Golden morning sunlight broke through the autumn clouds over Manhattan, reflecting off the clean, sparkling waters of the Hudson River.
Down on Wall Street, the bronze bull stood quietly under the crisp blue sky. But inside the grand marble lobby of the newly acquired Sterling Tower, a line of anxious men in bespoke suits stretched out the revolving glass doors and wrapped three times around the block. Traders who usually arrived at ten in the morning had been camping outside since dawn with paper cups of espresso.
At nine o’clock sharp, the polished brass doors of the Taichu New York Benevolence Clearinghouse opened for business.
Marcus Reed stood behind the central mahogany reception desk, dressed in his sharp charcoal suit. Beside him, Su Wan adjusted her tablet, her expression crisp, elegant, and professional. Flanking the entrance were Tie Niu and six Taichu security guards in matching black blazers.
Marcus cleared his throat and stepped up to the podium microphone.
“Good morning, gentlemen of Wall Street,” Marcus announced, his voice carrying clearly down the crowded marble corridor. “Following yesterday’s systemic default of Ouroboros Capital, Taichu Group has established a ten-trillion-dollar zero-interest liquidity pool to stabilize New York’s commercial lending, small business credit, and municipal payrolls.”
