Chapter 388 - A Natural Disaster
The stocks of Fitzgerald Corp stabilized after falling. It wasn't falling as before. For some time Jeremiah Harrison's wife tried to contact them. She was saying that she would help them bring Jeremiah down but they didn't mind her. Jeremy sent the recording of her call to the cops. Everything they did was recorded so that nothing can be brought against them.
And at that time another breaking news changed everything.
EARTHQUAKE IN BONIVIA!!
An earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1 in the Richter Scale hit a major city of Bonivia leaving devastation in its wake. In the initial reports, hundreds were confirmed to have lost their lives and thousands were reported as trapped in the rubbles. It made the headlines all over the world and the leaked images of the richest city that once had tall buildings reaching the sky, now all on the ground as rubble was devastating to watch.
But since it was a land ruled by a dictator, the information that got out was entirely filtered. News organizations from around the world were not granted access and the dictator even prevented Red Cross from entering the country for participating in relief efforts.
It caused quite a commotion in the international community with many leaders voicing their condemnation against the dictator. Finally, the dictator had to relent after two days of stalemate as these nations threatened sanctions against Bonivia. After hundreds more lives were lost, the Dictator had to accept help from other countries in the relief efforts.
After the neighboring countries got in Bonivia, the news sent from them was much more devastating than what was initially reported. Thousands had perished and those who survived were left with no food and water, exposed to the elements. The government had no plans for natural disasters formulated in precaution. The government watched as people scrambled to be alive while the important men and their families had all the means to help those who are in need.
The whole world started crowdfunding and collected money to help the millions affected by the unprecedented natural disaster. Thousands of houses were destroyed and hundreds of thousands of houses were damaged.
Jerlina was interested in learning more about the earthquake as it was the biggest natural disaster she remembered. Another reason was the documentary she watched the other day that gave her serious doubts. And as she expected, Jeremy was very involved in the discussions and even forced the President to release a statement of condemnation against the dictator to allow the relief workers from other countries inside Bonivia.
Not only talking about it, but Jeremy also put money where his mouth is. Even when the understated damage report was announced, Jeremy publicly announced donating one hundred and fifty million dollars for relief efforts on behalf of Fitzgerald Lumber Corp.
That was the largest amount donated by one single entity for relief efforts. No country as a whole has donated that much.
Even Jerlina was surprised how he signed off that great amount with no second thoughts. He is rich, but even for him, that is a large amount of money. And she saw how involved Jeremy is with this. He was making calls all the time, talking with ambassadors, and trying to get permission to visit Bonivia himself. But he wasn't permitted to leave the country as the case against him was not dismissed yet. Jeremy was not impressed.
Jerlina's suspicion was confirmed after she saw his behavior. For someone who likes to help in secret, his open announcement and direct involvement… she knew there should be more to it.
Well, blood indeed is thicker than water! And she supported him in any way she can.
This great donation was appreciated by many, but some murmured that this was his PR stunt to get out of his "ganglord" image.
Jeremy didn't care.
Followed by Jeremy, Mikhail offered fifty million dollars and opted to add his donations with Jeremy's donation. He put forward a request to the Bonivian authorities to visit Bonivia and take part in the relief efforts in person.? Mikhail was accepted reluctantly and that was very obvious by the statement released by the Bonivian Government.
After Jeremy announced his donations, the stock prices for Fitzgerald Lumber Corp started to soar.
Jerlina too offered a hundred and twenty-five million dollars since she had some billions lying around without much use. She wanted to donate more but she didn't want to exceed Jeremy's contribution. She wanted to donate it as Jerlina Fitzgerald, but she donated it in the name of her foundation – Hamilton Foundation. Some other friends of Mikhail contributed which added up to twenty-five million.
So Mikhail Volkonsky left for Bonivia with three hundred and fifty million dollars.
At that time, Jerlina received a very pretty envelope that was sealed.
"Princess Royal of Rosandale…" she read the From address.
Wow! Seriously..?
She tore open the letter and inside was a beautiful handwritten letter with the prettiest calligraphy she has ever seen.
Wow! Princess Talia sent me a handwritten letter!
"What does it say?" Jeremy asked for the tenth time with no reply from Jerlina. She was just staring at the letter and grinning like a fool.
Then he lost his patience and got the letter.
An invite for a charity ball?
Jeremy's lips curved to a smile. The Rosandale Royals must have already found out about her Hamilton lineage. And so they sent her this personal invite.
Ah… Look how happy my wife is… She deserves it!
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Mikhail's arrival in Bonivia made many heads turn. As a sports celebrity, Mikhail had a lot of following and it naturally increased expectations along with the large amount he was carrying.
With him arriving with that amount must gain him a warm welcome but the Bonivian government acted as if he was a nuisance. None of the news outlets in Bonivia reported Mikhail Volkonsky's arrival. But social media exposed his arrival and Jerlina was stunned to see the crowd gathered to welcome Mikhail. They were more engrossed by the Volkonsky name.
Only after that, did the government pretend to care and the Dictator's son arrived to welcome Mikhail. But Jerlina saw the video with Mikhail glaring at the man. There was hatred.
The picture of Mikhail refusing to shake hands with the Bonivian Dictator's son went viral.
Many reports of strong words getting exchanged between Mikhail and the Bonivian officials emerged. And what topped everything else was Mikhail's open statement of dismissal to attend a State Dinner with the Dictator.
"Is it safe for him to openly voice his opinions when he is visiting there?" Jerlina asked Jeremy. "He is going against a dictator and that guy is known for torturing and killing his dissenters…" She was worried. She was told that the dictator was the one who sent those gunmen that day to hurt Joel..?
With his wedding fast approaching, why is he doing this?
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel