
• But the quality was extremely high.
• After the movie was released, it quickly caused a sensation.
• The plot cleverly alluded to the dark history of a Wall Street consortium--
• Hostile takeovers, insider trading, stock price manipulation, and murder of competitors.
• Although the company in the movie was called "Fence Group", anyone familiar with Wall Street could see that it was a reference to the Vance Group.
• "Damn it!" Vincent watched the review program on TV, the host was analyzing the plot of the movie in detail.
• Many details were exactly the same as his own situation.
• He angrily slammed the table and shouted, "These details, no one could know them so clearly except for insiders!"
• At this moment, the CFO rushed into the office.
• He held a computer, his voice trembling, "Sir, the stock price has dropped another ten percentage points, what should we do!"
• All the audience were discussing the implications, which had a huge impact on his reputation.
• The internet was flooded with negative news about him, but he had no reason to fight back.
• Because no one directly attacked him, he couldn't retaliate.
• Even financial media started to analyze him.
• "The Wolf of Wall Street: Art or Exposé?"
• "When movie reflects reality: the dark history of a certain group"
• "Who is the real Wolf of Wall Street?"
• On social media, scandals about Vance Group quickly became hot topics.
• Netizens began to dig deep into Vance Group's history, trying to find the connection between the movie and reality.
• The pressure of public opinion grew, and some investors started to withdraw.
• Partners began to reevaluate their relationship with Vance Group.
• The Securities and Exchange Commission couldn't withstand the pressure from enthusiastic citizens and had to issue a statement.
• "Vance Group is suspected of insider trading and hostile takeovers, SEC will launch a formal investigation."
• The voice of the news anchor came from the TV: "At the same time, the investigation bureau has also intervened to investigate whether the group is involved in more serious illegal activities."
• Vincent looked at the plummeting stock prices and slumped in his chair.
• In just one week, Vance Group's market value had shrunk by a third.
• The mastermind behind the scenes was truly cunning, using the power of public opinion and the masses to force those officials who had received benefits and colluded in secret to conduct investigations.
• Just then, a familiar figure appeared on TV.
• Gianna, dressed in a black suit, elegantly sat on the sofa of a financial talk show.
• Her hair was styled in an exquisite bun, her makeup flawless, and her eyes wise and calm.
• The host was interviewing her as the executive producer of the movie.
• "Miss Moretti, some people question whether this movie is maliciously defaming certain companies, what do you think of these accusations?"
• Gianna smiled and replied, her voice clear and firm, "I believe that art has a responsibility to reveal the truths hidden in the shadows, doesn't it?"
• "If one is innocent, they will not be harmed."
• "But if they are already tainted, the evil deeds they have done will eventually be exposed to the world."
• Her eyes seemed to pierce through the screen, directly at Vincent.
• "Dark history should not be forgotten. Those who stop at nothing for power and money should pay the price for their actions."
• The host pressed further, "Are you implying specific companies or individuals?"
• Gianna's smile turned even colder, "I'm just telling a story. As for what the audience sees in it, that's up to them."
• She said finally, "Justice may be delayed, but it will never be absent."
• Vincent suddenly smashed the crystal glass against the screen, glass shards flying everywhere, and the TV screen instantly went black.
• He knew, this was the first challenge Gianna had issued to him.
• To her, it was just a small beginning.
• But for Vincent himself, it was already hard to resist.