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Story Bible CTL6 — Broken Rungs

Last updated through CTL6 ch 38.

Setting and chronology: Setting_and_Timeline.md.

CTL 6 Chapter Summaries

  • Chapter 1: Jonathan returns from Hawaiʻi with Deanna (Jan 1); commits to Violet as life partner while keeping Deanna, CeCi, and Tuesday/Wednesday housemate routines. Violet is fully moved in; first night in their shared bed. At Spurgeon he beats Noel on 1984 returns (~26.9%), buys OTM call options on six stocks, and assigns Jack $25M for Iron Condors and Bull Put spreads to offset falling Treasury yields.
  • Chapter 2: Jonathan reveals Insider Club trap — videotaped underage encounters at Noel's parties — to Violet and Bianca; Murray Matheson's ally tipped him off. Plan: leverage exit to Clermont Capital with Jack and Violet; armistice until Q4 payout (after Jan 15). CeCi explains time-lapse CCTV limits before she leaves for California; last night together.
  • Chapter 3: Jonathan blinds hidden camera with CeCi's xenon light at Noel's Jan 4 party; Jiāng was bait (actually 18). Noel demands answers; Jonathan offers $10M spin-off deal — Clermont + Helios Analytics, two staff picks, mortgage transfer. Super Bowl Sunday: Bears vs 49ers; Eric Thiele's $1K wager; Jonathan weighs throwing Thiele under the bus to Noel.
  • Chapter 4: Mortgage transferred to fund (Jan 7–8), removing Noel's leverage. Eric Thiele pays Super Bowl bet. Jonathan pitches expanded Helios spin-off (Research + Data Processing, newsletter, clearing services) to Noel; timeline Sept 1 Helios / Jan 1 1986 Clermont. UICC independent study → monetary-theory textbook with Professor Baum. Yakov Smirnoff at Zanies with housemates.
  • Chapter 5: Eric Thiele terminated (Jan 15); Noel confirms trap worked. Jonathan refinances fund mortgage at 10.75%; lunch with Beth; Baum assigns money-history chapter. Noel meeting: Super Bowl and Monaco Insider Club trips; Thiele confrontation. Noel fires Jonathan then agrees 24-hour armistice; worst-case walkaway plan with protective puts on all positions.
  • Chapter 6: Armistice memo (Jan 17); Research boxed into trading office; Tony Kirov recruited for Helios. Hart-Lincoln meeting: Clermont partnership + Helios C-Corp structure, NDA with 366-day lockup penalty for client leaks. Jack and Violet as limited partners ($25K); FX and VC fund plans; guaranteed payments $75K/quarter. Evening: Deanna begins Nuclear Family Polaroid/drawing session with Chelsea and Jonathan.
  • Chapter 7: Chelsea poses as Venus for Deanna; agrees to stop pills and try to conceive; Jonathan approves CeCi filming their sex. Super Bowl party at condo; Erin calls. Mom and Mitchell visit; Jonathan explains housemate finances. Cincinnati trip: MTB/Gordon NDA briefing; Heather and Krissy; Diane lunch — Jonathan declines casual proposition; dinner with Debbie Vaughn at Netherland Plaza.
  • Chapter 8: Debbie dinner (Jan 25): grief, sex-as-balm, atheist «Jonathanland» logic; no assumptions beyond drinks. Discusses Kara's boyfriend Kent; mutual attraction acknowledged. Saturday: Celestial dinner with Cathy; Rose reconciliation begins. Lunch with Diane — incompatible on sex morality; afternoon with Julie, Heather, Krissy. MTB meeting secured; Debbie intimacy follows.
  • Chapter 9: Rose visits Jonathan's room (Jan 26); apologizes for October awkwardness; honest talk about Cathy, fantasies, and boundaries. Rose and Jonathan become intimate. Cincinnati Art Museum with Cathy and Rose; Jonathan supports Rose without pressuring threesome. Evening: Rose stays; relationship deepens. Debbie context: friends-and-family investor rules.
  • Chapter 10: Dallas client trip (Jan 28): Clark Becket commits; Harrington and Westergard expected to stay. Jack sets Cayman JPY account — 1%/month purchases from March. Hollywood/Sierra Nevada Re retention odds assessed (~25% keep, <10% new). LA prep; CeCi and Mei-li threesome planned. Violet reports calm office; no departure rumors yet.
  • Chapter 11: LA (Jan 29): CeCi and Mei-li in suite; Jonathan explains Noel war and Murray-brokered peace. Secures Hollywood money and law-firm partners; pension discussion pending. Mei-li joint-deflowering fantasy fulfilled. Jonathan Kane investment-manager schtick for Mei-li. Returns pipeline strong; individual commitments locked.
  • Chapter 12: Jan 30, LA: María Luisa encounter; CeCi early birthday (ruby earrings, Pacific Dining Car); Hollywood and law-firm partner money secured; Mei-li threesome explained as planned joint-deflowering fantasy. Jan 31, SF: Lyle Danforth signs NDA; spin-off briefing (Helios/Clermont, fund +11% January); Board meeting Monday — Jonathan expects Sierra Nevada Re corporate pull, personal retained. Sam's Grill dinner with Katherine Miller (beard) and Alicia Moore (pre-med, Ohio); Kayleigh O'Connell at Mark Hopkins (casual). Feb 1–2, Chicago: Home debrief; Jack bond/cash plan for ~$100M SNR exit; Chelsea conception starts Feb 2; Murray Matheson summons Jonathan to Noel's (→ ch 13).
  • Chapter 13: Glencoe (Feb 2): Noel surrenders — Jonathan dictates harsher terms: 55/45 Helios (Jonathan controls CEO), $7.5K/week interim fee, Steinem and Roy to Clermont, 366-day no-poach, $10M violation penalty. Murray takes $25K Krugerrands. Samantha Spurgeon banter. Dan Maitland CEO search; Helios capitalization $2M; May 1 target discussed.
  • Chapter 14: Jack shorts publicly traded S&Ls from Pete's bad-loan list (Feb 6); Home State/ESM Ohio catalyst expected within 60 days. Bond unloading prep for Fed cut. Violet canceled March vacation for Greece; targets Oct 1 Clermont move. Bill Wyatt upscale space search — 30 employees, higher Hancock floor. Amaterasu (VC) and Takarabune (FX) fund names; Violet to run FX at $300K guaranteed.
  • Chapter 15: Chelsea baby-making; Jonathan physical and VD test (Feb 9). Tabitha wedding invite discovered — Arlington VA, Mar 2; Windy City Travel books Key Bridge Marriott. Deanna shopping for Chelsea's wedding wardrobe. Clermont/Helios hiring and space work continues; Saturday routine with housemates.
  • Chapter 16: Mandy Peterson gives compensation report (Feb 11); Jonathan rebuilds salary/bonus plan favoring Tony, Bianca, Phil. Kendall Roy recruited as Clermont CCO — $450M AUM commitments, $6M capitalization, 40th-floor Hancock space; Noel knows. Joel Steinem accepts executing-trader role immediately. Sierra Nevada Re exit; Treasury divestiture by week end.
  • Chapter 17: Chelsea twice-daily baby duty; Deanna swaps night for mirrors (Feb 12). Baum meeting on textbook chapter. Deanna takes Chelsea shopping — wedding dress to shock old church. Mom concern preview: harem perception vs pre-wealth relationships. Professor Baum independent-study progress.
  • Chapter 18: Mom visits (Feb 16–18): «harem» tease, Jonathan defends housemates' motives; Violet head-joke payback. Chelsea wants to «catch» before mom visits limit sex schedule. Mitchell and Mom at InterContinental. Four-times-daily Chelsea schedule; church vocabulary («catch,» «family way»). Mom/Judge Pierce visit disrupts routine.
  • Chapter 19: Ellie mentoring (Feb 21): paper portfolio mid-pack; stop-loss and index-rigging lessons; Dow original components assignment. Jonathan explains losing vs volatility positions. League-table pressure; Clermont prep checklist. Housemate and firm transition threads continue.
  • Chapter 20: Beth Rubenstein lunch (Feb 26): married bliss, Gold Coast condo hunt, Joshua on partner track. Tailor shop competition from discounters; second-shop plan — Israel/Turkey tailors; Jonathan offers silent-partnership structure like Golden Gate Livery and Omega Graphics. Ateljé D stipend arrangement noted.
  • Chapter 21: Jiāng Yù encounter (Feb 28): adventurous sex at her home; she wants future job at Helios/Clermont, Bacchanalia invite. Naomi Kasparov approached as Yūsuke/Clermont office manager — accepts before other offers. Helios and Clermont launch checklist; Jonathan beating Noel on league table.
  • Chapter 22: Tabitha wedding weekend (Mar 2, Arlington): Chelsea handles church cold shoulder; «living in sin» with secular friends; former pastor's evil eye; Sarah Gilbert propositions Jonathan. BMO Harris compliance attorney Bill recruited at reception — Sept 1 launch, July start. Chelsea suspects pregnancy (late period). Eric Thiele calls; Noel fraud investigation rumors.
  • Chapter 23: Soviet trade contacts maintained (Mar 5). Perry Bass $2M + oil-lease flow via NDA. Tom Hart legal referrals (CFTC, Northern Trust). Naomi employment contract signed in Japanese room; art tour. Clermont hiring pipeline; Bill Drucker dinner planned before outside candidates.
  • Chapter 24: Home State Savings receivership (Mar 9); Pete predicts Maryland (Old Court) collapse by June. Jack's S&L shorts ~50% gains; Jonathan won't get greedy. Sofía's first steps. Fed-cut positioning; bond strategy. Pete flash analyst note Monday.
  • Chapter 25: Bacchanalia (Mar 15): Anna rejected — Thiele affair, Insider culture. Noel $50M Clermont investment = $2.5M fees over five years. Joel and Kendall confirmed; Tony calms Research «Level 10 freakout» — Dan Maitland CEO, May 1 Helios move, profit-sharing guarantees. Cynthia Taylor stays with Tony/Bianca. 40th-floor Clermont space revealed to staff.
  • Chapter 26: Post-Bacchanalia (Mar 18): annual toga party plans. Yūsuke ownership expansions — Bianca partner track, Chelsea baby plan, CeCi Hollywood intern structure. Serena UChicago Patronus et Cliens sketch session with Deanna at dorm — Jonathan accepts before Sept 1 rules. Housemate finances and Helios May 1 countdown.
  • Chapter 27: Serena Tuesday tryst (Mar 19): no-strings dorm sex; Deanna sketches Patronus et Cliens for Sonnabend show. Kayla evacuated. Deanna's dominance phase winding down. Bacchanalia-origin plan disclosed. Art-career advance through patronage series.
  • Chapter 28: Clermont 40th-floor fit-out (Mar 25): Naomi Monday meetings; furniture orders for Jack, Violet, Ellie, Kendall, Bill Drucker. Charity calls begin — Jonathan favors Leukemia Society (~75% programs) and «Médecins Sans Frontières» (~85%); rejects high-overhead American Cancer Society pitch. July 15 Kendall/Bill start; occupancy permit pending.
  • Chapter 29: September 1 watershed (Mar 31): Jonathan plans reputational discipline — no art-school nude modeling, no on-camera sex, «playing around» limited to Violet, Deanna, CeCi, Chelsea (Bianca rare). Real stork timing starts Sept 1 after summer modeling and CeCi film. Violet grants pre-deadline exceptions. Complicated family OK for clients if professional image clean.
  • Chapter 30: Bob Black 1984 taxes (Apr 9): ~$10K overpayment applied; accelerate IRS audit vs Jacoby. Yūsuke restructure — Violet, Bianca, Chelsea 10% LP shares ($10K NAV buy-in). Hart-Lincoln docs to Black. Clermont registration push; Sept 1 focus. Professor Baum chapter couriered.
  • Chapter 31: NY trip (Apr 13): Saskia threesome with Deanna; Central Park; gallery show. Deanna week; Jonathan's Sept 1 circumspection discussed — core four plus CeCi exceptions. Commission request from Professor Silberman circle. NYC art-world networking for Deanna.
  • Chapter 32: BONY meeting (Apr 15): Andrea Schumann — Sept 1 Cincinnatus continuity, eight-quarter audit, FX/VC pre-inception fee discounts. Windows on the World dinner with Schumanns; Deanna companion. Gus strategy session planned. Saskia encore Sunday; Deanna toys regret.
  • Chapter 33: NY art weekend (Apr 19): Guggenheim with Deanna; SoHo Professor Silberman/Hale SVA reception — graduating seniors, jazz, Sapphire. Deanna introduced; gallery-world connections. Empire State skipped. Deanna professional network expansion.
  • Chapter 34: Cincinnati (Apr 24): Cathy, Rose, Jonathan at Jim & Jacks — Little Kings, dancing. Cathy plans Chicago nursing applications (Saint Joseph, Rush, Swedish Covenant, Illinois Masonic) for 1986. Rose/Jonathan relationship steady. Casual Ohio ties before Sept 1 cutoff.
  • Chapter 35: MTB Cincinnati ~$175K new commitments (Apr 26); Mom/Mitchell Memorial Day visit set. Jack buys TWA calls on Carl Icahn 13D LBO thesis. S&L shorts — double money, half positions closed; more shorts Monday. Dan Maitland Helios move May 1 on track. Chelsea Disney World late June; «Abuela» Sofía watch.
  • Chapter 36: May 1: Jack doubles JPY (close Nikkei); Maryland/Old Court crater predicted. Eric Thiele criminal-fraud tip — Jonathan warns him despite hiring risk. Naomi moves into 40th-floor Clermont; Legal/Compliance finalist interviews May 8. Chelsea/Bianca Yūsuke LP signing at First Chicago. Lily's wedding; Helios phase one complete. Greece cruise plan; Violet stops pills for honeymoon conception. Donald Weiss legal interview; Man Friday role for office manager. Volcker/Fed positioning; cold war with Noel until Sept 1.
  • Chapter 37: May 8–19: Hank Rawlins hired for Compliance and Don Rice for Legal (CBI cleared, offers May 15; July 15 start with Kendall, Bill, Don Weiss). Maryland Old Court receivership and $1000 S&L withdrawal caps; Jack covers shorts; MOVE Philadelphia. Beth due ~June 12; Evanston tailor shop opens July 1. Dallas barbecue — Steve Harrington reports Prakash Singh poaching (1/10 through 1986); Jonathan plans Noel penalty-clause response («first shot»). May 19 San Francisco: Top of the Mark dinner with Kayleigh O'Connell (Stanford; Thomas Hart's granddaughter); Jonathan discloses Chelsea's intentional pregnancy; casual honesty affirmed; she spends the night.
  • Chapter 38: May 20 SF: After Kayleigh leaves for Stanford (summer Chicago planned), Jonathan meets Lyle Danforth at Sierra Nevada Re — personal money retained; corporate capital only after Clermont is established; Noel pitched the firm last week (1/10 + private-terms throwaway — agreement violation). Fed cuts 50 bp; Jack closes remaining S&L shorts, holds only Downey and US Bancorp banking longs, with Boston AUM nibbles (~$2M) and Silicon Valley / 128 Corridor outreach. Lunch at Mei-Li's family Chinatown restaurant (Sui-Fong investment talk next morning; Mei-Ying, SF State freshman, Tuesday ice cream); tea at Fairmont Laurel Court with Katherine Hamburg (Miller; Stanford pre-med escort for gay clients) → first sex at the Mark Hopkins and friends-and-family application (~$12k, half fees); Sam's Grill with Lyle and Alicia; Katherine returns for the night.