<h4>Chapter 771: Chapter 772: Potential Benefits</h4>


    [Chapter 772: Potential Benefits]


    Since theunch of the alliance n in 1993, nearly three years of close coboration had established America Online as a leader among traditional tel operators in providing high-speed ADSL broadband ess to users. Withpetitive pricing and reliablework service, America Online''s user base surged to 7.6 million over these three years,manding nearly 30% of the U.S. inte ess market. This robust expansion left slower traditional tel operators struggling in its wake.


    In contrast to Nokia''s rtively low-profile IPO, America Online''s public offering n drew significant attention from the outset.


    In recent days, besides Eric, Cisco''s CEO John Chambers and Yahoo''s CEO Ian Gurner, along with other executive allies from America Online, flocked to New York to support the stock issuance ceremony.


    Thus, Eric found himself busy attending various social gatherings, leaving little time for anything else. This continued until January 29th.


    From the previous evening,pany executives, guests, and a horde of media reporters and stock traders packed the Nasdaq stock exchange, all participating in the America Online IPO bell-ringing ceremony.


    America Online nned to issue 15 million new shares, representing 10% of the total stock, at an offering price of $33 per share, aiming to raise $495 million. However, due to the market''s strong reaction, after six rounds of public inquiries, America Online''s opening price skyrocketed to $42 per share, a 27% increase over the offering price, resulting in jubtion within the trading hall once the final price was confirmed.


    ...


    "The opening price is $42, but the offering price was only $33. Doesn''t that mean America Online lost... well, at least a hundred million dors on these 15 million shares? Why didn''t they set the price higher?" singer Cindy Crawford queried Eric at the post-IPO party.


    Eric raised a ss in acknowledgment of Morgan Stanley''s executives who greeted him. "At the current share price, America Online''s market value is nearing $7 billion, so in rtive terms, that hundred million dor difference is negligible. Pricing the stock at $33 for investment banks and institutional investors gives them more incentive to facilitate America Online''s listing. Plus, a strong opening day price can bolster investor confidence in America Online,ying a solid foundation for future financing. These potential benefits aren''t worth just a hundred million."


    Cindy nodded, somewhat understanding, and asked, "So do you think I should invest in some AOL shares? Will they appreciate?"


    "Of course," Eric replied with a smile. "Your savings must be looking pretty fat these days. Invest in some tech stocks -- AOL, Microsoft, Cisco, Intel... Plunk down a million bucks now, and you might very well be a centi-millionaire in a few years."


    "Sounds incredible," Cindy teased, raising an eyebrow. "But what if I end up losing money?"


    Eric shrugged, "If you lose, you lose. You''re capable enough not to starve."


    "Oh, you horrible man! You''re the one who suggested buying stocks, and you have no sense of responsibility," Cindy yfully pinched Eric at his waist, feigning annoyance. "I''m going to invest all my money in those stocks you mentioned. If I lose it all, I''ll just have to crash at your mansion in L.A."


    "If that''s the case, if you profit, shouldn''t you share a little with me?" Eric countered with a serious face.


    "Sure! How much do you want?" Cindy replied without hesitation.


    "Half. My financial advice is worth that much," he smirked.


    "Humph," Cindy shot Eric a re, then leaned closer and lowered her voice teasingly, "I heard you''re looking for young girls recently?"


    Eric shook his head and sighed, "Looks like I can''t work with your agency anymore. They just spread rumors indiscriminately."


    Knowing Eric was joking, Cindy exined, "I just went to the office the other day, and saw someone organizing documents. I asked John, and he said it was your doing. What are you nning?"


    "I need a few girls for my movie," Eric replied candidly. "As it turns out, I''ve already picked three, but one is still undecided. The other two are in New York and Mn. Want to meet them tomorrow?"


    "Why should I meet them?" Cindy asked casually.


    "Because you''re the veteran. Maybe you can guide them," he suggested.


    "To have them steal my job?"


    "Are you nning on working for another twenty years?"


    Cindy didn''t hide her thoughts, "As long as circumstances allow, of course! People who don''t work age faster."


    ...


    February in New York brought morning temperatures well below freezing. From the high-rise condominium overlooking Sixth Avenue, Central Park appeared deste. Even with the heating sting inside, one could still feel the chill outside.


    Eric had just returned from summertime Australia, making the cold feel quite surreal.


    Cindy, d in a snug ck sweater and jeans, emerged from the kitchen with breakfast for two, setting it on the round table beside the floor-to-ceiling windows. She looked at Eric, who was absorbed in hisptop screen, and asked curiously, "What are you looking at?"


    "An interesting little gal," Eric grinned, turning theptop toward Cindy. "Check her out. Another little beauty."


    Cindy leaned in to see the screen; it was an email. She instinctively began reading aloud: "Dear Mr. Williams, I am Miranda Kerr. It''s an honor to receive your invitation..."


    After reading a few lines, Cindy lost interest, ncing at Eric as he enjoyed his breakfast. "Doesn''t seem to be anything special?"


    Eric took a sip of his hot milk and set the cup down. "Just wait until you finish."


    Cindy shrugged and shifted her focus back to the email. Miranda had expressed her excitement and gratitude for Eric inviting her to the film and subtly mentioned her hope for more work opportunities to support her living and studying expenses in the U.S. After reading it, Cindy didn''t find anything particrly noteworthy. She figured she would have said the same if it were her.


    Suddenly, Cindy realized something and asked Eric, "So, how old is this girl?"


    "Thirteen."


    Cindy burst intoughter; at thirteen, this girl could craft such polished correspondence -- surely a real charmer. If she secured this coboration, she would be connected to Eric''s powerfulwork.


    "Ha, if you agree to work with her, she might just be glued to you for good."


    Eric shrugged, "For men, that should be a happy problem."


    "Hmm, you mentioned meeting two more girls today. Is it the same situation?"


    "I haven''t met them yet; we''ll see once we do," Eric replied. "But you know my taste. The ones I choose never disappoint."


    Cindy said, "I''m suddenly quite curious."


    "I''ve invited them over for lunch at noon, soe home afterward."


    "Sounds good," Cindy nodded.


    She was currently busy producing the second season of <i>America''s Next Top Model</i>, but since shooting took ce in Manhattan, it was close enough to Eric''s ce.


    ...


    After breakfast, Eric saw Cindy off and while he read Miranda''s email once more, he thought carefully and replied, consenting to Miranda''s request. He was curious to see how this little beauty would develop in her career.


    After days of busyness, Eric finally had some free time. He spent the entire morning at home reviewing the finalized screeny for <i>Rush Hour</i>. Though <i>Rumble in the Bronx</i> had yet to release, <i>Rush Hour</i> was formally in development with a budget of $30 million, having already signed Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker as the two leads.


    The premise of <i>Rush Hour</i> was straightforward, but its main selling point was the strong personalities of the two leads, which exined their sky-high sries in the original timeline and the dys in subsequent sequels. To avoid a repeat of such issues, Eric also arranged to secure options for three sequels with New Line, specifyingpensation standards to maintain thepany''s negotiating power in future discussions.


    After finishing the script, he sent his revisions back to Los Angeles via email. Before he knew it, it had reached noon.


    ...


    Eric didn''t feel like cooking lunch himself and was about to call a nearby restaurant when the doorbell rang.


    Looking at his watch, he realized it was only 11:30, with half an hour left until the scheduled appointment. He thought it might be Cindy returning early, so he opened the inte and cheerfully asked, "You back so soon?"


    After a moment of hesitation, a young girl''s somewhat hoarse voice nervously replied, "Is this... Mr. Williams?"


    "Uh-huh?"


    "We''re Gisele Bundchen and Alessandra Ambrosio."


    After a brief silence, Eric opened the door, feeling somewhat resigned as he looked at the two fresh-faced girls outside.


    From the list of neers sent over by major modeling agencies, Eric had only recognized Gisele Bundchen and Alessandra Ambrosio, and not the iconic Adriana Lima from the original timeline. Thus, he only selected these two girls.


    However, he originally intended to meet both girls alongside their agents, but it was clear the agency had just dropped these two off.


    Sigh -- was he really being too nice?


    Eric pondered, stepping aside and gesturing for the two girls to enter.


    The girls walked in quietly, much like obedient kittens. They gazed at the pristine living room but hesitated to proceed further.


    Eric closed the door, saying, "You don''t have to change your shoes."


    Only then did they enter the living room, sitting together on the sofa after Eric indicated it was okay.


    He poured two sses of juice and handed them to the girls while assessing them again.


    Though they were made up, it couldn''t hide their youthfulness. However, both girls already possessed tall figures, especially Gisele. With her high-heeled boots, she nearly matched Eric''s height.


    Despite the frigid climate outside, the room wasfortably warm. The beauty-conscious girls wouldn''t dress too heavily, but it was clear the two in their short coats were already starting to sweat lightly on their foreheads.


    Eric pointed to the coat rack by the entryway, "If you''re hot, feel free to take off your coats and hang them up there."


    The two girls nodded in unison, stood up, removed their coats, hung them up, then quietly returned to their seats.


    Eric found the scene nearlyical.


    In the original timeline, Gisele Bundchen and Alessandra Ambrosio achieved vastly superior sess in the fashion industrypared to Miranda Kerr.


    However, juxtaposed with Miranda''s savvy email from that morning, Eric felt like he was now facing two frightened little quails.


    "Where''s your agent?" Eric casually asked, settling down onto a nearby armchair, searching for conversation despite his disappointment.


    Noticing the letdown on Eric''s face, both girls exchanged nces of uncertainty. Although Gisele and Alessandra were selected by IMG and Elite respectively, they had received simr instructions from their bosses beforeing. This meeting was a potential ticket to stardom, or they would end up like many neers -- continuously waiting for their opportunities.


    Each major international modeling agency scouted thousands of neers globally every year, and only a handful ever made it big.


    Coming from Brazil, considered the mostpetitive nation in the modeling industry, the girls knew only too well that for them, sess meant breaking out of Latin America. Many famous models might im they were discovered while shopping one day; that was mostly nonsense.


    Both girls, although total strangers until now, followed the same trajectory as most aspiring Brazilian models. They began professional training around ten, started submitting photos to agencies and entered variouspetitions by age thirteen or fourteen. The few fortunate ones who got signed were an extremely rare group, and those aiming for the top tier -- supermodels -- had even slimmer odds.


    That''s why they were being so cautious in front of Eric.


    Unlike Eric, who could glimpse the future, they didn''t have a clue where they would end up in this industry. At that moment, they were just two inexperienced girls from Brazil, suddenly faced with a massive opportunity, understandably anxious and cautious.


    *****


    /Sayonara816.